STOXX^® USA 500 ESG-X Ax Quality

The STOXX Climate Transition Benchmark Indices are based on liquid securities from a selection of STOXX Benchmark Indices. The indices are constructed to follow the EU Climate Transition Benchmark (EU CTB) requirements outlined in the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards minimum standards for EU Climate Transition Benchmarks.

Companies identified as non-compliant based on Sustainalytics Global Standards Screening (GSS) assessment, are involved in Controversial Weapons or display a Severe (Category 5) Controversy Rating, as identified by Sustainalytics are not eligible for selection. Tobacco Producers, as identified by ISS ESG, are also not eligible. Furthermore, STOXX will exclude companies that ISS ESG assesses to have Significant Obstruction in the UN SDG 12,13,14,15.

The weighing process follows an optimization process to meet the minimum requirements detailed in the TEG report. The STOXX Climate Transition Benchmark Indices aim to reduce their greenhouse gas intensity by at least 30% when compared to their underlying benchmarks. They are also designed to meet the year on year 7% decarbonization target.

High climate impact sector weights of the STOXX Climate Transition Benchmark Indices are not underweighted relative to the underlying benchmark. The indices also overweigh securities with Science Based Targets, as verified by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The STOXX Climate Impact Ex UN Global Compact Principles and Controversial Weapons indices will include companies with CDP Performance Bands A to B- (pre-2016 Performance Band A to B). Band A and A- includes companies that are seen as leading companies in terms of climate change: these companies are disclosing particular “actions” which mark them as leaders, as well as high scores across all other levels of the CDP Scoring matrix. Scoring requires detailed company-specific explanations.  Band B & B- includes companies that “manage” climate change: companies seek evidence of climate actions implemented and requires company-specific understanding of climate change related issues. The index also exlcudes companies violating international norms, are involved with controversial weapons, tobacco, thermal coal, civilian firearms, military equipment, and unconventional oil and gas.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

STOXX single and multi-factor indices aim to harvest the risk premia of several academically validated style factors – Value, Momentum, Quality, Size and Low Risk. At the same time the rules ensure tradability and diversification as well as limit untargeted systematic exposures.

STOXX uses Axioma's risk model and optimizer to construct the factor indices. The STOXX ESG-X single and multi-factor indices are based on the respective STOXX ESG-X country or regional benchmark indices.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.

The STOXX Global ESG Leaders Diversification Select 50 EUR Index captures the performance of stocks with low correlation, low volatility and high dividends from the STOXX Global ESG Leaders Index.

The component selection process first excludes all stocks with the highest 12-months average correlation with all other stocks of the benchmark, then excludes stocks whose 3- or 12-month historical volatilities are the highest. Among the remaining stocks, the 50 stocks with the highest 12-month historical dividend yields are selected to be included in the index. The percentage of exclusion/inclusion at each step is the same.

Those constituents are weighted according to the inverse of their volatility, with a cap at 10%. The indices are reviewed quarterly.

Index Guides, Benchmark statement, and other reports are available under the Data tab.