Benchmark’s High Impact Portfolio strategy is to invest in public companies that demonstrate leadership in social and environmental responsibility and in companies that provide products or services that directly contribute to a more sustainable society. The Portfolio is supported by in-depth research, screened for financial undervaluation, hedged on the downside and includes:
- Innovators creating new business models that address social & environmental problems
- Companies who have made meaningful commitments to social responsibility with tangible results
- Companies with products that have a high positive social or environmental impact with domestic, international and emerging market exposure
Benchmark’s Hedged Equity Portfolio strategy is to use tactical asset allocation, to increase equity exposure when markets are cheap and to reduce exposure in overvalued markets. The strategy invests in low volatility instruments and uses no leverage.
Strategy Goals:
- Return of core inflation rate plus 4%
- Low correlation with US equity indices
- Low volatility:
- Sharpe ratio of 0.10%
- Standard deviation of 1.0%
- Exclusionary screen replicates tracking portfolio screens
The Benchmark Private Debt Portfolio strategy is to invest in the debt securities of private companies, with a targeted return of 6%+ in the current environment. Key investment criteria are defined in more detail in the High Impact Portfolio strategy.
The Community Impact Portfolio strategy is to invest in organizations and businesses that directly contribute to community development in the U.S. and around the world. Impact areas include Education, Microfinance fair trade, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green & affordable housing and small business development:
- Organizations selected for innovation and leadership and for bulletproof balance sheets
- Diversification in social impact and organizational scope
- Target annual return of 3 – 5 %
