Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Analysis

ESG is data that can be used in fundamental financial analysis to help identify potential environmental, social, and governance risks and opportunities that can impact a company’s performance.

All investing involves some degree of risk, whether it is associated with market volatility, purchasing power or a specific security. There is no assurance any investment strategy will be successful. Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit nor does diversification protect against loss.

An investment’s social policy could cause it to forgo opportunities to gain exposure to certain industries, companies, sectors, or regions of the economy which could cause it to underperform similar portfolios that do not have a social policy. There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful. Risks associated with investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)-related strategies can also include a lack of consistency in approach and a lack of transparency in manager methodologies.

Some ESG investments may be dependent on government tax incentives and subsidies and on political support for certain environmental technologies and companies. There may also be challenges such as a limited number of issuers and the lack of a robust secondary market. There are many factors to consider when choosing an investment portfolio and ESG data is only one of those components. Investors should not place undue reliance on ESG principles when selecting an investment.

Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management (WIM) provides financial products and services through various bank and brokerage affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.

Brokerage products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors, a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, separate registered broker-dealers and non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company.