The environmental pillar of ESG and financial performance: A portfolio analysis

Abstract

Our research uses the environmental pillar of ESG as a proxy for environmental corporate social responsibility. We examine the performance of environmentally clustered portfolios by using simple quantitative investment strategies with optimum asset rotation. Post-hoc, sample-split analysis with non-parametric tests is performed. The results suggest that both environmental status and dynamic environmental performance are key characteristics of divergent financial behaviors. We show that environmentally low-rated companies present better financial performance, while environmental leaders are less risky and show more resilience. Assets with a dynamic environmental profile outperform on average in terms of returns and risk. Furthermore, supporting evidence of positive spillovers in high-rated environmental clusters is identified after the Paris Agreement. We evaluate the resilience of the environmental clusters during the COVID-19 crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war effect.