ESG investing means that investments are made only in the businesses and their financial securities which are compliant with Environmental, Social, and Governance norms for doing their business and conducting operations. 50 of the 126 ETFs in the ESG category are rated as to their ESG Risk by Morningstar. 29 have ESG scores of 7.2 (AA or AAA) or more and 10 of those consistently outperform their peers and make up the constituents in the Highest ESG Score ETFs Index (formerly named the munKNEE ESG ETF Index).

Below is how the constituents in the index performed in August, in descending order, and YTD, along with their ESG scores and other pertinent information:

1. Vanguard Value ETF (VTV): No Change; DOWN 8.3% YTD; ESG Score: 7.2
   • # Holdings: 347
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Health (21.9%), Financials (19.6%), Industrials (12.3%), Consumer Defensive (11.3%), Other (34.9%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.47%) less Management Expense Ratio (.04%): Net 2.43% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $143.4B
2. JPMorgan Diversified Return ETF (JPUS): No Change; DOWN 9.5% YTD; ESG Score: 7.9
   • # Holdings: 369
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Consumer Defensive (13.4%), Health (13.1%), Utilities (11.4%), Technology (11.1%), Other (51.0%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.09%) less Management Expense Ratio (.18%): Net 1.91% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $514.4M
3. Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF (VOOV): DOWN 0.2%; DOWN 9.9% YTD; ESG Score: 7.4
   • # Holdings: 748
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Financial (17.0%), Health (16.2%), Industrials (13.1%), Consumer Defensive (11.7%), Other (42.0%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.16%) less Management Expense Ratio (.04%): Net 2.12% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $11.7B
4. SPDR S&P 500 Value ETF (SPYV): DOWN 0.2%; DOWN 9.8% YTD; ESG Score: 7.5
   • # Holdings: 450
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Health (17.0%), Financials (16.9%), Industrials (12.8%), Consumer Defensive (11.9%), Other (41.4%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.15%) less Management Expense Ratio (.10%): Net 2.05% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $3.0B
5. iShares Core U.S. Value ETF (IUSV): DOWN 0.2%; DOWN 9.7% YTD; ESG Score: 7.7
   • # Holdings: 448
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Financials (16.9%), Health (16.8%), Industrials (12.8%), Consumer Defensive (12.0%), Other (41.5%) 
   • Dividend % Yield (2.23%) less Management Expense Ratio (.04%): Net 2.19% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $12.8B
6. Invesco Russell Top 200 ETF (EQWL): DOWN 0.4%; DOWN 14.6% YTD; ESG Score: 7.5
   • # Holdings: 102 
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Financials (18.4%), Health (14.6%), Technology (12.7%), Industrials (12.1%), Consumer Defensive (11.2%), Consumer Cyclical (10.7%), Other (20.3%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.17%) less Management Expense Ratio (.25%): Net 1.92% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $128.0M
7. Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT): DOWN 1.1%; DOWN 12.9% YTD; ESG Score: 7.5
   • # Holdings: 410
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Health (99.4%) 
   • Dividend % Yield (1.36%) less Management Expense Ratio (.10%): Net 1.26% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $18.6B
8. S&P Health Care ETF (RYH): DOWN 1.5%; DOWN 16.9% YTD; ESG Score: 7.2
   • # Holdings: 247
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Financials (47.2%), Consumer Cyclical (13.9%), Industrials (11.9%), Other (27.0%)
   • Dividend % Yield (2.49%) less Management Expense Ratio (.20%): Net 2.29% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $122.7M
9. JPMorgan U.S. Value Factor ETF (JVAL): DOWN 1.5%; DOWN 14.0% YTD; ESG Score: 8.4
   • # Holdings: 65
   • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Health (100.0%)
   • Dividend % Yield (.68%) less Management Expense Ratio (.40%): Net .28% 
   • Assets Under Management (AUM): $891.7M
10. Vanguard Russell 1000 Value ETF (VONV): DOWN 3.5%; DOWN 11.1% YTD; ESG Score: 7.4
    • # Holdings: 861
    • Highest Concentration of Holdings: Financials (19.8%), Health (16.8%), Industrials (10.1&), Other (53.3%)
    • Dividend % Yield (2.09%) less Management Expense Ratio (.08%): Net 2.01% 
    • Assets Under Management (AUM): $7.6B

The above 10 ESG ETFs were DOWN 0.7%, on average, in August, and are now DOWN 12.6% YTD, on average, and have an average ESG score of 7.45.

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