News from the ESG Community

Falling Leaves and Economy? By Mel Miller, CFA®, Chief Economist  |  Download PDF Fall is here.  As I watch leaves drifting down to the ground from my office window, I have to ask whether the economy will follow a similar pattern of slowly drifting lower.  The summer was a record-breaker in terms of rainfall here in Wisconsin as flooding captured the headlines.  The economy also is in the record-breaking territory, as the expansion is now the longest continuous expansion in history. 

Record Archived By Mel Miller, CFA® | Chief Economist Download PDF The US economy enters July having achieved the longest economic expansion in history. The economy reversed the contraction that began in July of 2004, starting at the end of the second quarter of 2009.

You’ve probably noticed that the First Affirmative team has been on the road quite a bit over the last few months as we co-present the 2019 Sustainable Investment Solutions (SIS) symposium series. Last week we were in Boston for yet another great SIS event.

Also In this Issue: Outlook — Modest Equity Returns Amid Higher Volatility | Quarterly Performance Benchmarks | Fixed Income Commentary Download PDF Volatility reigns: It just feels better on the upside By Theresa Gusman Volatility reigned in the first quarter. The US stocks surged higher, posting their best quarter in nearly a decade and offsetting the fourth quarter downdraft. Equity markets rebounded worldwide led by China, as US-China trade tensions eased, and the Fed signaled that it is unlikely to raise rates in 2019. The first quarter was the mirror image of the fourth. Growth stocks outperformed value, small outperformed large, economically sensitive sectors topped the performance charts, oil prices rebounded, and China was the top performing market in the world. We remain convinced that the fourth quarter ushered in a period of equity market volatility (which always feels better on the upside), asynchronous and decelerating global economic and profit growth, and negative earnings surprises.

Slowing Continues By Mel Miller, CFA® | Chief Economist Download PDF The December Economic Commentary highlighted my concern that the economy might have slowed “too much.” As I share the first quarter results in this publication, I still can not answer the question. The fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 2.2%. The first quarter GDP slowed from the fourth quarter but by how much? Is a recession on the near horizon? Let’s examine the data.

Government Shutdown Impacts 2019 Proxy Season By Holly Testa Download the PDF The start of this year’s shareholder proposal season was shrouded in uncertainty, as the government shutdown late last year included the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that is responsible for oversight of the process. Companies have the option of filing no action requests with the SEC that, if granted, allow them to omit certain proposals that the SEC deems deficient in accordance with current rules. Shareholders have the option to defend their proposals. The SEC is back in action, but the back log of no action requests is substantial, according to a recent preview, with about three –quarters of over 50 no action requests filed still yet to be decided as of April 1.

PROXY MEMORANDUM Date: March 20, 2019

First Affirmative Financial Network withdrew a shareholder proposal filed at SBA Communications, Inc. that asked the company to issue a report describing the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, performance, and improvement targets. SBA Communications owns and operates wireless infrastructure in the US, Canada, and Central and South America and is a recent addition to the S&P 500. The Company is amongst a small minority of our major portfolio holdings that lack sustainability reporting, and is in the 15% minority of S&P 500 companies lacking such reporting.

Celebrating a Decade of Shareholder Advocacy First Affirmative reached an important milestone at the end of 2018, marking 10 years since we launched our advocacy program, completing our first full year of direct corporate engagement in 2009. We have since pursued an increasingly ambitious advocacy agenda to expand our engagement reach and impact.

Economy Moderates — Too Much? By Mel Miller, CFA® | Chief Economist Download PDF The third-quarter economic growth moderated from the torrid second-quarter expansion of 4.2% annualized, reflecting a healthy 3.5% growth rate. Did the pace continue to slow in the fourth quarter or did the economy rebound to the second quarter level? What is my forecast for 2019? My goal is to answer these questions.