Socially conscious funds ranked by one-year total return

Socially conscious funds ranked by one-year total return
The top-performing socially conscious funds broken down by category.
MAR 01, 2015
Values-based investing won new attention this quarter when BlackRock Inc. announced plans to launch BlackRock Impact, a unit catering to investors' social, environmental or religious goals. But the largest money manager is just one of many companies offering funds based on more than performance. Advisers need not take returns completely off the table as they shop around, however, as this list demonstrates. The following portfolios posted the top performance among funds tracking more than $82 billion in assets, according to Lipper.

DOMESTIC EQUITY

Fund 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return Portfolio net assets ($M) Expense ratio*
Parnassus Endeavor Fund (PARWX) 20.57% 20.45% 16.97% $812.6 0.95%
Ariel Fund Investor (ARGFX) 19.91% 21.75% 17.90% $2,312.4 1.03%
Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund Investor (VFTSX) 17.35% 20.38% 16.70% $1,558.5 0.27%
Praxis Growth Index Fund I (MMDEX) 17.31% 18.68% 16.57% $171.3 0.47%
Parnassus Fund (PARNX) 16.95% 20.15% 16.80% $668.0 0.86%
Domini Social Equity Fund Investor (DSEFX) 16.25% 15.49% 14.73% $1,077.5 1.20%
Dreyfus Third Century Fund Z (DRTHX) 16.16% 15.94% 15.12% $322.1 1.01%
Epiphany FFV Fund N (EPVNX) 16.03% 16.17% 14.24% $30.8 1.50%
Calvert Social Index Fund A (CSXAX) 15.89% 18.31% 15.67% $423.8 0.75%
GuideStone Equity Index Fund Inv (GEQZX) 15.75% 17.55% 15.84% $418.5 0.39%
Domestic-equity SRI funds average/total 11.39% 15.35% 14.30% $46,041.7 1.24%

FIXED INCOME

Fund 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return Portfolio net assets ($M) Expense ratio*
GuideStone Extended-Duration Bond Fund Investor (GEDZX) 14.31% 7.91% 10.51% $317.2 0.76%
Calvert Long Term Income Fund A (CLDAX) 12.43% 6.88% 8.16% $91.3 1.25%
TIAA-CREF Social Choice Bond Fund Institutional (TSBIX) 7.67% N/A N/A $348.5 0.40%
GuideStone Medium-Duration Bond Fund Investor (GMDZX) 5.11% 3.57% 5.14% $919.5 0.65%
Calvert Tax-Free Bond Fund A (CTTLX) 5.09% 2.44% 3.58% $143.2 0.93%
Calvert Bond Portfolio A (CSIBX) 5.06% 3.67% 4.53% $869.8 1.12%
Praxis Intermediate Income Fund A (MIIAX) 4.27% 2.60% 4.02% $415.5 0.95%
Parnassus Fixed Income Fund (PRFIX) 3.72% 1.52% 3.43% $196.3 0.68%
PIMCO Total Return Fund III Institutional (PTSAX) 3.69% 3.43% 4.75% $1,421.3 0.50%
Epiphany FFV Strategic Income Fund N (EPINX) 3.49% 2.58% N/A $19.7 1.30%
Fixed-income SRI funds average/total 2.90% 3.14% 4.33% $11,261.6 1.03%

MIXED ASSET

Fund 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return Portfolio net assets ($M) Expense ratio*
Calvert Balanced Portfolio A (CSIFX) 11.06% 10.86% 10.71% $688.8 1.18%
ESG Managers Growth Portfolio A (PAGAX) 10.66% 13.45% 11.21% $16.6 1.75%
Calvert Aggressive Allocation Fund A (CAAAX) 9.98% 13.59% 11.79% $102.0 1.26%
ESG Managers Growth and Income Portfolio Institutional (PMIIX) 9.81% 12.28% 10.60% $17.5 1.49%
Walden Asset Management Fund (WSBFX) 9.62% 10.22% 10.07% $81.2 1.00%
Green Century Balanced Fund (GCBLX) 9.52% 12.69% 10.84% $137.3 1.48%
1919 Socially Responsive Balanced Fund B (SESIX) 9.12% 9.32% 8.78% $134.6 2.38%
New Covenant Balanced Growth Fund (NCBGX) 8.98% 9.59% 9.50% $297.7 1.20%
Calvert Moderate Allocation Fund A (CMAAX) 8.97% 10.89% 9.99% $219.8 1.38%
Pax World Balanced Fund Individual Investor (PAXWX) 8.87% 9.53% 9.26% $1,956.0 0.91%
Mixed-asset SRI funds average/total 7.53% 9.41% 9.14% $10,200.2 1.48%

WORLD EQUITY

Fund 1-year return 3-year return 5-year return Portfolio net assets ($M) Expense ratio*
GuideStone Real Estate Securities Fund Investor (GREZX) 18.98% 10.97% 15.78% $281.6 1.06%
Steward Global Equity Income Fund Institutional (SGISX) 11.81% 10.69% 11.66% $156.8 0.71%
UBS Global Sustainable Equity Fund P (BNUEX) 11.17% 10.67% 7.99% $22.0 1.00%
Gabelli SRI Fund Inc I (SRIDX) 9.98% 11.61% 10.15% $73.5 1.49%
Pax Ellevate Global Women's Index Fund Individual Investor (PXWEX) 8.65% 11.45% 9.41% $69.0 0.99%
Calvert Emerging Markets Equity Fund I (CVMIX) 8.18% N/A N/A $63.4 1.42%
Northern Global Sustainability Index Fund (NSRIX) 7.79% 13.26% 11.02% $205.8 0.30%
DFA Emerging Markets Social Core Equity Port Institutional (DFESX) 5.76% 0.12% 3.54% $967.6 0.66%
Frontier RobecoSAM Global Equity Fund Institutional (FSGLX) 4.50% 10.38% 9.49% $13.0 1.20%
Portfolio 21 Global Equity Fund Retail (PORTX) 4.23% 10.46% 8.43% $453.9 1.37%
World-equity SRI funds average/total 0.13% 8.59% 5.25% $14,854.0 1.46%
Returns as of Feb. 18; assets as of Jan. 31. Distinct share classes only. Three-year and five-year returns annualized. N/A=not available (fund has been in operation for less than the period indicated. *Net prospectus. Source: Lipper, a Thomson Reuters Company

Latest News

Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026
Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026

Chicago-based Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions adds flexPATH's plan-level outsourced fiduciary book, boosting its retirement market reach to $164 billion.

Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida
Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida

Also, Raymond James's employee advisor channel adds breakaways from Wells Fargo and Stifel, while UBS welcomes an ex-Morgan Stanley duo in Indiana.

SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme
SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme

It promised guaranteed principal and 10% monthly returns. The SEC says it invested nothing.

MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products
MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products

Ten years after entering the fee-based annuity market, MassMutual Ascend says nearly half its lifetime sales came in the past two years alone – but barriers remain among fee-only advisors.

Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations
Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations

Amplify, WealthReach, Zeplyn and Zocks have unveiled partnerships aimed at automating portfolio management, content creation, account opening, and client communication.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income