Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks. Plus great Australian ESG stocks, and the best global ethical banks ‘leading the ESG revolution’

Transcript & Links, Episode 116, October 20, 2023

Hello, Ron Robins here. So, welcome to this podcast episode 116 titled “Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks.” It’s presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. And look at my newly revised website at investingforthesoul.com! Tell me what you think.

Now, remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode’s podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts.

Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein.

Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast’s webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, some companies might be covered more than once and there are also 2 article links below that time didn’t allow me to review them here.

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Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks

I’m beginning this podcast with an article on likely your favorite industry. The article is titled Top 20 Renewable Energy Companies in the World. It’s by Sobiya Fahad and found on finance.yahoo.com. Here’s some of what Mr. Fahad says about these stocks.

“To determine the top renewable energy companies we have included information regarding market capitalization, generating capacity, and number of employees for each company… We have ranked the companies based on their market capitalization.

20. Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $1.50

Generating Capacity (GW): 19 GW

No. of Employees: 13,487

Specializing in the design and manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules… Canadian Solar serves customers in over 160 countries.

19. Jinko Solar Holding Co. Ltd. (NYSE:JKS)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $1.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 32.5 GW

No. of Employees: 31,030

Jinko Solar boasts customers throughout the US, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The Chinese solar energy company manufactures and sells solar products such as silicon ingots, wafers, cells, and modules and provides solar system integration services. 

18. Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $3.93

Generating Capacity (GW): 2.5 GW

No. of Employees: 3,353

Plug Power, a crucial player in the hydrogen fuel cell sector, is one of the best renewable energy companies in the world… the company has partnered with major corporations such as Amazon, Walmart, and Home Depot to deploy its fuel cell technology in over 40,000 vehicles worldwide.

17. Suzlon Energy (NSE:SUZLON)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $4.29

Generating Capacity (GW): 20 GW

No. of Employees: 5,800

One of India’s top renewable energy companies, Suzlon Energy, develops, manufactures, sells, and installs wind turbines and solar panels… with operations in over 30 countries.

16. Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (NASDAQ:GCTAF)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $12.93

Generating Capacity (GW): 12 GW

No. of Employees: 27,604

Siemens Gamesa is a global leader in renewable energy and offers a diverse range of equipment and services for onshore and offshore wind turbines, turbine gearboxes, and off-grid systems.

15. Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE:BEP)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $13.47

Generating Capacity (GW): 31 GW

No. of Employees: 3,400

Based in Canada but operating global projects, Brookfield Renewable owns and operates… hydroelectric, wind, solar, distributed generation, and storage facilities.

14. Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $15.57

Generating Capacity (GW): 7.8 GW

No. of Employees: 2,821

With expertise in designing and manufacturing solar micro-inverters, battery energy storage, and EV charging stations for residential customers, Enphase Energy, Inc. has made a name for itself in the American renewable energy sector.

13. First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $16.15

Generating Capacity (GW): 6.5 GW

No. of Employees: 5,500

First Solar is an American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced, eco-efficient solar modules advancing the fight against climate change.

12. Adani Green (NSE:ADANIGREEN)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $18.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 8.3 GW

No. of Employees: 500

Adani Green Energy Limited is an Indian renewable energy company, which develops, builds, owns, operates, and maintains utility-scale grid-connected solar and wind farm projects, with a current project portfolio of 20,434 MW.

11. Orsted A/S (CPH:ORSTED)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $20.51

Generating Capacity (GW): 15.1 GW

No. of Employees: 6,836

Orsted A/S, a global leader in offshore wind, has established wind farms in… the UK, the US, Germany, and Taiwan… The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 and demonstrates its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship.

10. Vestas (CPH:VWS)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $21.25

Generating Capacity (GW): 13.1 GW

No. of Employees: 29,427

The Danish wind energy company… is one of the top renewable energy companies globally.

9. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: CEG)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $33.73

Generating Capacity (GW): 33 GW

No. of Employees: 13,370

Constellation Energy is an energy company based in Baltimore… The company strives to provide a diverse range of energy services, including electricity, nuclear, and natural gas, to businesses, residents, and public sector customers.

8. Exelon Corp (NASDAQ:EXC)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $36.87

Generating Capacity (GW): 31 GW

No. of Employees: 19,063

Exelon Corporation is a leading American energy company. The company has a portfolio of renewable energy assets that includes wind, solar, and nuclear power.

7. ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE (NYSE:EDF)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $56.09

Generating Capacity (GW): 3.6 GW

No. of Employees: 171,490

Known for its generation, transmission, distribution, supply, trading and provision of energy services, Electricite de France SA (EDF) is a comprehensive energy company. It produces electricity from various sources, including nuclear, hydroelectric, gas, fuel oil, coal, and renewable energy. 

6. Enbridge (NYSE:ENB)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $67.26

Generating Capacity (GW): 5.18 GW

No. of Employees: 11,100

Enbridge Inc., headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, owns and operates a vast network of pipelines across North America, transporting crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The company also generates renewable energy.

5. Iberdrola SA (BME:IBE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $68.12

Generating Capacity (GW): 41.25 GW

No. of Employees: 38,702

Iberdrola is a Spanish multinational electric utility company… It specializes in clean energy, such as onshore and offshore wind, pumped hydro, solar photovoltaic, and battery storage.

4. Equinor (NYSE:EQNR)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $93.84

Generating Capacity (GW): 18.5 GW

No. of Employees: 22,000

A Norwegian multinational energy company, Equinor, has a growing presence in renewable energy. The company has set a goal of becoming net-zero by 2050.

3. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $106.81

Generating Capacity (GW): 58 GW

No. of Employees: 15,300

NextEra’s diversified energy company generates and sells electricity wholesale to retail and municipal electricity providers, industrial corporations, and power cooperatives. It invests heavily in renewable energy.

2. General Electric (NYSE:GE)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $117.28

Generating Capacity (GW): 60 GW

No. of Employees: 172,000

GE is one of the largest American multinational corporations and a Fortune 500 company. GE operates in multiple industries, including healthcare and aviation, but is best known for its power and renewable energy innovations.

1. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Market Capitalization (Billion USD): $782.48

Generating Capacity (GW): 6.9 GW

No. of Employees: 127,855

Tesla Energy Operations, Inc. is the renewable energy division of Tesla, Inc. that develops, manufactures, sells, and installs photovoltaic solar energy generation systems, battery energy storage products, and other related products and services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.”

End quotes.

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Three Australian ESG stocks worth watching

This next article is from Australia, but features stocks that non-Australians might also like to consider for their portfolios. It’s titled Three ESG stocks worth watching and is by Grady Wulff. It’s seen on moneymag.com.au. Here’s some of what Mr. Wulff says about his picks.

“1. Woolworths (ASX:WOW)

The supermarket giant has taken significant ESG actions from both environmental and social perspectives such as replacing its petrol-fuelled delivery fleet with electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and the launch of Mini Woolies, a program supporting the education and skills of young Australians with disabilities…

The dilution of Woolworths’ association with gambling, alcohol and tobacco was a major step in achieving the company’s ESG goals.

Morgans recently upgraded Woolworths to a buy rating while Citi and UBS also have respective buy ratings on the supermarket giant on the back of strong FY23 results, particularly earnings growth in Australian Food.

2. Perpetual (ASX:PPT)

The Perpetual Private Investment research team is accountable for the Responsible Investment related reporting and reviewing of all Perpetual Private portfolios which includes ensuring that all ESG factors are appropriately considered throughout the entire investment process…

Furthermore, Perpetual offers thematic investing options that enable clients to align their portfolios with ESG elements that resonate most with their objectives.

The global financial services firm is also a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) to incorporate ESG issues into all investment analysis and decision making.

3. Transurban Group (ASX:TCL)

Operates a diversified suite of Australian toll road assets and toll roads in Northern Virginia in the United States, has also been a popular investment choice among investors and brokers for its ESG commitments.

Transurban boasts ESG-related awards and recognition from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency of Australia, Equileap and the Ethibel socially responsible investment register. It’s also had an MSCI ESG Rating of AAA for the past five years and it became the first ASX20 company to be validated by the Science Based Targets initiative…

UBS and Macquarie both have buy ratings on Transurban and the company’s shares are up 16% over the last five years. In the recent high inflationary environment companies like Transurban have been the beneficiaries of rising inflation as it has an inflation-linked revenue stream with annual escalators through toll road concessions being inflation-linked.” End quotes.

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2023’s Top 10 Ethical Banks Leading the ESG Revolution

Next, I have this article on ethical banks around the world, titled 2023’s Top 10 Ethical Banks Leading the ESG Revolution. It’s by Louis Thompsett and found on fintechmagazine.com. Here are some of Mr. Thompsett’s comments.

“10. Lloyd’s Bank

Lloyd’s Bank is enabling its different divisions to build an inclusive society and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

9. Deutsche Bank

Leading German financial institution Deutsche Bank places its commitment to the environment in supporting its financing and advising clients on a path to meet the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

8. DBS Bank

Singapore’s DBS Bank is the first in the country to sign up for the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, a dedicated alliance to realise a net-zero future by 2050 or sooner.

7. Bank of America

One of the largest national banks in the US, Bank of America has a series of ESG initiatives that make it one of the most important banks when it comes to ESG.

6. Barclays

Another leading UK bank, Barclays has its own ESG Resource Hub – a central website page of information and disclosures to ensure transparency for analysts, ESG investors, rating agencies, suppliers and other stakeholders.

5. JPMorgan

One of the oldest and most successful investment banks, JPMorgan aims to promote sound governance, and serve its customers and communities, all while investing in its employees’ growth and advancing sustainable development.

4. HSBC

Global banking organisation HSBC manages a robust ESG programme, focusing on sustainability risk, climate strategies, and people and communities – all overseen by its leadership and governance structure.

3. Citi

Citi Bank differentiates itself in the ESG space, centralisng ESG as a core part of its business – not issues managed by separate company entities.

2. Standard Chartered

Leading bank Standard Chartered offers a robust sustainable investment programme for its clients, which it can tailor to match a company’s personal values.

1. BNP Paribas

Top of our list is BNP Paribas, which adopts an ESG-first approach across its investment strategies.” End quotes.

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Articles from the UK

1. Title: Which? reveals Britain’s greenest banks on which.co.uk. By Chiara Cavaglieri.

2. Title: Sustainable funds to invest in on moneyweek.com. By Holly Thomas.

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Ending Comment

Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips — for this podcast titled: “Top Global Renewable Energy Stocks.”

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© 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul