WealthManagement.com – Many Green Funds Stay in the Black
May 30WealthManagement.com features an article about green funds that have maintained solid returns even as many producers of alternative energy have gone bankrupt. The article mentions Pax World Global Environmental Markets Fund (GEM) and quotes Bruce Jenkyn-Jones, GEM portfolio manager, who "expects that the companies in [the] portfolio should increase earnings by 12 percent or 13 percent in the next 12 months." According to the article, Pax World’s GEM Fund has delivered strong returns by "avoiding troubled industries and focusing on growing areas." Click here to read more.
Harvard Business Review – A Diverse Board Is an Independent Board –
May 24Harvard Business Review features a blog post by Pax World’s Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, Julie Gorte, about board independence and board diversity. Gorte writes about the benefits that gender diversity can bring to board deliberations and poses questions about the appointment of management insiders and family or affiliated parties as being inconsistent with the primary objectives of board independence and diversity. Click here to read more.
TriplePundit – Urban Outfitters to Appoint CEO’s Wife to Board
May 24TriplePundit features a blog post by Pax World’s Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, Julie Gorte, about board independence and board diversity. Gorte argues that although corporations should have more women board members because women bring fresh perspectives to the boardroom, the chance that a company insider will be the source of fresh perspectives is questionable. Click here to read more.
Guardian – Business risk to biodiversity and ecosystems is too often overlooked
May 23Guardian features a blog post by Pax World’s Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, Julie Gorte, and Director of Biodiversity and Eco-Systems Services at BSR, Sissel Waage, about factoring biodiversity and ecosystem services into business decision making. Gorte and Waage argue "pathways to integrating these factors into financial risk assessments must become well-established," going on to explain that "initial steps are being taken and the opportunity is now ripe for financial analysts to engage." Click here to read more.
Reuters – HOW TO PLAY IT – Dodging companies before disaster strikes
May 16Reuters features an article about the importance of screening companies based on how they treat workers, especially in light of the April collapse of a factory building in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,200 people. The article quotes Pax World’s Senior Vice President of Sustainable Investing, Julie Gorte, who explains screening companies for workplace safety makes good investment sense. Click here to read more.
Bankrate.com – "3 Ways to Ring Up Value in Telecom Stocks"
April 30Bankrate.com mentions Pax World in an article about telecommunications stocks. Pax World Chief Investment Officer Chris Brown explains telecommunications companies that focus on shareholder returns see increased dividend payouts over time. He believes that “telecom is a defensive place to be while investors watch for more federal spending cuts that could have an effect on the economy.” Click here to read more.
Financial Advisor – “Very Resourceful”
January 04Financial Advisor features Pax World in an article about how investors are casting a wider net around the global environmental markets universe and fishing for attractive long-term growth opportunities. Co-portfolio Manager of the Pax World Global Environmental Markets Fund (PGRNX) Bruce Jenkyn-Jones says, “While the Obama win brings into focus the concerns about the impending fiscal cliff, the relative environmental markets now look more positive than those for other sectors.” Click here to read more.
The Christian Science Monitor – “Can you invest in Middle East peace?”
December 24The Christian Science Monitor mentions Pax World in an article about the opportunities and challenges facing investors interested in using their capital to help encourage reforms in the Middle East. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says that empowering women to be workplace leaders – in the Middle East and elsewhere – is good for the bottom line.
Environmental Finance – “The PRI’s $32 trillion challenge”
December 14Environmental Finance mentions Pax World in an article about how the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) is starting to occupy the 'mainstream' of investment management. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says, "The PRI has worked pretty hard to reframe the assessment so that PRI signatories couldn’t skate off into greenwash."
Investor’s Business Daily – “5 Reasons European Stock Markets Are Beating U.S.”
December 13Investor’s Business Daily mentions Pax World in an article on five catalysts boosting European stock markets to new highs. Pax World International Fund and Global Women’s Equality Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky notes that the European Central Bank’s aggressive economic stimulus, in coordination with similar actions by central banks across Europe, significantly reduced bond yields and borrowing costs, benefiting financials.
Investor’s Business Daily – “Turkey ETF Outranks Global Stock Markets in 2012”
December 10Investor’s Business Daily mentions Pax World in an article about how Turkey has flown higher than all global stock markets this year and could very well be the best investment in Europe for years to come. Pax World International Fund and Global Women’s Equality Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky says that Turkey has been increasing exports to Russia and the Middle East, which should offset eurozone weakness.
Research Magazine– A Win-Win Approach
November 01Research Magazine features an article on sustainable investment opportunities in companies that can help address the long list of challenges facing the world, such as climate change, access to energy resources, adequate food supplies, clean air and water and health care. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says that Sustainable Investing defines itself more in terms of what it invests in than what it screens out. Its aim is to focus on investments in companies that have stronger sustainability profiles, because those profiles are considered to be strong indicators of good management and more forward–looking corporate entities.
Quartz – If men had put women on their boards, we might not be arguing about quotas
October 18Quartz mentions Pax World in an article about greater gender diversity on corporate boards and the role of quotas in Europe and the U.S. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says, “Our business and regulatory culture is more likely to embrace market solutions than mandates.”
Financial Advisor Magazine – Beyond The BRICS
October 01Financial Advisor Magazine features an article that highlights investors’ retreat from the economically pressured BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and moving to the MIST markets (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey), Pax World International Fund and Global Women’s Equality Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky says of Indonesia, “It’s a big place and potentially can be a much bigger player on the global stage.”
NerdWallet – Expert FAQ: Investing for the Greater Good – Do SRI and Impact Investing Really Work?
October 03NerdWallet features an article about investors and entrepreneurs placing their bets on for-profit enterprises that have bottom-line goals of positive social or environmental impact. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte, Ph.D., says, “At Pax, we define what we do as Sustainable Investing, and we differentiate it from SRI in that it is primarily about seeking value, and not investing according to specific values.”
Green Money Journal – From Growth Capitalism to Sustainable Capitalism: The Next 20 Years of Sustainable Investing
September 01Green Money Journal 20th Anniversary Issue focuses on the next twenty years of sustainable investing. The lead article is written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe, who says, “Twenty years from now, we will have either successfully transitioned from our current economic growth paradigm to a new model of Sustainable Capitalism or we will be suffering the calamitous consequences of our failure to do so.”
Barron’s – A Bright Play on China’s Water Shortage
September 15Barron’s features an article about investment plays on China’s water shortage. Ian Simm and Simon Gottelier of Impax Asset Management Ltd, sub-adviser for the Pax World Global Environmental Markets Fund, were interviewed on this investment opportunity and its effect on China Everbright International. Simm says of Beijing’s desperate desire to urbanize, improve its people's standard of living, and encourage more consumer spending: “without investing in waste treatment and water infrastructure, that vision cannot be realized.”
Bloomberg - Brocade Seen Delivering 32% Deal Gain After CEO Departure
August 23Bloomberg features an article about Brocade Communications Systems Inc.’s (BRCD) efforts to sell itself over the past several years. Pax World Growth Fund Portfolio Manager Tony Trzcinka, CFA, says, “They’ve been up for sale for three years and there have been other purchases within this space, but still not them. My hope is that somebody could unlock the value of the businesses.”
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.
CFO–What Does Sustainability Really Cost?
August 28CFO features an article about the use of an integrated financial reporting model that combines tangible financial results with environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says, “Most companies tell you all kinds of things financially and they tell you what they’re supposed to with [corporate] governance,” but not much else.
Glass Hammer – Women in the Boardroom: Moving Critical Mass Forward
August 15Glass Hammer features an article about gender equality in the boardroom and moving critical mass forward. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is quoted: “Conversations are richer, decisions improve, women bring different perspectives to the table, and performance improves.”
Portsmouth Herald – Keefe honored by Women's eNews
June 03The Portsmouth Herald features an article about Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe being named by Women’s eNews as one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century,” as the sole male honoree.
Fox Business – Can You Conquer Investing With a Conscience?
June 12Fox Business features an article on the growth of socially responsible investing and how it is increasingly known to bring a sense of purpose along with strong, solid returns. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says, "The vast majority of literature shows one of two things: one, that those funds perform comparably to non-ESG funds. The other is that they outperform. There are a tiny number of studies that show underperformance.”
Associated Press– FACEBOOK IPO LIVE: The Social Network Goes Public
May 18The Associated Press’s live blog update includes insight from Pax World Balanced Fund Portfolio Manager Chris Brown. In the midst of the first day of trading for Facebook’s IPO, Chris says, "You're going to see obviously an extreme amount of volatility over the next week as people evaluate the stock."
Associated Press– Fund Focus: Pax World Growth (PXWGX)
May 09The Associated Press features the Pax World Growth Fund in an interview with Pax World Portfolio Manager Tony Trzcinka, CFA. Trzcinka discusses his approach to stocks that could benefit from a housing market recovery. He explains, “I’m considering companies that pay dividends, and have diversified products and international sales.”
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.
OnWallStreet – Advisors Must Fight For More Women in Executive Roles
April 26OnWallStreet mentions Pax World in an article on how the lack of women on corporate boards and in executive suites in the United States is hampering profitability, and what investors and investment advisors can do about it. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says of the benefit of women in executive roles: “When women are at the table, the discussion is richer, the decision making process is better, management is more innovative and collaborative and the organization is stronger.”
Associated Press– Not all growth mutual funds take a bite of Apple
May 03The Associated Press features Pax World Growth Fund Portfolio Manager Tony Trzcinka, CFA, in an article on growth fund managers who choose to underweight Apple1 in an effort to focus on long-term results instead of short-term gains.
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.
1As of 4/30/12, Apple, Inc. was 2.5% of the Pax World Growth Fund. Holdings are subject to change.
Financial Times – Companies line up to get out of dollar
March 05Financial Times includes Pax World in an article on a sell-off of dollar-denominated debt on March 5, 2012. In the article, Pax World High Yield Bond Fund Portfolio Manager Mary Austin questioned whether the deals are attractive for investors at current low yields, and says “it’s been hard to be very excited for some of the names that are coming in because yields are very tight, at 5.5 per cent. It’s good for the companies, they manage to increase their cash flow at very low rates. But again, I don’t think I would purchase [high-yield debt] at 5 or 5.5 per cent levels.”
Fast Company – Investing In Women--And Not Just In The Abstract
March 08Fast Company features Pax World in an article about investing in women. The article mentions the Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund and highlights Pax World’s proactive approach by voting its proxies to advance gender diversity on corporate boards. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says, “If, as investors, we don’t exercise our proxy votes to say no to all male boards, then we are part of the problem,”
Reuters – HOW TO PLAY IT: Building a socially responsible portfolio
March 09Reuters mentions Pax World in an article about how to build a socially responsible portfolio. The article includes Pax World as an example of an actively managed fund family that takes a top-down approach to its portfolio construction and looks for companies that fit within its broad investment themes.
The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation – Corporations and Political Spending: A New Lobbying Focus in the 2012 Proxy Season
March 10The Harvard Law School Forum features a blog post by Julie Fox Gorte, Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing at Pax World Funds and Heidi Welsh, Executive Director of the Sustainable Investments Institute (Si2) that discusses a Si2/IRRC Institute report, “Corporate Governance of Political Expenditures: 2011 Benchmark Report on S&P 500 Companies.”
Ethisphere – 2011 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics
February 09Ethisphere names Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe in its list of 2011’s 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics. The article mentions that Joe runs Pax World Investments, a leading Socially Responsible Investment (or Environmental, Social and Governance “ESG”) fund.
CNBC.com – Bond Market Bulls Forever Hopeful
February 13CNBC.com mentions Pax World in an article predicting a continuation of the bull market for bonds this year, albeit with different sectors eventually leading the way. Pax World High Yield Bond Fund Portfolio Manager Mary Austin, CFA, says junk-bond issuers should be in the clear for the next three years before the effects of refinancing at lower rates and extending maturities begin to wear off. “When GDP [growth] is 2 percent or lower, high yield has historically outperformed,’’ she adds.
CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.
Montreal Gazette – Women left out at Davos
January 28The Montreal Gazette features an article on the underrepresentation of women at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says of Pax World’s urging companies around the world to increase female representation on their boards and in their senior-management ranks: "When women are at the table, the discussion is richer, the decision-making process is better, management is more innovative and collaborative and the organization is stronger. Because companies that advance and empower women are, in our view, better long-term investments, we are encouraging companies in our portfolios to enhance their performance on gender issues."
Wharton Journal – How to Incorporate ESG into your Investment Portfolio
January 30The Wharton Journal mentions Pax World in an article on how to incorporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into your investment portfolio. Highlighted as examples are Pax World’s ESG Shares®, that passively track MSCI’s ESG indices (NASI, EAPS), and Pax World’s actively managed funds, specifically Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund (PXWEX).
Bloomberg – Fat Boys on Great Wall Help Harley Cut Yields: Corporate Finance
January 30Bloomberg features an article on how rising profits at Harley-Davidson Inc. are encouraging bond investors to lend to the biggest U.S. motorcycle maker at the lowest interest rates on record. Pax World Chief Investment Officer Chris Brown is quoted in the article saying that, if Harley uses the new bonds to refinance debt due in December, it will save about $10 million a year in interest. He adds, “They should be able to put that money back out there and earn a pretty decent spread.”
Bloomberg – Men in Finance Have `Reprehensible' Dominance
January 31Bloomberg mentions Pax World in an article on male dominance in finance. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says it’s “reprehensible” for an industry to have so many women employees and so few women in management and on boards of directors. “It is evidence of failure to hire, to promote, to retain and to mentor the women,” says Keefe.
SocialFunds.com – Pax World Appoints New Portfolio Manager for Global Women's Equality Fund
January 10SocialFunds.com announces that Ivka Kalus-Bystricky will lead the Pax World Global Women's Equality Fund, which invests primarily in large-cap companies that promote gender equality and women's advancement. Ivka says “some of the world’s most promising, innovative companies are those that empower and advance women so that they can be full contributors. I truly believe the Global Women’s Equality Fund will be able to demonstrate over time that these companies make better long-term investments.”
Women’s eNews – Joseph Keefe: Clout Investor with a Mission
January 04Women’s eNews names Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe as one of its “21 LEADERS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.” As the list’s sole male honoree, Joe is recognized for his work with other organizations to help increase the number and percentage of women on corporate boards. Joe says, “In this day and age for women to constitute such a small percentage of corporate board seats is absurd. We can't let companies get away with that anymore."
Green Money Journal – Sustainable Investing: Putting the Economy Back Together
December 01Green Money Journal features an article on Pax World’s Advocacy Initiative Results for the 2011 proxy season. The article details how Pax World focused on environmental and governance related initiatives, and also added its voice to several shareholder initiatives to improve public policies or company protocols and disclosures with respect to gender and human rights, financial reform, and workplace practices. In addition, Pax World co-filed five shareholder resolutions, two of which were successfully withdrawn.
Bloomberg Businessweek – What Do You Think Business Leaders Need to Learn?
November 11Bloomberg Businessweek features a slideshow of 25 professionals discussing what they think are the most important things to teach business leaders. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is quoted saying, "We should be teaching them to be leaders rather than managers, with an agenda that is more expansive than simply the bottom line. A leader's vision takes in the interests of all stakeholders—shareholders, employees, customers, civil society, and the ecological commons—and then innovates to produce sustainable value over the long term.”
The Huffington Post – Occupy Wall Street and Publicly Funded Elections: A Challenge to the Financial Community
October 24The Huffington Post features a blog written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe on how the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protests have not only reminded us that our political system is broken, but that a major reason for this is the stranglehold that corporate interests and financial elites have on Congress. Keefe calls upon the OWS protestors and responsible members of the financial and business communities to rally around the idea of public funding of federal elections as the most important reform we could make.
Portfolio holdings as of 10/31/11: Deere & Co. (0.2%) and EMC Corp. (0.2%). Holdings are subject to change.
ForbesWoman - A Solution For A Struggling Global Economy: Gender Equality
October 14ForbesWoman features an article written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe and Women Thrive Worldwide President Ritu Sharma on gender equality as the key to a global economic recovery. The article presents women as the world’s third largest “emerging market” after China and India.
TheStreet.com – Time to Double Up on Deere, EMC
August 31TheStreet.com features Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Balanced Fund Portfolio Manager Chris Brown in an article on some of the industries and companies he is currently investing in. Click here to read the article or click here to view the video.
Green America – Investing to Empower Women
October 01Green America features an article on how socially conscious investors have been making investments in companies that make equal rights for women a priority. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is quoted saying, “Eliminating gender inequality and empowering women are finally being recognized, on a global basis, for what they are—urgent moral and economic imperatives.” The article goes on to mention the Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund as one fund that makes women’s empowerment its primary focus.
BusinessNH Magazine – Sustainable Investing
September 02BusinessNH Magazine features an article written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe on the benefits of sustainable investing and what he believes the future holds for it. The article presents evidence linking Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) or sustainability performance with financial performance.
FA Green – Fukushima Disaster Hasn’t Triggered Nuclear Ban
August 03FA Green features Pax World in an article on the views of socially conscious investors toward nuclear-related companies. The article offers the perspectives of Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte and Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky on investing in the sector.
Wall Street Journal–US Stocks Fall Near Day's Lows In Late Trading
August 10The Wall Street Journal includes Pax World’s perspective in an article on the recent stock market decline. Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of the Pax World Balanced Fund Chris Brown says, "The market can go from euphoria to depression at the flick of a switch. People are concerned about France's ratings, and the banks are under an extreme amount of pressure."
Women’s eNews – Women with Assets Demand Inclusive Company Boards
July 13Women’s eNews mentions Pax World in an article that advocates a proactive stance in incorporating gender equality on corporate boards through shareholder proxy votes. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is mentioned as a co-chair for a Women’s Funding Network event hosted earlier this year, urging investors to withhold support from all-male director slates.
CNNMoney.com – Make money off of feel-good investing
June 27CNNMoney.com suggests ways its readers can invest with their consciences. The Pax World Balanced Fund is mentioned in the piece, noting that it is “known for steady management.”
Bloomberg BusinessWeek – Boys Only Boards
June 23Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports on the 29 companies among the S&P 500 Index with all-male boards and no women in leadership positions. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is quoted in the article regarding concern around the initial progress of companies adding women to boards as tokenism, adding “Many companies said, ‘We have one woman on our board now, so we can check that box off; we have quote unquote gender diversity.’”
East Texas Review – Stop Investing in Sexism
May 31Martha Burk, director of the Corporate Accountability Project for the National Council of Women’s Organizations, writes that shareholders need to push for an increase in the proportion of female board members at the companies they invest in. Pax World is recognized as a company that has stepped up to the challenge in the fight against sexism for its work around gender equality as an investment concept.
FA Green Magazine – Emerging Opportunities
June 01FA Green Magazine reports on Sustainable Investing opportunities in emerging markets. Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky is quoted in the article about her focus on Turkey, and says, “It’s the link between the West and the East, [and I believe] its economy is on the right part of the S curve.” Also quoted in the article is Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte, who explains that Pax World analyzes the same criteria for all markets and doesn’t look at emerging markets differently. S Curve: A type of curve that shows the growth of a variable in terms of another variable, often expressed as units of time.
Women Advisors Forum – “Power Unused is Power Useless” – A Case for Gender Lens Investing
April 26Women Advisors Forum features a blog post written by Jacki Zehner, Women Moving Millions Co-Chair and Pax World Women’s Advisory Council member. The post describes how Gender Lens Investing, a for-profit investment approach which seeks positive return alongside the advancement of women and girls, could vastly accelerate the movement to a more gender balanced world. Pax World’s Global Women’s Equality Fund is offered as an example of a way to invest in companies that are leaders in promoting gender equality in the work place and beyond.
AdvisorOne – Investing with Standards
June 01An AdvisorOne article features a Q&A with Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe about Socially Responsible Investing and Sustainable Investing, how they differ, and ESG Shares®. In the article, Keefe says that “Sustainable investing maintains that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria have financial materiality, and that taking them into account — not only through portfolio construction but also through proxy voting, shareholder engagement and related strategies — is a smarter way to invest over the long term.”
Associated Press – A primer on small-cap stocks hitting record high
May 04The Associated Press reports that the most widely used benchmark of small-cap stocks, the Russell 2000 index, hit an all-time high on May 2. Regarding whether the index’s performance might continue, Pax World Small Cap Fund Portfolio Manager Nathan Moser, CFA, says, “We’ve had a really strong run, and normal volatility would suggest the market could cool off a bit, but over the longer term, I think small-caps will continue to outperform.”
Financial Times, “Women at the Top” blog – Women-savvy companies: a better investment
April 25The Financial Times’ “Women at the Top” blog publishes a post authored by Pax World Women’s Advisory Council Chairwoman Linda Tarr-Whelan. In the post, Linda presents the business case for why investors should focus on women-savvy companies.
Los Angeles Times – Much corporate political spending stays hidden
April 23The Los Angeles Times reports on a review of company records that finds only a few of the country’s 75 leading energy, healthcare and financial services corporations fully disclose political spending. This has prompted some investors to push companies to post annual reports where the public can view a comprehensive list of a corporation’s political spending. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says “as shareholders, we think we have a right to know how the money is being spent.”
The Morning Call – Ways pollution hurts health and ideas to heal the Earth
April 21In honor of Earth Day, The Morning Call publishes a list of ways in which climate change is threatening our health and how to make a positive impact on the planet. It mentions Pax World Mutual Funds as a way to “Invest in a healthy planet” by investing in companies with good social and environmental performance.
CNNMoney.com – 100 best money moves
April 18CNNMoney.com lists the “100 Best Money Moves” in its annual guide to the top investments, deals, products and strategies for better financial decisions. The Pax World Balanced Fund is listed under “Move 93: Do good with these funds,” as a “standout choice” for a fund that follows a sustainable approach and has produced competitively strong returns.
SocialFunds.com –Pax World Launches Campaign to Promote Gender Diversity of Corporate Boards
April 07SocialFunds.com features an article announcing Pax World’s “Say ‘No’ to All-Male Boards” campaign which asks institutional investors to adopt proxy voting policies that encourage the election of women to boards of directors. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe urges institutional investors to “consider adopting a proxy voting policy, like Pax World’s, that commits your organization to raising its voice in favor of gender diversity on corporate boards.”
The Huffington Post –Saying “No” to All-Male Corporate Boards
April 06Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe and Women Moving Millions Co-Chair Jacki Zehner wrote a blog titled “Saying ‘No’ to All-Male Corporate Boards” that is featured on the Huffington Post. The piece aims to answer why progress in electing women to corporate boards has been so slow and what can be done differently to accelerate it.
InvestmentNews – Financial aftershock: Portfolio managers focus on energy stocks
March 20Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky is quoted in an InvestmentNews article, which reports that in the wake of the devastation in Japan, U.S. portfolio managers are closely watching the energy, pharmaceutical and infrastructure sectors.
The Glass Hammer – Investor Activism – How Investors Can Make a Difference for Women
March 17Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe and his paper, “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept” were featured in an article in The Glass Hammer. Keefe believes that shareholders should demand more from the companies in which they invest. “It makes sense for investors to get involved. Gender issues can have financial relevance, and there is plenty of research to back that up,” he explains.
MarketWatch - Japan Crisis Affects Wide Swath of Funds
March 16MarketWatch reports that Japan’s nuclear crisis has affected mutual funds invested in Japan, as well as a broader swath of funds. Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky is now looking more closely at Japan to see where the market may have over reacted. In the article, she says, “A 20% or 25% correction over three days usually smells of panic, and is usually a pretty good opportunity to at least look around.”
InvestmentNews – Nuclear-power stocks suffer meltdown in wake of Japan quake
March 14Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky is quoted in an InvestmentNews article, which reports that in the wake of the disaster in Japan, mounting fear about the safety of nuclear power is causing a sell-off in nuclear-power stocks.
New Hampshire Public Radio, “Word of Mouth” - When Women Rule the (Corporate) World
March 14Virginia Prescott, host of “Word of Mouth” on New Hampshire Public Radio, interviews Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe regarding his paper, “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept.” During the segment, Keefe explains why investing in women makes good financial sense.
AdvisorOne – Empowering Women: Corporations and Non-Profits Are Pushing for Parity
March 07An AdvisorOne article cites a paper written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe titled, “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept.” The article highlights some of Keefe’s recommendations for ways investors can make a difference.
AdvisorOne – Does Gender Equality Matter to Corporate Performance?
March 04An AdvisorOne article features a paper written by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe titled, “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept.” In the article, Keefe says that “there is an urgent need for economic and investment strategies that are focused on long-term value creation rather than short-term profits derived from financial engineering… Investing in women… is just such a strategy.”
USA Today Supplement: Investing in Women and Girls - Gender Equality as an Investment Concept
March 04In honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, USA Today produced a special supplement entitled “Investing in Women and Girls.” Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is featured as an expert panelist and author of the op-ed, “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept.” In his piece, Keefe says, “When it comes to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment, it’s time for investors to be part of the solution.”
Morningstar.com – Socially Responsible ETF Starts Trading
February 07In its ETF Weekly report, Morningstar.com mentions the launch of the Pax MSCI EAFE ESG Index ETF, which is part of ESG Shares®, the first family of exchange-traded funds devoted exclusively to a Sustainable Investing approach. The new ETF seeks to track the performance of the MSCI EAFE ESG Index, which consists of equity securities of issuers in developed markets in Europe, Australasia and the Far East that meet specific Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria. Click and scroll down to read more. The funds described herein are indexed to an MSCI index. The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI or its affiliates, and neither MSCI nor its affiliates bear any liability with respect to any such funds or securities or any index on which such funds or securities are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI and its affiliates have with ESG Shares and any related funds.
ETF Database – Pax World Launches Socially Responsible EAFE ETF (EAPS)
January 31Pax World is featured in an ETF Database article announcing the launch of the second product in its ESG Shares lineup, the Pax MSCI EAFE ESG Index ETF (EAPS). The article highlights that EAPS will be the first ETF based on a sustainability or ESG-based index to target the EAFE region. For the full article, click here. The funds described herein are indexed to an MSCI index. The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI or its affiliates, and neither MSCI nor its affiliates bear any liability with respect to any such funds or securities or any index on which such funds or securities are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI and its affiliates have with ESG Shares and any related funds.
Index Universe – Pax Launches Sustainable EAFE ETF
January 28Pax World is featured in an Index Universe article announcing the launch of its second ETF, the Pax MSCI EAFE ESG Index ETF (NYSE Arca: EAPS). For the full article, click here. The funds described herein are indexed to an MSCI index. The funds or securities referred to herein are not sponsored, endorsed, or promoted by MSCI or its affiliates, and neither MSCI nor its affiliates bear any liability with respect to any such funds or securities or any index on which such funds or securities are based. The Prospectus contains a more detailed description of the limited relationship MSCI and its affiliates have with ESG Shares and any related funds.
Fortune.com – Gender diversity on U.S. boards coming anytime soon?
January 25Pax World is featured in a Fortune.com article on gender diversity in the boardroom. The article points out that despite new requirements forcing companies to disclose efforts to diversify their boards, women are still greatly underrepresented. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe believes that gender equality on boards could be possible by 2020 and says “We can reach 50% and that should be our goal. Companies will benefit. There is a strong economic case.”
The Boston Club – The 2010 Census of Women Directors and Executive Officers of Massachusetts Public Companies
January 15Pax World is featured in The Boston Club’s 2010 Census of Women Directors and Executive Officers of Massachusetts as a company making a difference in advancing gender diversity. The report highlights Pax World’s Women’s Empowerment Platform, which includes its Global Women’s Equality Fund and Women’s Advisory Council. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe says, “At Pax World, we think the status and role of women is an excellent clue to a company’s growth potential. We see gender equality as an investment concept.”
SocialFunds.com – Small Companies Lagging in Climate Change Reporting
January 12SocialFunds.com highlights the findings from a new report released by Pax World and Clean Air-Cool Planet titled “Risk and Opportunity in a Low-Carbon Business Climate.” The report finds small-cap and mid-cap companies lag behind their large-cap counterparts in disclosing climate-related risks and opportunities to investors.
FA Green – Small Companies Could Face Big Risks From Climate Change
January 04FA Green features the announcement of a new report from Pax World and Clean Air-Cool Planet titled “Risk and Opportunity in a Low-Carbon Business Climate.” The report assesses the degree to which small-cap and mid-cap companies inform their investors of business risks and opportunities related to climate change. The study notes that, generally, reporting is inadequate among smaller companies. The Pax World Small Cap Fund, however, looks at company records on climate change, as well as other environmental issues, before investing in them. While the pressure has mostly been on large companies for this type of disclosure, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte says that “small companies will have to pay attention to this, too.”
The Glass Hammer – Men Who Get It: Joe Keefe, President and CEO, Pax World
November 11The Glass Hammer profiles Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe in their “Men Who Get It” column, highlighting his past experiences, as well as the work Pax World does around gender equality. Keefe explains that Pax World’s women’s empowerment platform “goes beyond putting more women in the boardroom or senior management. Investing in women and girls is a critical strategy for promoting sustainable development and alleviating global poverty.”
The Glass Hammer – The Future of Women in Financial Services at the NCRW’s Women and Money Luncheon
November 11The Glass Hammer reports on the “Women and Money” luncheon hosted by the National Council for Research on Women. The event focused on discussing the next steps in getting more women into the financial services sector. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe, a panelist at the luncheon, explained, “You asked for proof [that diversity is good for business] – and I think the proof is already there. It’s just not widely disseminated.”
The Glass Hammer – Coalition of Investors Calls for Gender Diverse Leadership
November 09This piece in The Glass Hammer reports that Pax World, Calvert and Walden Asset Management have come together to call on companies across the world to increase the representation of qualified women on boards of directors and in senior management. Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte said “women are under represented on boards. They are better represented now than they have been previously, but the needle hasn’t moved far.”
Pensions & Investments - Pax World joins forces with women's group
November 01Pensions & Investments features Pax World’s strategic partnership with 85 Broads and highlights the new joint effort around gender as an investment concept. The article notes that Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe “expects there will be a range of issues on which Pax World… and 85 Broads can collaborate.”
Dow Jones - Companies Change Tack, Seek Closer Ties As Investors Gain Clout
September 15This Dow Jones piece describes the growing influence of shareholders and highlights how this has prompted some public companies to start building stronger ties with their large investors. In the article, Pax World Senior Vice President of Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte joins other experts in commenting on the trend.
FA Green – Gender Equality Fuels Performance
September 01This piece featured in FA Green’s September issue outlines Pax World’s work around shareholder advocacy and gender equality. It also mentions Pax World’s efforts to urge companies to embrace the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles and discusses the types of companies that Pax World seeks for its Global Women’s Equality Fund. The piece points to Pax World’s belief that gender diversity is an excellent clue to a company’s growth potential. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe explains that “when women are at the table, the discussion is richer, the decision-making process is better, and the organization is stronger.”
Bloomberg - Women Call for Obama to Act: Linda Tarr-Whelan, Jacki Zehner
August 26This op-ed, co-authored by Pax World Women’s Advisory Council Chairwoman Linda Tarr-Whelan and Women’s Funding Network Vice Chairwoman Jacki Zehner, emphasizes the importance of increasing the number of women in leadership positions. It appeared on August 26, also known as Women’s Equality Day. The piece states that by having more women in decision-making roles at companies, investors can ultimately achieve better economic performance. The op-ed mentions the Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund, and its focus on “betting that companies with more diverse leadership will perform better than others.”
InvestmentNews – Money managers see pay dirt in oil crisis
June 13This InvestmentNews piece looks at the different sectors in which investing opportunities have emerged as a result of BP’s oil spill. Pax World Global Green Fund Co- Portfolio Manager Bruce Jenkyn-Jones “likes companies involved with the clean up” and says that “in the short term, we are looking for companies that could benefit in the next quarter.” However, Jenkyn-Jones goes on to explain that he thinks environmental consultants are a good investment in the long term.
FA Green – Utilities Power Up Green Initiatives
June 01FA Green features Pax World in an article about mutual funds that hold utility investments focused on renewable energy and smart-grid initiatives. The piece discusses water utility holdings in Pax World’s Global Green Fund, including one that will “enable people in the slums to get water for the first time in their lives,” according to Simon Gottelier of Impax Asset Management Group Ltd, sub-adviser to the Pax World Global Green Fund.
Barron’s – We’re Talking Turkey
May 29This piece in Barron’s explains that investors looking for a growing emerging market may want to consider Turkey. Pax World International Fund Portfolio Manager Ivka Kalus-Bystricky says in the article that she believes “the perception of sovereign risk in Turkey is greater than actual risk.”
SocialFunds.com - Pax World Launches Family of Sustainable Exchange Traded Funds
May 20This piece on SocialFunds.com announces Pax World’s launch of ESG Shares®, the “first family of exchange traded funds (ETFs) devoted exclusively to a sustainable investing approach.” In the article, Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe explains that the launch of these ETFs “builds on our investment platform. Our mutual funds to date have all been actively managed funds. Now we’re managing a series of passively managed index funds as well.”
Financial Planning - SRI Player Pax World Launches ESG Family of ETFs
May 19This piece in Financial Planning discusses the launch of ESG Shares ETFs® and their Sustainable Investing approach, adding that “Pax World is the first to introduce a group of such funds to investors.” Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe explains that Pax World is hoping “to capitalize on the growing popularity of ETFs, which has spread beyond institutional investors to envelop financial advisors who want them for their clients, and the fast-growing interest in sustainable investing principles.”
Grist - Will an SEC ruling convert short-term greed into long-term sustainability?
April 16In a panel discussion produced by Grist, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte Ph.D, joins other panelists in discussing the Securities and Exchange Commission’s January decision to approve “guidelines that urge companies to regularly disclose climate change-related risks to investors.” In the segment, Gorte discusses a rising tide of investor sentiment regarding the materiality of climate change.
Huffington Post - Financial Reform Needs to Protect Investors
April 07In and op-ed published in the Huffington Post, Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe and CEO of Social Investment Forum Lisa Woll discuss Senator Dodd’s financial reform bill. The piece underscores the need to empower shareholders and offers recommendations of ways to strengthen the legislation as it moves through Congress.
FA Green - Just For Financial Advisors
April 06FA Green’s Dorothy Hinchcliff blogs about the recently-launched ESG Managers Portfolios, a family of asset allocation funds introduced by Pax World and Morningstar Associates, and why they may be attractive for financial advisors. In this piece, Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe notes that Pax World believes ESG Managers Portfolios “provide turnkey, one-stop solutions for financial advisors whose clients seek to capture the investment returns associated with superior ESG or sustainability performance.”
The Deal – The Cost of Clean
April 02Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe is interviewed by The Deal regarding environmental due diligence becoming a vital part of the merger and acquisition process. In the cover story, Mr. Keefe notes that “sustainability is understood as a financial as well as a social concept,” and that a “company that has developed a strong reputation in ESG is going to be a strong acquisition target.”
Omaha World-Herald - U.P. CEO’s compensation down $1M
April 01In an Omaha World-Herald article discussing Union Pacific’s executive compensation, Pax World is mentioned for submitting a proposal that the position of chairman be independent from that of CEO, as an independent chairman is in a better position “to take a long-term view of the company’s needs.” The piece notes that “Union Pacific’s board said it recommends that shareholders vote against the proposal.”
U.S. News & World Report – Kick-Start a Portfolio With Just a Little Cash
March 02In this piece about starting a portfolio with $1,000 or less, Pax World Funds are mentioned as an option for investing in actively managed funds for as little as $250. The article further notes that the Pax World Balanced Fund “provides diversification by investing in both U.S. and foreign stocks and bonds.” Diversification does not eliminate risk.
Barron’s – Going Green With Mutual Funds
March 01The ESG Managers Aggressive Growth Portfolio is mentioned in this special report in Barron’s. The piece discusses green investing, and details why the author(s) believe that actively managed funds are the best way to invest in environmentally friendly companies.
TheStreet.com – Junk Bonds Could Rally in Sluggish Economy
February 18Manager Mary Austin, CFA® is interviewed in this edition of TheStreet.com’s Fund Manager Five Spot, which profiles some of America’s top mutual fund managers. In the piece, Austin, who manages the Pax World High Yield Bond Fund, provides an overview of her current favorite high-yield sectors and explains that the number of issues and pace of recovery could potentially bring healthy returns to junk bond investors.
Investment Advisor – The Green Advisor: Adding ESG to Asset Allocation
January 27Investment Advisor interviews Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe and Morningstar Associates Managing Consultant Jon Hale, PhD, CFA®, regarding the launch of ESG Managers® Portfolios. In the piece, Keefe explains how the new series of four multi-manager asset allocation funds provides advisors with an easy, turnkey solution they can offer clients interested in “socially responsible,” “green” or “sustainable” investments.
FA Green – The Socially Conscious Advisor
January 04FA Green interviews five fund company executives in the socially responsible/Sustainable Investing industry, including Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe, to get their take on the investing outlook for the coming year. In the piece, Keefe discusses how the financial crisis has led to the creation of opportunities for investment strategies focused on Sustainable Investing – the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis and decision making.
Forbes.com – When Mutual Funds Get Strange
November 05The Pax World Women’s Equity Fund and High Yield Bond Fund are mentioned in a Forbes Intelligent Investing Panel piece regarding Sustainable Investing. The piece discusses mutual funds that are managed by women and examines the findings of the Women in Fund Management report, issued by the National Council for Research on Women.
Forbes – Last Chance For Junk
October 29The Pax World High Yield Bond Fund was featured in a Forbes article regarding investing in non-investment grade (“junk”) bonds. In the piece, Portfolio Manager Mary Austin discusses her strategy and the rationale behind some of the Fund’s holdings.
Wall Street Journal – Uncharted Waters
October 21There is a growing desire among global investors to hold specialized commodities, including water. This article analyzes the trend, and explains that as global populations grow, water has become more scarce and in turn, a much more vital commodity. According to Michael Herbst, a Morningstar fund analyst, “Most investors probably don’t need a water fund, and could perhaps get water exposure through companies already in their own portfolio. Or, they could go with an environmental fund that offers water exposure, such as Pax World Global Green Fund.”
Wall Street Journal — The Price of Green
October 05In a Wall Street Journal article regarding investing in “green” funds, The Pax World Global Green Fund is mentioned as part of a group of funds that branch into broader sectors of the economy as opposed to the more narrow focus of some other alternative energy funds. The piece also notes that because of an “eco-friendly White House, economic-stimulus money earmarked for alternative-energy technology and proposed legislation in Congress that seeks to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and establish standards for energy efficiency,” the future looks promising for companies involved in the green industry.
Boomer Market Advisor — Bubble-proof Your Clients' Retirement
October 01This article, authored by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe, discusses how retirement plan investors were unnecessarily harmed by the financial crisis as the nation’s 401k plans replaced sound financial planning with bubble economics. He goes on to detail affirmative steps that he believes will help reform the 401(k) system and protect retirement investors from such downturns in the future.
NECN’s Business Day — Study: Would More Women Have Lessened Economic Crisis
September 21One year after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing economic crisis that forever changed Wall Street, Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe joined NECN’s Business Day to share his thoughts on the findings of the recent report by the National Council for Research on Women, which examined whether the financial meltdown would have been less severe if more women had been involved in fund management.
CBS Evening News — Does Wall Street Need More Women?
September 10Pax World was featured in a CBS Evening News segment about whether the economic meltdown would have been as severe if more women had been in executive suites on Wall Street. The CBS feature noted that three of Pax’s six in-house Portfolio Managers are women. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe was quoted, “I do think that when women are at the table, there’s a richer discussion on issues like risk and that you make better decisions because of their input.”
SocialFunds.com — Many SRI Funds Are Outperforming Benchmarks in 2009
August 21Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is featured in an article discussing the Pax World fund’s investment performance in the first half of 2009 and Pax World’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) overlay in identifying investment themes.
SocialFunds.com — UNEP Hones Legal Argument for ESG Incorporation in Investments in New Study
July 22Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte is featured in an article announcing a new report by the Asset Management Working Group (AMWG) of the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), which argues that financial consultants may well have a legal duty to proactively raise ESG issues with their clients, and that ESG issues be embedded into legal contracts between asset owners and asset managers. According to Gorte, who is co-chair of the AMWG, “UNEP FI exists because over 170 banks, insurance companies and asset managers believe that integrating ESG analysis into financial decision-making is crucial, for the proper functioning of financial markets and for the continued health of the planet and its societies.”
TheStreet.com — Berkowitz, Nygren Build Big Stakes in Health
June 10Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is featured in an article regarding opportunities for investing in health care stocks. Chris explains that the Pax World Balanced Fund currently owns shares of companies that make health care supplies, such as syringes and surgical blades, because in his opinion “no matter what happens, we will need reliable sources of health supplies,” and these companies within the health care sector are less likely to be affected by changes in government policies.
Fox Business News — Pax World's Sustainable Investing
May 28Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is interviewed live from the 2009 Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago. In this segment, he talks about Sustainable Investing—the full integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis and decision making.
Wall Street Journal — Principled Investing Gains More Fans
May 13According to the Wall Street Journal, more workers today are interested in 401K plans that include funds that align with their personal values. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe believes this is due to “a shift in the perception of investing,” and that investors “see sustainability and good governance as better for their portfolios.” Today, mainstream investors are looking for these types of investment options that have a positive social impact.
The Huffington Post — Bankruptcy Relief for Homeowners at Risk of Foreclosure
April 26This op-ed by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe discusses the importance of bankruptcy relief and a transition to long-term thinking in the current economic crisis. According to Keefe, “a strong housing bill is essential if economic recovery is to proceed.” He goes on to detail issues related to foreclosure, past solutions that have failed, and what he considers a “common sense solution” to the current problem. The bill that was passed by Congress unfortunately did not include the bankruptcy relief advocated by Keefe.
GreenMoney Journal — Ten New Green Mutual Funds
April 15GreenMoney Journal featured 10 new funds, three of which are from Pax World. The article highlights Pax World’s Global Green Fund, International Fund and Small Cap Fund as ways for investors to “participate in social and environmental responsibility while profiting from our expanding need to conserve and sustain global resources.”
Investment News — Funds Expected to Rebound When Investors Stop Reeling
April 12This article discusses the growth of green investing, and explains why industry experts believe investor interest will pick up again once the markets stabilize. According to Bruce Jenkyn-Jones, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Pax World Global Green Fund, “I believe the case for investing in green companies remains strong,” and the sector is expected to grow “once investors regain their confidence.”
FA Green — Opinion: Excessive Executive Comp Hurts the Economy
April 01Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, discusses strengthening the voice of shareholders regarding executive compensation. She further details what Pax World is doing, and how the average investor can provide meaningful input to companies regarding executive compensation.
The Motley Fool — The Search for Women in the Boardroom
March 31This article notes that “For those interested in gender diversity”, Pax World and KLD’s groundbreaking Gender Investment Index Series is a way to find “promising investment candidates.” The objective of The Gender Investment Index Series is “demonstrating that gender equality is an important indicator of financial health, and that companies that empower women and encourage gender diversity.”
Morningstar — Getting Kids Started in Investing
March 24It’s important for young investors “to learn about investing by doing it themselves.” The Pax World Balanced Fund, managed by Chris Brown, is featured in this article as a “fund to consider for a child or teenager who’s dipping his or her toe into the waters of investing.” With “a very low $250 minimum initial investment,” the Pax World Balanced Fund is “one of the best socially responsible funds out there, with a strong long-term track record and reasonable expenses.”
Fund Action — Pax World, KLD Developing Gender Indexes
March 13Pax World and KLD announced the launch of a Gender Index Series for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that promotes sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development. The series of indexes will “focus on corporations with acute gender awareness programs and that have women in management positions and sitting on their boards.” According to Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, “gender empowerment is good for financial performance.”
Social Funds — Goal of New Index Series Is to Advance Gender Equality
March 11On March 8, International Women’s Day, Pax World and KLD announced that they will construct the first Gender Investment Index series for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in an effort to “increase interest among corporations and investors in gender empowerment.” Research shows that there is a “positive correlation between gender diversity in Boards of Directors and senior management and the quality of earnings reported by companies,” says Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing.
FA Green — Top 10 for Women
March 10Managing Editor Dorothy Hinchcliff’s blog discusses the recent launch of the IFC Gender Index series, developed by Pax World and KLD. Hinchcliff notes that “Pax World has been a leader in promoting gender as an investment concept—the idea that companies that empower women perform better financially over the long run.” The first index announced, the North America Women Investment Index (NAWI), includes “216 U.S. and Canadian firms in various sectors that rank highly on promoting gender equality.” According to KLD, “one interesting finding was the companies who made it into the gender indexes generally had good overall performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.”
CNNMoney.com — There's Still Juice in Junk Bonds
February 18With low prices and high yields, demand is growing for high yield bonds. The outlook for the high yield bond market is strong, and according to one expert, “there is still plenty of room to climb.” CNNMoney.com references a Fortune article which advises investors to be cautious consider buying into diversified funds rather than individual bonds, noting Pax World’s High Yield Bond Fund, managed by Mary Austin.
Financial Advisor FA Green — Investing: A Look At Performance
January 01Mutual funds that adhere to sustainable investing principles – the full integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis and decision making - may generate comparable returns to other types of funds. Pax World president and CEO Joe Keefe believes that “ESG standards are a proxy for better management among more forward‐thinking and opportunistic companies.”
Forbes.com – When Mutual Funds Get Strange
11/05/2009The Pax World Women’s Equity Fund and High Yield Bond Fund are mentioned in a Forbes Intelligent Investing Panel piece regarding Sustainable Investing. The piece discusses mutual funds that are managed by women and examines the findings of the Women in Fund Management report, issued by the National Council for Research on Women.
Forbes – Last Chance For Junk
10/29/2009The Pax World High Yield Bond Fund was featured in a Forbes article regarding investing in non-investment grade (“junk”) bonds. In the piece, Portfolio Manager Mary Austin discusses her strategy and the rationale behind some of the Fund’s holdings.
Wall Street Journal – Uncharted Waters
10/21/2009There is a growing desire among global investors to hold specialized commodities, including water. This article analyzes the trend, and explains that as global populations grow, water has become more scarce and in turn, a much more vital commodity. According to Michael Herbst, a Morningstar fund analyst, “Most investors probably don’t need a water fund, and could perhaps get water exposure through companies already in their own portfolio. Or, they could go with an environmental fund that offers water exposure, such as Pax World Global Green Fund.”
Wall Street Journal — The Price of Green
10/05/2009In a Wall Street Journal article regarding investing in “green” funds, The Pax World Global Green Fund is mentioned as part of a group of funds that branch into broader sectors of the economy as opposed to the more narrow focus of some other alternative energy funds. The piece also notes that because of an “eco-friendly White House, economic-stimulus money earmarked for alternative-energy technology and proposed legislation in Congress that seeks to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and establish standards for energy efficiency,” the future looks promising for companies involved in the green industry.
Boomer Market Advisor — Bubble-proof Your Clients' Retirement
10/01/2009This article, authored by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe, discusses how retirement plan investors were unnecessarily harmed by the financial crisis as the nation’s 401k plans replaced sound financial planning with bubble economics. He goes on to detail affirmative steps that he believes will help reform the 401(k) system and protect retirement investors from such downturns in the future.
NECN’s Business Day — Study: Would More Women Have Lessened Economic Crisis
09/21/2009One year after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing economic crisis that forever changed Wall Street, Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe joined NECN’s Business Day to share his thoughts on the findings of the recent report by the National Council for Research on Women, which examined whether the financial meltdown would have been less severe if more women had been involved in fund management.
CBS Evening News — Does Wall Street Need More Women?
09/10/2009Pax World was featured in a CBS Evening News segment about whether the economic meltdown would have been as severe if more women had been in executive suites on Wall Street. The CBS feature noted that three of Pax’s six in-house Portfolio Managers are women. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe was quoted, “I do think that when women are at the table, there’s a richer discussion on issues like risk and that you make better decisions because of their input.”
SocialFunds.com — Many SRI Funds Are Outperforming Benchmarks in 2009
08/21/2009Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is featured in an article discussing the Pax World fund’s investment performance in the first half of 2009 and Pax World’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) overlay in identifying investment themes.
SocialFunds.com — UNEP Hones Legal Argument for ESG Incorporation in Investments in New Study
07/22/2009Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing Julie Gorte is featured in an article announcing a new report by the Asset Management Working Group (AMWG) of the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), which argues that financial consultants may well have a legal duty to proactively raise ESG issues with their clients, and that ESG issues be embedded into legal contracts between asset owners and asset managers. According to Gorte, who is co-chair of the AMWG, “UNEP FI exists because over 170 banks, insurance companies and asset managers believe that integrating ESG analysis into financial decision-making is crucial, for the proper functioning of financial markets and for the continued health of the planet and its societies.”
TheStreet.com — Berkowitz, Nygren Build Big Stakes in Health
06/10/2009Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is featured in an article regarding opportunities for investing in health care stocks. Chris explains that the Pax World Balanced Fund currently owns shares of companies that make health care supplies, such as syringes and surgical blades, because in his opinion “no matter what happens, we will need reliable sources of health supplies,” and these companies within the health care sector are less likely to be affected by changes in government policies.
Fox Business News — Pax World's Sustainable Investing
05/28/2009Pax World Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager Chris Brown is interviewed live from the 2009 Morningstar Investment Conference in Chicago. In this segment, he talks about Sustainable Investing—the full integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis and decision making.
Wall Street Journal — Principled Investing Gains More Fans
05/13/2009According to the Wall Street Journal, more workers today are interested in 401K plans that include funds that align with their personal values. Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe believes this is due to “a shift in the perception of investing,” and that investors “see sustainability and good governance as better for their portfolios.” Today, mainstream investors are looking for these types of investment options that have a positive social impact.
The Huffington Post — Bankruptcy Relief for Homeowners at Risk of Foreclosure
04/26/2009This op-ed by Pax World President and CEO Joe Keefe discusses the importance of bankruptcy relief and a transition to long-term thinking in the current economic crisis. According to Keefe, “a strong housing bill is essential if economic recovery is to proceed.” He goes on to detail issues related to foreclosure, past solutions that have failed, and what he considers a “common sense solution” to the current problem. The bill that was passed by Congress unfortunately did not include the bankruptcy relief advocated by Keefe.
GreenMoney Journal — Ten New Green Mutual Funds
04/15/2009GreenMoney Journal featured 10 new funds, three of which are from Pax World. The article highlights Pax World’s Global Green Fund, International Fund and Small Cap Fund as ways for investors to “participate in social and environmental responsibility while profiting from our expanding need to conserve and sustain global resources.”
Investment News — Funds Expected to Rebound When Investors Stop Reeling
04/12/2009This article discusses the growth of green investing, and explains why industry experts believe investor interest will pick up again once the markets stabilize. According to Bruce Jenkyn-Jones, Co-Portfolio Manager of the Pax World Global Green Fund, “I believe the case for investing in green companies remains strong,” and the sector is expected to grow “once investors regain their confidence.”
FA Green — Opinion: Excessive Executive Comp Hurts the Economy
04/01/2009Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, discusses strengthening the voice of shareholders regarding executive compensation. She further details what Pax World is doing, and how the average investor can provide meaningful input to companies regarding executive compensation.
The Motley Fool — The Search for Women in the Boardroom
03/31/2009This article notes that “For those interested in gender diversity”, Pax World and KLD’s groundbreaking Gender Investment Index Series is a way to find “promising investment candidates.” The objective of The Gender Investment Index Series is “demonstrating that gender equality is an important indicator of financial health, and that companies that empower women and encourage gender diversity.”
Morningstar — Getting Kids Started in Investing
03/24/2009It’s important for young investors “to learn about investing by doing it themselves.” The Pax World Balanced Fund, managed by Chris Brown, is featured in this article as a “fund to consider for a child or teenager who’s dipping his or her toe into the waters of investing.” With “a very low $250 minimum initial investment,” the Pax World Balanced Fund is “one of the best socially responsible funds out there, with a strong long-term track record and reasonable expenses.”
Fund Action — Pax World, KLD Developing Gender Indexes
03/13/2009Pax World and KLD announced the launch of a Gender Index Series for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that promotes sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development. The series of indexes will “focus on corporations with acute gender awareness programs and that have women in management positions and sitting on their boards.” According to Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing, “gender empowerment is good for financial performance.”
Social Funds — Goal of New Index Series Is to Advance Gender Equality
03/11/2009On March 8, International Women’s Day, Pax World and KLD announced that they will construct the first Gender Investment Index series for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in an effort to “increase interest among corporations and investors in gender empowerment.” Research shows that there is a “positive correlation between gender diversity in Boards of Directors and senior management and the quality of earnings reported by companies,” says Julie Gorte, Ph.D, Pax World Senior Vice President for Sustainable Investing.
FA Green — Top 10 for Women
03/10/2009Managing Editor Dorothy Hinchcliff’s blog discusses the recent launch of the IFC Gender Index series, developed by Pax World and KLD. Hinchcliff notes that “Pax World has been a leader in promoting gender as an investment concept—the idea that companies that empower women perform better financially over the long run.” The first index announced, the North America Women Investment Index (NAWI), includes “216 U.S. and Canadian firms in various sectors that rank highly on promoting gender equality.” According to KLD, “one interesting finding was the companies who made it into the gender indexes generally had good overall performance on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.”
CNNMoney.com — There's Still Juice in Junk Bonds
02/18/2009With low prices and high yields, demand is growing for high yield bonds. The outlook for the high yield bond market is strong, and according to one expert, “there is still plenty of room to climb.” CNNMoney.com references a Fortune article which advises investors to be cautious consider buying into diversified funds rather than individual bonds, noting Pax World’s High Yield Bond Fund, managed by Mary Austin.
Financial Advisor FA Green — Investing: A Look At Performance
01/01/2009Mutual funds that adhere to sustainable investing principles – the full integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment analysis and decision making - may generate comparable returns to other types of funds. Pax World president and CEO Joe Keefe believes that “ESG standards are a proxy for better management among more forward‐thinking and opportunistic companies.”
Ethisphere — 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics 2008
12/31/2008Pax World president and CEO Joe Keefe was named to Ethisphere’s list of the “100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics” for the second year in a row. In a turbulent year full of negative news and financial crisis, Ethisphere’s list recognizes individuals who “stood out for their positive achievements in the business ethics world.” This year, Keefe is in especially esteemed company, including such prestigious and accomplished leaders as President Barack Obama, Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and economic Nobel Prize winner and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.
Investment News — Top 20 socially conscious mutual funds ranked by assets
12/14/2008See how the Pax World Balanced Fund, managed by Chris Brown, ranked in a list of “socially conscious” mutual funds based on total assets. The ranking, published in the Investment News DataBook 2008, was compiled based on information provided by the Social Investment Forum.
SocialFunds.com — Shareowner Advocates Find Hope Despite Troubled Economic Times
12/05/2008The current economic climate and the election of Obama present a unique opportunity for the Sustainable Investing community to engage shareholders in actively bringing their concerns to the attention of corporate management. Pax World, “an advocate for workplace diversity, plans to address problems with compliance found at some companies.” Julie Gorte, Sr. Vice President for Sustainable Investing, is working closely with shareholders to advocate on behalf of women’s rights, including human trafficking and workforce diversity.
USA Today — Junk bond yields are crazy, but tread carefully
12/04/2008While there is still a risk in investing in bond funds, the current Wall Street mindset enables a potential for high yields. “We have been adding to more defensive areas, such as health care and food,” says Mary Austin, Portfolio Manager of Pax World High Yield Bond Fund. Austin has been with the fund since its inception in 1999 and has been its sole Portfolio Manager since 2006.
Smart Money Magazine — The New Do-Gooders
12/01/2008Nowhere is the idea hotter – or more perplexing – than in the world of socially responsible mutual funds. Once favored by a minority of do-gooders, they’re increasingly popular on Main Street.
Greenwire — ENERGY MARKETS: Companies, investors weigh changes likely in an Obama administration
11/05/2008Although renewable energy and clean-tech stocks did not immediately rally after the election of Obama, investors are still optimistic that the new administration will “mark the beginnings of a transition away from the dominance of the oil and gas industry and a more prominent place for the renewables industry in Washington.” “We believe it is going to be a very favorable environment for green investing, for sustainable investing,” said Joe Keefe, Pax World President & CEO.
The Wall Street Journal — For Money Managers, A Smarter Approach to Social Responsibility
11/05/2008Changes in investing are bringing the methods of so-called socially responsible investors and those of the more mainstream investors closer together.
Morningstar.com — Pax World Acquires Women's Equity Fund
10/29/2008Pax World Management Corp., investment adviser to Pax World Funds (“Pax”), which launched the nation’s first socially responsible mutual fund in 1971, today announced that it has acquired the assets of FEMMX Financial Company (“FEMMX”), the investment adviser for the Professionally Managed Portfolios’ Women’s Equity Fund.
Baltimore Sun — High-Yielding Junk Bond Funds are Luring Investors Back
10/28/2008Investor money is flowing into junk, or high-yield, bond mutual funds.
Investor's Business Daily — High Yield Bonds Attractive Option, Some Now Think
10/17/2008Many fund managers are positive, despite the economic downturn. “Mary Austin, portfolio manager of Pax World High Yield Fund, likes the situation for high-yield bonds. ‘I’m pretty much in the optimistic school. I think they’ve been oversold. The current situation makes for a great entry point,’ she said.”
SocialFunds.com — Sustainable Investment Strategies Earn Respect in Aftermath of the Financial Crisis
10/17/2008“Some of the major causes of the crisis – predatory lending, excessive CEO compensation, corporate governance – have been SRI issues for years. I expect the mainstream market will come to embrace long-term investment strategies and stability. Sustainable investing has answers to why the breakdown happened, and lessons for the economic future,” said Joe Keefe, Pax World President & CEO.
NH Union Leader — Profit with a Purpose
10/15/2008Pax World Funds, a leader in sustainable investing, is in growth mode, having launched a new Value Fund last month, and planning to roll out more fund choices over time.
NH Union Leader — At Pax, Managers’ Scrutiny Goes Global
10/15/2008China, Burma, India, Sudan – they’re all likely to be topics of discussion by Pax World fund managers as they seek out ethically managed companies to invest in.
SocialFunds.com — New Pax World Value Fund Follows ‘Contrarian Value’ Strategy
10/04/2008Pax World’s new Fund travels the globe looking for sustainable, yet undervalued companies.
Chicago Tribune — Time may be right for high-yield bonds
09/28/2008While the economy is in a downturn, high yield bond funds provide an opportunity for investors. They produce “higher yields than other bonds and typically perform best coming out of recession and bear markets.” The Pax World High Yield Bond Fund is mentioned as one to watch as fund Manager Mary Austin takes an approach that includes investing in “bonds of U.S. companies with good cash flow that are most likely to withstand the slowdown.”
Financial Times — U.S. fund finds social gains add to bottom line
09/14/2008With a long-standing interest in sustainable investing, which includes rigorous bottom-up fundamental analysis and equally rigorous environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analysis , Mary Austin has been with the Pax World High Yield Bond Fund since its inception in 1999 and its sole Portfolio Manager since 2006, and “Ms. Austin’s performance is catching the attention of investors and her fund has seen record inflows in the past year.”
Morningstar — Fund Investing for Kids
09/11/2008Pax World Balanced (PAXWX) This is one of the best socially responsible funds out there, with a strong long-term track record and reasonable expenses.
Boomer Market Advisor — Don't Go Overboard In Overseas Investing
09/01/2008With a measured approach to domestic and overseas investing, Chris Brown has been successfully managing the Pax World Balanced Fund for 10 years. A healthy mix ranging from stocks to bonds and domestic to foreign investments, the Balanced Fund also incorporates environmental, social and governance criteria into its investment process. In this article, Chris Brown discusses what has made the Balanced Fund outperform, what sectors he is currently holding, and where he sees future opportunity.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance — Fund Investing Made Easy
09/01/2008Pax World Balanced Fund gives you the benefits of diversification plus a low initial minimum requirement of $250.
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance - Funds That Keep It Simple
08/12/2008“Pax World’s Balanced Fund offers a variety of international options as the Fund’s manager, Chris Brown, selects companies vetted for their environmental track records and labor practices, and looks for growing companies with solid balance sheets. Over the past decade, the fund has returned an annualized 5%, which beats the typical gain of balanced funds by an average of one percentage point per year.”
SmartMoney.com — Balanced Funds: Havens in Rough Markets
08/10/2008Investor’s nerves have certainly been tested over the past three weeks. One category of funds, though, managed to stem some of the bleeding – and should do so in the future if the market continues to slide. This week, we turn our focus to balanced funds.
Registered Rep - What-I-Believe-In Investing
08/01/2008“As the sustainable investing community moves forward to include companies that are controlling emissions and operating more efficiently, Pax World has been expanding its portfolio to continue its support for alternative energies. ‘We are trying to find responsible companies that are leaders in making social progress,’ said Joe Keefe.”
Valley News - Investing for a Better World
07/27/2008“Pax World launched the nation’s first socially responsible mutual fund in 1971 and now manages $2.6 billion in assets. Recently, Keefe has been outspoken proponent of Sustainable Investing in companies based on environmental, social and governance factors.”
Investment Advisor — A Perfect Combination
06/18/2008“An Allianz Global Investors study found that 49% of the 1,003 investors (each with $100,000 or more in investments) polled said that ‘over the next 12 months they were likely to invest in a company or mutual fund looking to provide solutions for environmental problems.”
BusinessWeek - Socially Responsible Funds Hang Tough
05/15/2008“SRI funds invest in companies with superior environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, in addition to solid balance sheets and low debt. In the last year or so, two big themes have helped stem losses in a turbulent market: renewable energy and traditional energy companies focused on fossil fuels. Funds betting on green energy have had huge gains.”
U.S. News and World Report - 5 Ways to Invest that Stimulus Check
05/05/2008“Pax, the granddaddy of socially screened mutual funds, avoids companies that derive significant revenue from weapons, gambling, or tobacco and favors those with good track records on issues such as the environment. In one dose, Pax World Balanced offers a diversified portfolio that contains stocks (both foreign and domestic), bonds, and a little cash.”
Forbes - 6 Funds That Let You Sleep At Night
04/29/2008“If the stock markets’ wild swings have been making you nervous, it might be time to consider an asset-allocation fund… The only socially screened fund that made our list, Pax World Balanced (PAXWX) offers investors a second reason for a sound night’s sleep. (A third is its low cost of entry: $250.)”
New York Times - Saving the Planet? Not With My Money
03/26/2008“Green is green has become a mantra of environmentalists and increasingly, corporate chiefs. Between money saved by energy efficiency and money made from selling environmentally sound, they say, going green is great for shareholders as well as the planet.”
Sustainable Investing and Values by Joseph F. Keefe, President & CEO
03/17/2008“In the Spring/Summer 2007 issue of The Green Money Journal, I wrote an article (“From SRI to Sustainable Investing”) arguing that sustainable investing is the next stage in the evolution of socially responsible investing (SRI). This shift from SRI to sustainable investing is not only taking shape in the real world, but the interest in and uptake in sustainability is accelerating. I think it’s also true that whereas SRI has always been understood more as an “alternative” investment strategy, sustainable investing has the potential to be a transformative investment strategy. Thus, the change is more than just semantics; it is fundamental, both stylistically and substantively…” “Sustainable Investing & Values” was published in the Spring 2008 issue of Green Money Journal.
Investment News - UN Summit Highlights Climate Risk
02/25/2008“Climate-change issues ‘have really become much more of a feature in the analyst community,’ said Julie Gorte, senior vice president of sustainable investing at Pax World Management Corp. of Portsmouth, N.H., adviser to the Pax World funds.”
Ignites - Pax Goes Greener With Three New Funds
01/24/2008“Pax World Funds, a champion of socially responsible investing, is preparing to launch three new funds: Pax World Small Cap Fund, Pax World International and Pax Global Green Fund. All three funds will pursue a sustainable investing approach in their selection process.”
Investment News - Pax Fund Focuses on Firms that Empower Women
01/07/2008“‘We are living in a time when people are beginning to realize that gender inequality holds back economies, holds back societies and holds back progress,’ said Joe Keefe, chief executive of Pax World Management Corp., a socially conscious mutual fund company based in Portsmouth, N.H..”