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Global Sustainability Index

 
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TickerNAV AS OF 06/05/23
NSRIX$18.54 $-0.03 Arrow Down Icon
 
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Snapshot
For those investors who are socially conscious, the Global Sustainability Index Fund may be the Fund for you. Companies that adhere to widely accepted sustainability principles can help protect the environment and foster more favorable living conditions for future generations. Their practices might include; stewardship of the environment, service to local communities and society at large, commitments to higher labor standards, focus on safe, high-quality products and exemplary and ethical management.
Fund Objective
Seeks to Replicate Index
Fund Strategy
  • Seeks to replicate the investment composition and overall performance of the stocks included in the MSCI World ESG Leaders Index.
  • The Index is a diversified, sector neutral global benchmark constructed using environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
  • Sector and regional neutrality is designed to help the Index outperform other social responsibility and sustainability indices.
Investor Profile

If you are an investor who wants to invest in a broad, diversified set of large- and mid-cap developed global companies in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, that are selected based on sector ranking of environmental, social and government factors, you may find this Fund attractive.
Redemption Fee
2% on shares sold or exchanged within 30 days of purchase
Risk/Reward Potential
”Risk/Reward

Fund Literature

 

Morningstar Sustainability Rating*


Among 4,572 World Large Stock Funds as of 12/31/2018. Based on 98.75% of AUM.

 

 

         

        *The Morningstar Sustainability Rating is a measure of how well the companies held by a fund are managing their Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") risks and opportunities when compared with similar funds. A fund's Sustainability Rating is assigned in two steps: First, a Morningstar Portfolio Sustainability Score is derived from an asset-weighted average of the underlying company ESG scores with deductions made for holdings involved in controversial incidents. Next, funds are sorted into five normally distributed groups by comparing a fund’s Portfolio Sustainability Score with that of its Morningstar Category peers. The peer groups are assigned as follows: 5 Globe Icons (“High”) = top 10% of funds in an asset category; 4 Globe Icons ("Above Average") = next 22.5% of funds; 3 Globe Icons ("Average") = next 35%; 2 Globe Icons ("Below Average") = next 22.5% and 1 Globe Icon ("Low") = next 10%.

        For a portfolio to receive a Morningstar Sustainability Score, at least 50% of its assets must be in one of the more than 4,500 companies covered by Sustainalytics (a research firm which collects ESG data) globally. To receive a Morningstar Sustainability Rating, at least 10 funds in a Morningstar Category must also receive a Portfolio Sustainability Score. The Sustainability Rating is portfolio-based, not performance-based. It should be used alongside traditional risk, return, and style metrics as well as qualitative assessments of a fund's investment process and how well it has been executed over time. Sustainability scores are calculated on a monthly basis and range from 0 to 100, 100 being the best. For more information, visit global.morningstar.com/SustainableInvesting.

        As of 3/31/19, the Global Sustainability Index Fund received the following: ESG Score 58.32 – Controversy Score 6.46 which equals a Sustainability score 51.86 (14% category rank; 4,829 funds) and a Sustainability Rating of 4 Globe Icons (or "Above Average").

         
        CUSIP665130308
        YTD Total Return12.09% (as of 06/05/23)
        Inception Date03/05/08
        Total Net Assets$636,873,690 (as of 03/31/19)

        Total Returns

        Total Returns for Quarter Ending 03/31/19
         Annualized
            Month   3-Month     YTD  1-Year  3-Year  5-Year  10-Year Since
        Incept.
        Global Sustainability Index1.30%12.12%12.12%4.48%10.39%6.64%12.32%5.56%
        MSCI World ESG Leaders Index1.18%12.04%12.04%4.47%10.16%6.50%12.34%6.54%
        Morningstar Cat. Avg.
        World Large Stock        		1.11%12.27%12.27%1.85%9.96%5.89%11.79%N/A
        Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than that shown here.

        Northern Trust Investments, Inc. has contractually agreed to reimburse a portion of the operating expenses of the Fund (other than certain excepted expenses, i.e., acquired fund fees and expenses; the compensation paid to each Independent Trustee of the Trust; expenses of third party consultants engaged by the Board of Trustees; membership dues paid to the Investment Company Institute and Mutual Fund Directors Forum; expenses in connection with the negotiation and renewal of the revolving credit facility; and extraordinary expense and interest) to the extent the "Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses" exceed 0.30%. The “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement" may be higher than the contractual limitation as a result of the excepted expenses that are not reimbursed. This contractual limitation may not be terminated before July 31, 2019 without the approval of the Board of Trustees. In the absence of contractual expense reimbursements, yield, total return, growth since inception and dividends would have been reduced. Total return is based on net change in NAV assuming reinvestment of distributions.

        Annual Expense Ratios

         
         Gross Expense RatioNet Expense Ratio‡
        Global Sustainability Index0.29%0.29%
        ‡Includes contractual expense reimbursements that, if not extended, will end on July 31, 2019. The Fund also includes voluntary expense reimbursements that may change or end at any time.

        Calendar Year Returns

         
               2018      2017      2016      2015      2014
        Global Sustainability Index-7.62%21.20%7.52%-0.87%4.56%
        MSCI World ESG Leaders Index-7.78%20.98%7.25%-1.11%4.88%
        Morningstar Category Avg. World Large Stock-9.64%23.61%5.54%-1.69%2.79%
        Performance quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results.
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        Portfolio Composition
           
        Top 10 HoldingsFund
        Microsoft Corp4.2%
        Johnson & Johnson1.8%
        Alphabet Inc Class C1.8%
        Alphabet Inc 1.7%
        Visa Inc 1.3%
        Procter & Gamble Co1.3%
        Intel Corp1.2%
        Verizon Communications Inc1.2%
        Cisco Systems Inc1.2%
        Mastercard Inc 1.0%
        As of 03/31/19
        Sector WeightingsFundBenchmark
        Information Technology18.5%18.5%
        Financials14.9%14.9%
        Health Care12.3%12.3%
        Industrials10.8%10.8%
        Consumer Discretionary9.4%9.4%
        Communication Services8.9%8.9%
        Consumer Staples8.4%8.4%
        Materials5.1%5.1%
        Energy5.0%4.9%
        Utilities3.5%3.5%
        Real Estate3.2%3.2%
           
        Top 10 Country WeightingsFundBenchmark
        United States63.3%63.0%
        Japan7.5%7.8%
        United Kingdom4.1%4.1%
        France3.8%3.6%
        Canada3.5%3.7%
        Germany3.4%3.4%
        Australia3.3%3.2%
        Switzerland2.4%2.5%
        Netherlands1.8%1.8%
        Spain1.4%1.4%
        As of 03/31/19
        Risk Characteristics*Global Sustainability IndexMSCI World ESG Index
        Beta1.001.00
        Up Market Capture100.46100.00
        Down Market Capture98.56100.00
        Information Ratio0.440.00
        *Above risk characteristics are based on a 3-year time period
        DateHoldings File
        As of 03/31/19Insert Icon
        As of 02/28/19Insert Icon
        As of 01/31/19Insert Icon
        As of 12/31/18Insert Icon
        As of 11/30/18Insert Icon
        As of 10/31/18Insert Icon

        Fund Characteristics

        Number of Holdings833
        Portfolio Turnover5.64% (as of 03/31/18)
        Dividend ScheduleAnnually
        Dividend Income Last QuarterN/A
        Capital Gain Income Last QuarterN/A
        Weighted Average Market Cap ($Mil)$146,712
        BenchmarkMSCI World ESG Leaders Index
        Morningstar CategoryWorld Large Stock
        Trailing 12-Month Price-to-Earnings Ratio
        Fund18.15
        Benchmark18.16
        Price-to-Book Ratio
        Fund2.78
        Benchmark2.78
        Historical 5-Year Earnings Growth
        Fund9.36
        Benchmark8.95
        Asset Allocation 
        Stocks96.2%
        Cash3.8%
        Equity Risk: Equity securities (stocks) are more volatile and carry more risk than other forms of investments, including investments in high-grade fixed-income securities. The net asset value per share of this Fund will fluctuate as the value of the securities in the portfolio changes.
        International Risk: International investing involves increased risk and volatility.
        Index Fund Risk: The performance of the Fund is expected to be lower than that of the Index because of Fund fees and expenses. It is important to remember that there are risks associated with index investing, including the potential risk of market decline, as well as the risks associated with investing in specific companies.
        MSCI World ESG Leaders Index is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index comprised of large- and mid-cap developed market companies in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, Canada and the United States. The Index holds a broad, diversified set of global companies, selected based on regional sector ranking of environmental, social and governance performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
        .
        Thomas E. O'Brien, CFA<sup>&reg;</sup>

        Thomas E. O'Brien, CFA®

        Portfolio Manager

        Northern Global Real Estate Index Fund (NGREX)
        Northern Global Sustainability Index Fund (NSRIX)

        With Northern Trust Since 2004
        Began Career in 1997

        Thomas E. O'Brien, Vice President of Northern Trust, is a portfolio manager with the international quantitative equity division. He manages the Northern Global Real Estate Index Fund and Northern Global Sustainability Index Fund.

        Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2004, Mr. O'Brien was a principal at State Street Global Advisors in Boston.

        Mr. O'Brien received a B.S. in finance from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from Suffolk University. He is an active CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Society Chicago.

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            Not FDIC insured | May lose value | No bank guarantee

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            Please carefully read the prospectus and summary prospectus and consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of Northern Funds before investing. Call 800-595-9111 to obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contains this and other information about the funds.

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