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

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

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

The first U.S. Presidential debate that took place on 29 September between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It covered six topics officially, seven with the unplanned addition of Climate Change. That was covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/u-s-presidential-debates-biden-and-trump-butt-heads-over-the-environment" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:43756" rel="noopener">U.S. Presidential Debates: Biden and Trump Butt Heads Over the Environment</a>. In a different debate segment (about 15 minutes each), the topic was the U.S. Supreme Court.The recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Trump's rush to nominate a replacement during a Presidential Election Cycle gave this debate topic a new level of urgency. It is about timing, not the nominee per se. Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The argument is that the next President, and the next Senate, should appoint and confirm.The Supreme Court segment wasn't as heated as others, but broached a time-sensitive topic. There are two more Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate. Different topics. I will watch with an eye and ear out for ESG angles, and write about anything material. One more month.

The first U.S. Presidential debate that took place on 29 September between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It covered six topics officially, seven with the unplanned addition of Climate Change. That was covered in U.S. Presidential Debates: Biden and Trump Butt Heads Over the Environment. In a different debate segment (about 15 minutes each), the topic was the U.S. Supreme Court.The recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Trump's rush to nominate a replacement during a Presidential Election Cycle gave this debate topic a new level of urgency. It is about timing, not the nominee per se. Judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The argument is that the next President, and the next Senate, should appoint and confirm.The Supreme Court segment wasn't as heated as others, but broached a time-sensitive topic. There are two more Presidential debates and one Vice Presidential debate. Different topics. I will watch with an eye and ear out for ESG angles, and write about anything material. One more month. 

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

Fox

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