Investor Use

Investors & SASB

Today, with market values at multiples of book value, investors are increasingly aware of their exposure to how companies manage intangible assets and an array of other concerns often outside the scope of traditional financial reports, including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, which research shows can affect the long-term value of companies.

In response to this trend, investors and analysts are increasingly looking beyond financial statements and seeking out sustainability data to enhance their understanding of related risks and opportunities.

SASB standards and metrics can help investors benefit from environmental, social and governance (ESG) and other sustainability data that is comparable, consistent, and financially material—empowering them to make better investment and voting decisions.

The Investor Advisory Group (IAG) comprises leading asset owners and asset managers who are committed to improving the quality and comparability of sustainability-related disclosure to investors.

How Investors are Using SASB Today

This case study illustrates how ESG considerations complement UBS’ fundamental equity analysis and capital allocation decisions, and how the development of their proprietary tools used in these decisions were informed by SASB.

ESG Integration Insights presents case studies from asset owners and managers, showcasing best practices for using SASB standards and tools in investment decisions across asset classes.

Ontario Teachers’ Pension Fund and Nordea Asset Management discuss with SASB and PRI how these firms are using SASB standards to fulfill their PRI signatory commitments.

Russell Investments
Materiality Matters: Targeting the ESG Issues that can impact performance – the material ESG score

“Russell Investments has developed a new way to measure a company’s ESG score. Drawing from the metrics developed by industry leaders Sustainalytics and SASB, our new material ESG scores are designed to identify and evaluate only those issues that are financially important to a company. “

Related

SASB standards enable ESG integration across multiple asset classes

Public Equities

  • Data-driven corporate engagement
  • Input to fundamental equity analysis
  • Construct alternative indexes

Corporate Fixed Income

  • Input to credit analysis and internal credit rating assignment
  • Assess quality of disclosure for insight into risk

Private Equity

  • Identify focus areas for fund and portfolio company due diligence
  • Report to GPs and LPs on performance on material ESG topics

Real Assets

  • Use SASB’s Infrastructure sector standards to guide risk assessment and performance reporting for real assets