COVID-19: PERFORMANCE OF ESG ETFS AND, ESG ETFS VS. THEIR DECLARED INDEXES

Abstract

Since Covid-19 started, it has created nothing but puzzle in the investment field. This paper adds more knowledge to ESG funds by investigating the performance of 96 ESG ETFs during the Covid-19 market stress. My findings show that ESG ETFs outperformed the market during the pandemic, suggesting they were better immune investments than other investment tools. This addresses the controversy that ESG funds are more likely of having actual investment performance value than just being of marketing tools. In addition, this paper examines whether ESG ETFs attempted to track their indexes exactly, and the results indicate that ETF funds did an excellent job on tracking their indexes they followed before Covid-19 and Covid-19 recovery except for during Covid-19 since their indexes were harder to track during the outbreak. This paper also provides discussion on why ESG funds were better immune investment tools. My findings and discussions aim to inform investors and portfolio managers in decision making during this outbreak.