Skip to Content

AB International Value R AIVRX Sustainability

| Medalist Rating as of | See AllianceBernstein Investment Hub

Sustainability Analysis

Author Image

Sustainability Summary

AB International Value Fund may not appeal to sustainability-conscious investors.

This fund has above-average exposure to ESG risk relative to its peers in the Global Equity Large Cap category, earning it the second-lowest Morningstar Sustainability Rating of 2 globes. Funds with 4 or 5 globes tend to hold securities that are less exposed to ESG risk. ESG risk measures the degree to which material environmental, social, and governance issues, such as climate change, biodiversity, human capital, as well as bribery and corruption, could affect valuations. ESG risk differs from impact, which is about driving positive environmental and social outcomes for society’s benefit.

One potential issue for a sustainability-focused investor is that AB International Value Fund doesn’t have an ESG-focused mandate. Funds with an ESG-focused mandate are more likely to align with the expectations of an investor who cares about sustainability issues. The fund has significant exposure (12.14%) to companies with high or severe controversies. Companies with controversies may be involved in incidents such as corruption, employee abuses, environmental incidents, and corporate scandals that pose some degree of business risks to the company. Severe and high controversies can have significant financial repercussions, ranging from legal penalties to consumer boycotts. Such controversies can also damage the reputation of both companies themselves and their shareholders.

AB International Value Fund has an asset-weighted Carbon Risk Score of 9.1, indicating that its companies have low exposure to carbon-related risks. These are risks associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy such as increased regulation, changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and stranded assets. The fund's current involvement in fossil fuels rests at 10.4%, which compares favorably with 15.5% for its average category peer. Companies are considered involved in fossil fuels if they derive some revenue from thermal coal, oil, and gas.

ESG Commitment Level Asset Manager