DFA US Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio has an average Morningstar Sustainability Rating of 3 globes, indicating that the ESG risk of holdings in its portfolio is similar to that of its peers in the US Equity Large Cap Blend category. Funds with 4 or 5 globes tend to hold securities that are less exposed to ESG risk. Unlike impact, which measures positive environmental and societal outcomes attributable to an investment, ESG risk reflects the degree to which investments could be affected by material ESG issues, including climate change, biodiversity, product safety, community relations, data privacy and security, bribery and corruption, and corporate governance.
Based on its latest prospectus, sustainability or ESG factors are a focus in the investment process of DFA US Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio. Funds with ESG-focused mandates are more likely to deliver positive sustainability outcomes. One key area of strength for DFA US Sustainability Core 1 Portfolio is its low Morningstar Portfolio Carbon Risk Score of 6.47 and very low fossil fuel exposure over the past 12 months, which earns it the Morningstar Low Carbon Designation. Thus, the companies held in the portfolio are in general alignment with the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The fund aims to avoid or minimize holdings in companies breaching international norms, including the UN Global Compact or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
By prospectus, the fund aims to avoid, or limit its exposure to, companies associated with controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal, and and small arms. Yet this goal is far from achieved, as the fund exhibits 1.31% and 1.09% exposure to controversial weapons and small arms, respectively. This compares with 1.57% and 0.86% for its average peer in the US Equity Large Cap Blend category. The fund exhibits relatively high exposure (9.34%) to companies with high or severe controversies. Companies with controversies may be involved in incidents such as corruption, employee abuses, and environmental incidents that have a negative impact on stakeholders or the environment. Severe and high controversies can have significant financial repercussions, ranging from legal penalties to consumer boycotts. In addition, they can damage the reputation of both companies themselves and their shareholders.
The fund's 14.4% involvement in carbon solutions is roughly in line with the 13.1% average involvement of its peers in the Large Blend category. Carbon solutions include products and services related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, green transportation, and so on.