6 Best-Performing Clean Energy ETFs for September 2023

Westinghouse services about half the global nuclear power generation sector and is the original equipment manufacturer to more than half of the global nuclear reactor fleet. The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to give a lift to Vernova, as it should for other green energy stocks too. “America is in the midst of an energy transition,” according to the 2022 report by trade group American Clean Power. “Wind turbines, solar farms and battery storage facilities are popping up across the nation to deliver clean, affordable electricity.” Green energy stocks should get a lift thanks to the clean energy incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), along with the dual catalysts of rising demand and lower costs.

  • Human influence is unequivocally to blame for the warming of the planet and some forms of climate disruption are now locked in for centuries, according to a report from the U.N.
  • First Solar closed at $129.85 on September 23 with a one-year target of $133.26.
  • “Their accelerated buying of clean energy provides an important source of demand, while their efforts to decarbonize their products and services puts pressure on their supply chain to do the same.”
  • With the sun shining and the wind at their backs, renewable energy investments could push fund prices higher over the next few decades.

• The NASDAQ OMX Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index (QGRD) tracks companies involved in the smart-grid and electric infrastructure sector. Companies in this index will be significantly involved in electric meters, devices, and networks; energy storage and management; and smart grid software. Companies included must have a market capitalization of at least $100 million. —The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (GRID) is an ETF based on this index. • The WilderHill New Energy Global innovation Index (NEX) tracks companies involved in clean tech that are traded primarily outside the US. Market capitalization for the majority of the stocks in this index is generally $200 million and above, although it includes some smaller companies with a market cap of $50 to $200 million.

Brookfield is taking on a leadership role globally when it comes to decarbonization. Increasing prices of fossil fuels and a greater focus on renewable energy sources have helped Brookfield grow in the past year. Meanwhile, others are investing directly in renewable energy development projects. Some are making renewable investments to be viewed as socially responsible global citizens. However, clean energy is increasingly economical due to the falling costs of solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries for energy storage. Due to climate change concerns, the world is moving away from carbon-based fossil fuels to cleaner alternative energy sources, including renewable energy.

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To get the latest analysis and advice on green investing, check out The Green Investor podcast powered by Investopedia. Sustainable fishing is another food-related investment opportunity that is generating attention as the plight of the world’s overfished oceans impacts the human is forex trade profitable food chain. Mowi ASA (MNHVF), a Norwegian firm with global operations, is an interesting play in this space. Farming and livestock are major contributors to carbon dioxide emissions, not to mention the ecological consequences of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides.

Approximately 50% of all platinum demand is for catalytic converters, with the rest being jewelry and every other application. The Guggenheim Solar ETF gives you broad exposure to the solar industry, including all the names mentioned above. The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF gives you exposure to solar, wind, and other renewables. The Global X YieldCo ETF gives you access to a big collection of all the top YieldCos. High valuations, low profit margins, changing technology trends, political changes, and other factors can leave investors without good returns even if they invest in a successful area.

Rather than purchasing single stocks in this field ETFs spread out your risk and help diversify your portfolio. The clean energy boom is new, and there’s no way to know what companies will what is a momentum stock be the belles of the ball. But rather than try to predict which specific companies will prosper, you can invest in clean energy ETFs and gain wider exposure to the industry as a whole.

Founded in 1993, The Motley Fool is a financial services company dedicated to making the world smarter, happier, and richer. The Motley Fool reaches millions of people every month through our premium investing solutions, free guidance and market analysis on Fool.com, top-rated podcasts, and non-profit The Motley Fool Foundation. For those seeking focused exposure to solar energy, the Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) ($2 billion AUM) is one to consider.

In contrast, renewable energy sources are available in all countries, and their potential is yet to be fully harnessed. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that 90 percent of the world’s electricity can and should come from renewable energy by 2050. Fossil fuels still account for more than 80 percent of global energy production, but cleaner sources of energy are gaining ground. If picking individual stocks is too much hassle, mutual funds provide additional ways to invest. The Calvert Global Water Fund and the Virtus AllianzGI Water Fund tap into water-based opportunities across the globe. Energy from the sun powers homes, buildings, and a variety of other items from lights to radios.

That said, many investment professionals, including Winslow’s Jack Robinson, continue to be optimistic about the outlook for high-quality clean tech companies. “We believe all investors will want to have some amount of clean energy exposure in the years to come,” says Robinson. For investors interested in capitalizing on this green energy transition, there are several options available.

ITM Power (ITM)

Brookfield and its institutional partners formed a strategic partnership with Cameco (CCJ) to acquire Westinghouse, one of the world’s largest nuclear services businesses. The company said it believes nuclear power and hydroelectricity are “the only forms of clean, dispatchable, baseload power generation and will be a key enabler of the rapid growth of intermittent solar and wind.” State clean energy policies also provide a boost, with 22 states and how to buy openai stock Washington, D.C., targeting 100% renewable energy or 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 to 2050. Moreover, 43 of the 45 largest U.S. investor-owned utilities have committed to reducing their carbon emissions by raising the use of renewables. Meanwhile, private investment in renewables hit a record of $10 billion in the past year. Innovation and continued developments in clean tech are critical to achieving the net-zero carbon emissions dream.

A more income-focused alternative to invest in the renewable energy space is yieldcos. These companies usually are growth-oriented, don’t pay dividends, often have high valuations, and may or may not be profitable at the current time. They have to constantly iterate their products to stay competitive, and companies that fall behind can quickly go bankrupt.

Fossil fuel focus

The profile of the typical green energy investor has moved on from someone prioritising social change over financial returns. The groundswell of money moving into the sector is driving up stock prices meaning green energy stocks can now be good for the head and the heart. Part of the appeal of Capstone Green Energy is the diversity of its operations. The firm’s “suite of clean energy solutions” includes energy conversion technology, storage solutions, and hydrogen power products.

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On a smaller scale, researchers are working with fuel-cell technology to develop an alternative method of powering automobiles. If this technology works, there are millions of cars—and millions of consumers—waiting for it. In a recent letter to shareholders, CEO Mary Barra said the company’s Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV had record sales in 2022, which “demonstrates the importance of affordable EVs” in our portfolio. Bolt sales rose 72% to 38,120 in 2022, still a pittance compared to Tesla’s 1.3 million. Looking ahead, NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum said in the company’s latest earnings call that the Inflation Reduction Act is “transformational for our industry and our business.”

However, researching individual companies can be time-consuming, and not all such stocks are publicly traded. An easier way might be to identify a mutual fund or index fund with a large basket of green energy securities. Investment in renewable energy projects soared to new heights in 2021, thanks to new solar and wind power installations.

Slightly riskier, but with higher potential returns

Today, it is the most widely-used source of renewable energy production, accounting for about 17% of the world’s electricity. Investors looking for more purely renewable plays might consider some of the funds that focus on solar and wind energy. Both the Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) and First Trust ISE Global Wind Energy ETF (FAN) make adding their respective sectors a breeze. The easiest way to play it is through the Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW). The $270 million ETF tracks some 124 different green energy firms as of March 2022, including stalwarts like Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR).

“We believe the IRA provides growth visibility for a broad range of low-cost clean energy solutions, in a predictable way and for a long time,” Ketchum said. “In this environment, low-cost renewables will help drive long-term value for our customers and our shareholders and unitholders.” GE Vernova will incorporate General Electric’s operations in renewables, power, digital and energy financial services under the leadership of CEO Scott Strazik. He has said that the focus of Vernova would be to address climate change and foster sustainable development.