ESG Investing: 7 Profitable Stock Picks for the Socially Responsible Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is often used interchangeably with sustainable and socially responsible investing. To help investors choose ESG shares, MSCI (NYSE: MSCI ), a leading supplier of investment decision support tools, provides the MSCI ESG Rating . These lettering system assigns the coveted AAA rating to the best ESG stocks and funds. The classification shows how a company manages financially relevant ESG investing risks and opportunities. Rating metrics include climate change impact, diversity, inclusion, equity, and business ethics. 7 Retirement Stocks to Buy in Unexpected Sectors “ESG adoption is on the rise, fueled by client demand and the desire to make a positive impact,” According to the 2022 Capital Group ESG Global Study . “There is a wider recognition among the investor community that companies with good sustainable credentials are more likely to outperform.” Yet, even ESG investing has not been immune to declines in the current bear market. The SP 500 ESG index has fallen over 20% year-to-date (YTD).