Green Funds Outpace Dow, S&P 500

Many mutual funds geared toward a special type of socially responsible investing, green investing, are outpacing the Dow and the S&P 500, BusinessWeek reports. And given the environmentally conscious and alternative energy initiatives of the new president, valued at more than $80 billion, they could continue to outpace the general markets.

Two standout funds are the Winslow Green Growth Fund and the Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund, both of which have outperformed the S&P 500 three times. And a number of eco-focused exchange-traded funds have returned double digits since the beginning of the year.

“Green energy stocks are staying strong and are forecasted to grow even more this year,” said Alina Bakhareva, a renewable energy research manager at consultancy Frost & Sullivan. With many so undervalued right now, “people see an opportunity to get assets at low prices.”

As Ben Yearsley, an investment manager at Hargreaves Lansdown, simply put it, “The trend is towards a cleaner economy. Investor interest in green energy and clean technology companies will continue to grow.”