Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

In the Green: Do Your Stocks Stack Up?

By Alyce Lomax – Updated Apr 6, 2017 at 10:57AM

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Eco-friendly initiatives could help bolster your companies' profits over the long term.

Newsweek has released its annual countdown of the 100 most environmentally conscious companies in the U.S. -- excluding some of the usual suspects, and including several surprising and unlikely choices. Green businesses are good news for investors, since eco-friendly companies are often better able to cut waste and boost innovation and productivity going forward.

To compile the list, Newsweek first rounded up the largest 500 companies in the U.S. measured by revenue, market cap, and number of employees. Then Newsweek and its partners at MSCI ESG Research, Trucost, and CorporateRegister.com scored these companies on various environmental metrics.

Here are the magazine's top 10 greenest of the green:

  • Dell (Nasdaq: DELL)
  • Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ)
  • IBM
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)
  • Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S)
  • Adobe Systems (Nasdaq: ADBE)
  • Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT)
  • Yahoo!
  • Nike (NYSE: NKE)

Environmental concerns are fast becoming serious business for companies and shareholders alike. Amid mounting evidence that environmental damage represents a hidden cost that could hurt wealth and prosperity, the search for sustainable innovation is on at many major U.S. companies. Meanwhile, shareholder-driven climate-change proposals at public companies increased 40% from spring 2009 to spring 2010.

Green companies aren't simply catering to environmentally minded shareholders. It's not rocket science for any long-term investor to realize that devising better, less wasteful ways to do business can help companies rack up big savings -- and more profits. To misquote Gordon Gekko, when it comes to capitalism, green is good.

What do you think? Sound off on publicly traded companies' green initiatives in the comment box below.

Intel and Sprint Nextel are Motley Fool Inside Value recommendations. Adobe Systems and Nike are Motley Fool Stock Advisor choices. Johnson & Johnson is a Motley Fool Income Investorpick. Motley Fool Options has recommended buying calls on Intel and a diagonal call position on Johnson & Johnson. The Fool owns shares of Intel, IBM, and Johnson & Johnson. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.

Alyce Lomax does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned. True to its name, The Motley Fool is made up of a motley assortment of writers and analysts, each with a unique perspective; sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree, but we all believe in the power of learning from each other through our Foolish community. The Fool has a disclosure policy.

Invest Smarter with The Motley Fool

Join Over 1 Million Premium Members Receiving…

  • New Stock Picks Each Month
  • Detailed Analysis of Companies
  • Model Portfolios
  • Live Streaming During Market Hours
  • And Much More
Get Started Now

Stocks Mentioned

HP Inc. Stock Quote
HP Inc.
HPQ
$25.35 (-1.40%) $0.36
Dell Technologies Inc. Stock Quote
Dell Technologies Inc.
DELL.DL
NIKE, Inc. Stock Quote
NIKE, Inc.
NKE
$97.02 (-1.55%) $-1.53
Sprint Corporation Stock Quote
Sprint Corporation
S
Intel Corporation Stock Quote
Intel Corporation
INTC
$27.52 (-1.96%) $0.55
Adobe Inc. Stock Quote
Adobe Inc.
ADBE
$284.56 (-0.87%) $-2.50
Applied Materials, Inc. Stock Quote
Applied Materials, Inc.
AMAT
$84.29 (-0.88%) $0.75

*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

Related Articles

Motley Fool Returns

Motley Fool Stock Advisor

Market-beating stocks from our award-winning analyst team.

Stock Advisor Returns
329%
 
S&P 500 Returns
106%

Calculated by average return of all stock recommendations since inception of the Stock Advisor service in February of 2002. Returns as of 09/24/2022.

Discounted offers are only available to new members. Stock Advisor list price is $199 per year.

Premium Investing Services

Invest better with The Motley Fool. Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance, and more from The Motley Fool's premium services.