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

The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed
The 2025 InvestmentNews Awards Excellence Awardees revealed

From outstanding individuals to innovative organizations, find out who made the final shortlist for top honors at the IN awards, now in its second year.

Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty
Top RIA Cresset warns of 'inevitable' recession amid tariff uncertainty

Cresset's Susie Cranston is expecting an economic recession, but says her $65 billion RIA sees "great opportunity" to keep investing in a down market.

Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments
Edward Jones joins the crowd to sell more alternative investments

“There’s a big pull to alternative investments right now because of volatility of the stock market,” Kevin Gannon, CEO of Robert A. Stanger & Co., said.

Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025
Record RIA M&A activity marks strong start to 2025

Sellers shift focus: It's not about succession anymore.

IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients
IB+ Data Hub offers strategic edge for U.S. wealth advisors and RIAs advising business clients

Platform being adopted by independent-minded advisors who see insurance as a core pillar of their business.

SPONSORED Compliance in real time: Technology's expanding role in RIA oversight

RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.

SPONSORED Advisory firms confront crossroads amid historic wealth transfer

As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.