Sustainable Investing: ESG Ratings (2024)

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Sustainable Investing: ESG Ratings

ESG Rating hero banner

Measuring a company’s resilience to long-term, financially relevant ESG risks

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ESG Rating intro para

What is an MSCI ESG Rating?

MSCI ESG Ratings aim to measure a company’s management of financially relevant ESG risks and opportunities. We use a rules-based methodology to identify industry leaders and laggards according to their exposure to ESG risks and how well they manage those risks relative to peers. Our ESG Ratings range from leader (AAA, AA), average (A, BBB, BB) to laggard (B, CCC). We also rate equity and fixed income securities, loans, mutual funds, ETFs and countries.


ESG Ratings video

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ESG Ratings

How do MSCI ESG Ratings work? What are significant ESG risks? What does a poor rating look like? How can you use them?

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ESG ratings

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How do MSCI ESG Ratings work?

How does MSCI ESG Ratings work?

ESG risks and opportunities can vary by industry and company. Our MSCI ESG Ratings model identifies the ESG risks, (what we call Key Issues), that are most material to a GICS® sub-industry or sector. With over 13 years of live track history we have been able to examine and refine our model to identify the E, S, and G Key Issues which are most material to an industry.

View our Key Issues framework |ESG Methodologies(opens in a new tab)|What MSCI’s ESG Ratings are and are not

Sustainable Investing: ESG Ratings (2)


ESG Ratings module

  • LAGGARD

    A company lagging its industry based on its high exposure and failure to manage significant ESG risks

  • AVERAGE

    A company with a mixed or unexceptional track record of managing the most significant ESG risks and opportunities relative to industry peers

  • LEADER

    A company leading its industry in managing the most significant ESG risks and opportunities


Explore our ESG transparency tools

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Explore our ESG transparency tools


Explore our ESG Transparency Tools content - part 1

What goes into an MSCI ESG Rating? Example: Explore the data metrics and sources used to determine the MSCI ESG Rating of a US-based producer of paper products.

Explore our ESG Transparency Tools content - part 2

ESG Fund Ratings Search Tool ESG Fund Ratings aim to measure the resilience of mutual funds and ETFs to long term risks and opportunities.
Index Profile Search Tool Explore ESG and climate metrics for all MSCI equity, fixed income and blended indexes regulated by the EU.

ESG ratings Tabs

Integrating ESG Ratings into the investment process: Key Features

A growing body of client, industry and MSCI research has shown the value of integrating MSCI ESG Ratings to manage and mitigate risks and identify opportunities. We are proud to work with over 1,700 clients worldwide that help inform and improve our ESG Research, including our ESG Ratings methodology and coverage. Investor clients use MSCI ESG Ratings as follows.

Fundamental / quant analyses

  • Fundamental / quant analyses

  • Portfolio construction / risk management

  • Benchmarking / index-based product development

  • Disclosure and reporting for regulators and stakeholders

  • Engagement & thought leadership

  • Stock analysis
  • ESG Ratings used for security selection or within systematic strategies
  • ESG Factor in quant model- identify long term trends and arbitrage opportunities
  • Adjust discounted cashflow models
  • Identify leaders and laggards to support construction
  • Use ratings and underlying scores to inform asset allocation
  • Stress testing, and risk and performance attribution analysis
  • ESG as a Factor in Global Equity Models
  • MSCI ESG Ratings are used in many of MSCI’s 1,500 equity and fixed indexes
  • Select policy or performance benchmark
  • Develop Exchange-Traded-Funds and other index-based products
  • Make regulatory disclosures
  • Report to clients & stakeholders
  • Demonstrate ESG transparency and leadership
  • Engage companies and external stakeholders
  • Provide transparency through client reporting
  • Conduct thematic or industry research

ESG rating Key benefits

Key product features:

We rate over 8,500 companies (14,000 issuers including subsidiaries) and more than 680,000 equity and fixed income securities globally (as of October 2020), collecting thousands of data points for each company.

Forward-looking industry materiality:

We monitor emerging risks and opportunities and focus on the industry issues that are most relevant to its companies’ core business models

Alternative data & models:

While corporate disclosure is an important input into our model, we also gather alternative data from hundreds of media, academic, NGO, regulatory and government sources to supplement those disclosures and uncover additional insights. Our cutting-edge modelling capabilities transform varied sources of unstructured data into meaningful insights

Tech-enabled human insights:

We use artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to increase the timeliness and precision of data collection and analysis, and to check and validate data. Our 200+ strong team of analysts review, validate and transform the data into meaningful insights

Client consultations and innovations:

MSCI ESG Research is constantly evaluating new datasets, monitoring emerging ESG issues and exploring new technologies to improve our research process and the value for clients. We review and recalibrate the ESG Ratings model annually, and seek feedback from our clients on potential changes and enhancements via our annual consultation process. Overthe last seven years, MSCI ESG Research has consulted more than 55 of some of the largest investors globally, to refine our ESG Ratings methodology and expand our coverage

MSCI ESG Research Experience and Leadership

MSCI ESG research experience and leadership

  • We have over 40 years2 of experience measuring and modelling ESG performance of companies. We are recognized as a ‘Gold Standard data provider’3 and voted 'Best Firm for SRI research' and ‘Best Firm for Corporate Governance research' for the last four years3
  • We were the first ESG provider to assess companies based on industry materiality, dating back to 1999. Only dataset with live history (13+ years) demonstrating economic relevance
  • Objective rules based ESG ratings, with an average 45% of data,5 coming from alternative data sources, utilizing AI tech to extract and verify unstructured data
  • First ESG ratings provider to measure and embed companies’ ESG risk exposure4

ESG Ratings Related Content


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Climate and Net-Zero Solutions

To empower investors to analyze and report on their portfolios’ exposures to transition and physical climate risk.1.

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ESG and climate regulation and disclosure resource center for institutional investors, managers and advisors.

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ESG ratings footnotes

MSCI ESG Research LLC. is a Registered Investment Adviser under the Investment Adviser Act of 1940. The most recent SEC Form ADV filing, including Form ADV Part 2A, is available on the U.S. SEC’s website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov(opens in a new tab).

MIFID2/MIFIR notice: MSCI ESG Research LLC does not distribute or act as an intermediary for financial instruments or structured deposits, nor does it deal on its own account, provide execution services for others or manage client accounts. No MSCI ESG Research product or service supports, promotes or is intended to support or promote any such activity. MSCI ESG Research is an independent provider of ESG data, reports and ratings based on published methodologies and available to clients on a subscription basis.

ESG ADV 2A (PDF, 354 KB)(opens in a new tab)
ESG ADV 2B (brochure supplement) (PDF, 232 KB)(opens in a new tab)

1GICS®, the global industry classification standard jointly developed by MSCI Inc. and S&P Global.

2Through our legacy companies KLD, Innovest, IRRC, and GMI Ratings.

3Deep Data Delivery Standard http://www.deepdata.ai/

4Through our legacy companies KLD, Innovest, IRRC, and GMI Ratings. Origins of MSCI ESG Ratings established in 1999. Produced time series data since 2007.

5Source: MSCI ESG Research 2,434 constituents of the MSCI ACWI Index as of November 30, 2017.


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Sustainable Investing: ESG Ratings (2024)

FAQs

How useful are ESG ratings for sustainable investors? ›

Institutional investors – and asset managers acting on their behalf – use ESG ratings and scores to help them make allocation decisions aligned with their values, risk management goals, and long-term performance objectives. Other financial institutions, such as banks and insurers, also consider these metrics.

How reliable are ESG ratings? ›

The ESG score is not a reliable predictor of market success on its own, and there are numerous concerns with the existing lack of rules and transparency surrounding the criteria utilized for grading. Recently, however, agencies worldwide have sought to address these concerns.

Does ESG investing really work? ›

ESG funds have done as well as other funds over time. However, there are many ESG options available and multiple ways to build an ESG portfolio. You should take into account your investment goals and risk tolerance before getting started in ESG investing.

What is considered a good ESG score? ›

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores are an essential tool for investors to assess a company's sustainability and ethical performance. These scores typically range from 0 to 100, with a score of less than 50 considered relatively poor and more than 70 considered good.

Does ESG really matter and why? ›

While there is some evidence that companies with high ESG ratings perform better financially, it is also possible that these companies are simply better managed overall and would perform well even without ESG initiatives.

What are the pros and cons of ESG investment? ›

Pros:
  • Potential for Higher Returns. ESG investing offers an opportunity to capitalize on long-term returns while supporting sustainable and ethical practices. ...
  • Positive Impact. ...
  • Reduced Risk. ...
  • Improved Corporate Behavior. ...
  • Limited Investment Opportunities. ...
  • Potential for Lower Returns. ...
  • Subjectivity. ...
  • Lack of Standardization.
Mar 30, 2023

What is the flaw in ESG ratings? ›

Lack of quality data is traditionally identified as the main barrier to the objectivity of ESG ratings. Agencies tend to rely on self-disclosures from the rated companies or obtain data from third-party sources that is no more reliable than what firms provide themselves.

What are the drawbacks of ESG ratings? ›

Though ESG ratings have faced scrutiny for their perceived lack of precision, inconsistency, and potential role in promoting greenwashing, experts are encouraging the refinement and correction of these drawbacks instead of abandoning the entire ESG rating system.

What is one major issue with ESG ratings? ›

While ESG ratings products can offer value for professionals, caution should be exercised when using ESG ratings information given concerns regarding their utility: Ratings Inconsistencies: Significant inconsistency between the ESG ratings issued by different providers has been documented.

What are the criticisms of ESG? ›

It's overcomplicated and too difficult to achieve

For some organisations (and investment strategies), the biggest priorities that require the most attention will differ, and ESG measures that benefit one area, e.g. society, could potentially have a negative impact on another.

How risky is ESG investing? ›

ESG risks, when poorly managed, can have a significant impact on a company's reputation, finances and long-term viability. The effect of these risks can range from fines and legal penalties to loss of customer, employee and investor confidence.

Why is ESG controversial? ›

Critics say ESG investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers.

What is Tesla's ESG score? ›

ESG Risk Score for Peers
NameTotal ESG Risk scoreE
BAMXF BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG255
TSLA Tesla, Inc.253
SZKMF SUZUKI MOTOR CORP256
DAIN.MX DAIN.MX228
1 more row

Are ESG ratings reliable? ›

ESG ratings don't always accurately predict the ESG risks faced by a company. Many ESG rating agencies imply that their reports can provide an indication of a company's future ESG risk, however, recent studies show that they're not reliably predictive.

What is Apple's ESG score? ›

Industry Comparison
CompanyESG Risk RatingIndustry Rank
HP, Inc.11 Low79 out of 675
Dell Technologies, Inc.15.7 Low246 out of 675
Apple, Inc.16.8 Low283 out of 675
Quanta Computer, Inc.18 Low340 out of 675
1 more row

How important is ESG to investors? ›

Investors increasingly believe companies that perform well on ESG are less risky, better positioned for the long term and better prepared for uncertainty. Companies that realign to the stakeholder capitalism agenda may have a competitive advantage over those that try to return to business as usual.

What are the benefits of ESG for investors? ›

It lets you align your money with your values while also avoiding risks. By focusing on ESG factors, you can invest with confidence by mitigating hidden risks associated with environmental regulations, social unrest, and poor corporate governance.

Is ESG about sustainable returns for investors? ›

The ESG framework takes into account the environmental, social, and governance aspects of an organization's operations. The framework provides a comprehensive approach to sustainable business practices by focusing on these three key areas. This framework has experienced significant development in recent years.

Why is ESG important to sustainability? ›

ESG is important because it helps identify and manage risks, improve social responsibility, enhance long-term sustainability, meet stakeholder expectations, navigate and comply with regulations, and improve access to capital.

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