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.

U.S. Elections and ESG: Impacts on People, Planet… and Profit (North America)

U.S. Presidential Debates: Biden and Trump Butt Heads Over the Environment

U.S. Presidential Debates: Biden and Trump Argue Governance During Supreme Court Segment

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" Not a Slam Dunk and Has More Bark Than Bite if It Passes

"Delisting Deceitful Chinese Companies Act" (Update): Purgatory, Subtexts, and Laughing to the Bank

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

For most of 2020, global capital markets have singularly fixated on the coronavirus pandemic, first the humanitarian crisis itself and ensuing economic fallout, then more recently economic recovery plans and stimulus packages. However, investor attention is shifting to the 2020 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections, which are just around the corner (Election Day is 3 November).
U.S. elections are always of international interest, but the global implications of this election cycle in particular – on the environment, societies, geopolitics, and world financial markets – are more profound than ever. Wildly divergent political approaches of the Democrat and Republican tickets portend sweeping policy shifts that will have far-reaching repercussions across the globe.
This Insight analyses the 2020 U.S. elections – candidates, policies, and outcomes – in the context of ESG and the Triple Bottom Line: 1) Environmental, 2) Social and Governance, and 3) Economic. Although detailed, the emphasis of this report is major, universally-relevant ESG/TBL implications on a macro level. I go into more detail on specific markets, sectors, and stocks in separate reports.

For most of 2020, global capital markets have singularly fixated on the coronavirus pandemic, first the humanitarian crisis itself and ensuing economic fallout, then more recently economic recovery plans and stimulus packages. However, investor attention is shifting to the 2020 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections, which are just around the corner (Election Day is 3 November).
U.S. elections are always of international interest, but the global implications of this election cycle in particular – on the environment, societies, geopolitics, and world financial markets – are more profound than ever. Wildly divergent political approaches of the Democrat and Republican tickets portend sweeping policy shifts that will have far-reaching repercussions across the globe.
This Insight analyses the 2020 U.S. elections – candidates, policies, and outcomes – in the context of ESG and the Triple Bottom Line: 1) Environmental, 2) Social and Governance, and 3) Economic. Although detailed, the emphasis of this report is major, universally-relevant ESG/TBL implications on a macro level. I go into more detail on specific markets, sectors, and stocks in separate reports.

U.S. Elections and ESG: Impacts on People, Planet… and Profit

Exxon Mobil

U.S. Elections and ESG: Impacts on People, Planet… and Profit