Sustainable funds aim for positive environmental and social impact alongside financial returns. They include companies meeting minimum criteria in areas like reducing their carbon footprint or supporting gender equality, or they exclude companies such as tobacco, weapons, or fossil fuel companies.

Research has shown that sustainable investments perform at least as well as non-sustainable investments. 1 Below we show financial performance for ~30 sustainable funds compared to benchmarks such as the S&P 500.

The Global Sustainable Funds tracker shows average return for all ~30 sustainable funds below (US and ex-US); the US Sustainable Funds tracker shows average return for all US sustainable funds below.

Global Sustainable Funds: 1 year performance

Showing 30 funds
Fund Type 1-day 1-week 1-month 3-month 1-year 2-year
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Value ETF (NUMV)
NUMV
ETF 2.01% 1.74% 6.08% 7.39% 23.41% -3.49%
Nuveen ESG Emerging Markets Equity ETF (NUEM)
NUEM
ETF 0.62% -0.65% 0.95% 3.59% 5.09% -4.20%
AXS Change Finance ESG ETF (CHGX)
CHGX
ETF 0.89% 0.79% 3.09% 9.88% 30.95% 7.99%
Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV)
NULV
ETF 1.60% 1.47% 4.96% 7.82% 17.75% 0.51%
FlexShares STOXX US ESG Select Index Fund (ESG)
ESG
ETF 0.97% 0.62% 2.19% 8.59% 31.44% 7.47%
Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Growth ETF (NULG)
NULG
ETF 0.32% 0.16% 3.52% 9.47% 42.32% 12.97%
S&P 500 Index (^SPX)
^SPX
Index 0.86% 0.46% 3.35% 9.76% 31.95% 7.48%
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets ESG Leaders Equity ETF (EMSG)
EMSG
ETF 0.30% -0.21% 1.24% 2.93% 2.12% -7.21%
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG)
NUMG
ETF 0.84% 0.68% 2.91% 4.53% 20.91% 1.08%
iShares ESG MSCI USA Leaders ETF (SUSL)
SUSL
ETF 0.66% 0.11% 3.78% 11.13% 36.19% 9.09%
ClearBridge Large Cap Growth ESG ETF (LRGE)
LRGE
ETF 0.25% -0.64% 1.68% 12.39% 46.01% 12.11%
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML)
ESML
ETF 1.93% 1.65% 3.27% 3.78% 21.84% 2.37%
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD)
ESGD
ETF 0.58% 0.34% 3.44% 5.92% 14.94% 4.11%
Xtrackers MSCI USA ESG Leaders Equity ETF (USSG)
USSG
ETF 0.57% 0.33% 3.77% 11.34% 35.61% 8.88%
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE ESG Leaders Equity ETF (EASG)
EASG
ETF 0.36% -0.07% 2.70% 5.64% 14.93% 3.78%
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC)
NUSC
ETF 1.95% 1.85% 3.58% 4.57% 20.91% 1.80%
NASDAQ NMS COMPOSITE Index (^IXIC)
^IXIC
Index 0.51% 0.18% 2.27% 8.61% 39.35% 7.58%
ClearBridge Dividend Strategy ESG ETF (YLDE)
YLDE
ETF 1.19% 0.64% 2.84% 6.26% 21.62% 5.23%
VANGUARD ESG U.S. STOCK ETF (ESGV)
ESGV
ETF 0.89% 0.58% 2.79% 9.24% 34.31% 7.25%
SPDR MSCI USA Gender Diversity ETF (SHE)
SHE
ETF 1.11% 0.27% 3.17% 11.53% 32.18% 7.36%
iShares MSCI KLD 400 Social ETF (DSI)
DSI
ETF 0.62% 0.21% 3.85% 10.46% 33.59% 7.98%
VANGUARD ESG INTERNATIONAL STOCK ETF (VSGX)
VSGX
ETF 0.38% 0.03% 1.99% 4.19% 12.54% 0.06%
Nuveen ESG International Developed Markets Equity ETF (NUDM)
NUDM
ETF 0.61% 0.13% 3.52% 5.99% 13.94% 4.11%
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU)
ESGU
ETF 0.82% 0.21% 3.17% 9.28% 31.42% 6.45%
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE)
ESGE
ETF 0.09% -0.52% 0.81% 1.32% 5.12% -6.26%
Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI)
^DJI
Index 1.22% 0.63% 2.02% 5.59% 22.59% 6.80%
Impact NAACP Minority Empowerment (NACP)
NACP
ETF 0.90% 0.30% 3.34% 12.26% 35.41% 6.68%
iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG)
SDG
ETF 1.01% 0.06% 2.76% -1.85% 2.28% -3.61%
iShares MSCI USA ESG Select ETF (SUSA)
SUSA
ETF 0.86% 0.37% 3.33% 8.23% 28.67% 6.12%
Impact YWCA Womens Empowerment (WOMN)
WOMN
ETF 0.73% -0.19% 1.45% 8.03% 30.58% 4.54%
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Disclosure: returns data is provided by Ethos for informational purposes only and is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. In addition, Ethos returns data is not intended to serve as a recommendation to buy or sell any security in any account. Ethos returns data is not individualized, does not constitute a research report, and is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision. Full disclosure