Alpha-Centric ESG Research

Kyle Rudden

I am an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) analyst with an alpha-centric approach to ESG research. After all, ESG investing is, first and foremost, investing. "Alpha-centric" does not mean apathetic, however. Quite the contrary. I believe global sustainability – i.e., environmental stewardship, social equality, and economic prosperity – is imperative, and private-sector capital is its cornerstone. Private-sector capital still has fiduciary responsibilities. Profitability is necessary for sustained impact. The Triple Bottom Line. People, Planet, AND Profit.

More importantly, you. I value your investment in Smartkarma research, and commit to Insights worthy of your time and money. That means giving ASEAN ESG the attention it deserves, and with Insights that are substantive and differentiated; the intersection of material and under-covered. You can expect investigative research into emergent ESG issues; data-driven analyses of deals (pre-IPO ESG research, ESG-focused M&A consequence analyses, etc.); and trading-oriented ideas like ESG short selling and playing ESG index constituency changes.

I bring both ESG expertise and traditional investing experience, as well as some rather unique perspectives on ESG (a lesson in governance from Enron, anyone?). I spent the last decade exclusively on ESG, researching links to equity returns, credit ratings, cost of capital, and yield spreads. I also contributed to ESG reporting standards (SASB and GRI), and the MBA curriculum (Impact Investing) at the Kellogg School of Management. Previously, I was an Institutional Investor and Wall Street Journal All-Star sell-side analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Please, feel free to contact me about anything.

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes

U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden recently announced four "Day One" priorities for his administration. The first of those priorities is an aggressive seven-point COVID-19 response plan, the first point of which is COVID-19 testing. Testing is Biden's near-term focus, and testing stocks stand to gain.As noted in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/biden-covid-19-response-plan-overview-of-its-inherent-investment-themes" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:45631" rel="noopener">Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes</a>, testing stocks represent the largest, most tangible, and nearest-term investment opportunity amongst the various themes inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (summarised in the Insight linked to above).Don't just back up the truck, however. The plan could be boon for testing stocks,  but it is harldy a "rising tide lifts all boats" scenario. It creates a window of upside for some of testing stocks, though not all, and it's a brief window replete with nuances and caveats. Selectivity and timing are key.This Insight presents an investment thesis for the COVID-19 testing stock theme, specifically vis-à-vis the details of the plan. It consists of two phases (time horizons), and two types of stocks:<ol>
<li>
Nearer-Term: Focus on diagnostic (versus antibody) testing stocks, especially those whose tests have fit best with Biden's "rapid deployment, rapid results" testing strategy. For example, rapid antigent tests, others with fast time-to-results, point-of-care and at-home collection, etc.</li>
<li>
Medium-Term: COVID-19 vaccine progress is a major catalyst for this theme. Vaccines will not end testing altogether (at least not soon), but as mass-vaccination becomes more reality than a dream, it would be wise to shift out of from diagnostic stocks into antibody testing stocks.</li>
</ol>

U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden recently announced four "Day One" priorities for his administration. The first of those priorities is an aggressive seven-point COVID-19 response plan, the first point of which is COVID-19 testing. Testing is Biden's near-term focus, and testing stocks stand to gain.As noted in Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Overview of Its Inherent Investment Themes, testing stocks represent the largest, most tangible, and nearest-term investment opportunity amongst the various themes inherent in Biden's COVID-19 plan (summarised in the Insight linked to above).Don't just back up the truck, however. The plan could be boon for testing stocks,  but it is harldy a "rising tide lifts all boats" scenario. It creates a window of upside for some of testing stocks, though not all, and it's a brief window replete with nuances and caveats. Selectivity and timing are key.This Insight presents an investment thesis for the COVID-19 testing stock theme, specifically vis-à-vis the details of the plan. It consists of two phases (time horizons), and two types of stocks:

Nearer-Term: Focus on diagnostic (versus antibody) testing stocks, especially those whose tests have fit best with Biden's "rapid deployment, rapid results" testing strategy. For example, rapid antigent tests, others with fast time-to-results, point-of-care and at-home collection, etc.

Medium-Term: COVID-19 vaccine progress is a major catalyst for this theme. Vaccines will not end testing altogether (at least not soon), but as mass-vaccination becomes more reality than a dream, it would be wise to shift out of from diagnostic stocks into antibody testing stocks.


Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LH US)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings

Beijing Wantai Biological Phar (603392 CH)

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Its Largest Near-Term Opportunity Is In Testing Stocks

Becton Dickinson and Co

Biden COVID-19 Response Plan: Its Largest Near-Term Opportunity Is In Testing Stocks