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TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2020 Retirement TCLTX Sustainability

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Sustainability Analysis

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Sustainability Summary

TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2020 Fund may not appeal to sustainability-conscious investors.

This fund has above-average exposure to ESG risk relative to its peers in the Target Date 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 provides investors with a signal that reflects to what degree their investments are exposed to risks related to material ESG issues, including climate change, biodiversity, product safety, community relations, data privacy and security, bribery and corruption, and corporate governance, that are not sufficiently managed. ESG risk differs from impact, which is about seeking positive environmental and social outcomes.

One potential issue for a sustainability-focused investor is that TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2020 Fund doesn’t have an ESG-focused mandate. Funds with an ESG-focused mandate would have a higher probability to drive positive ESG outcomes.

TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2020 Fund has an asset-weighted Carbon Risk Score of 8.6, 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.

Currently, the fund has 10.3% involvement in fossil fuels, which is roughly in line with 9.9% for its average category peer. Companies are considered involved in fossil fuels if they derive some revenue from thermal coal, oil, and gas. The fund has a modest level of exposure (8.51%) to companies with high or severe controversies. Companies with controversies are involved in incidents such as corruption, employee abuses, and 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. In addition, they controversies can damage the reputation of both companies themselves and their shareholders.

ESG Commitment Level Asset Manager