Capital at risk
Sustainable Growth
We believe that investors don’t need to choose between making a profit and making a difference for society. In fact, the two can be mutually reinforcing. We call this a virtuous circle. Our team seeks rare firms that can grow earnings at a double-digit rate for over a decade, enhancing their ability to contribute positively to people, planet and prosperity.
A broad view of sustainability
We observe sustainability through a wide-angle lens. We believe companies can create value for society through what they do or how they do it. This gives us a broader opportunity set and enables us to build a more diversified and resilient portfolio. A portfolio that is sustainable in both senses of the word, seeking enduring growth that delivers enduring good.
Sustainable Growth: owner's manual
Investment managers Toby Ross and Katherine Davidson discuss our principle that investing in companies which deliver enduring good could also deliver enduring growth.
Seeking out rare firms
Sustainable Growth has a single financial objective: to add material value for our clients over the long term. We believe the best way to achieve this is by investing in a diverse portfolio of sustainable companies and holding them for the long term (by which we mean a decade, ideally longer).
Doing so lets the power of compounding work its magic and allows time for the all-important intangibles to be reflected adequately in share prices. Ultimately, we aim to deliver a portfolio our clients can be proud of, both for its sustainability credentials and its financial returns.
Investing to make a difference
We seek to invest in companies that make a difference in one of two ways:
- what they do – products or services that have a clear positive impact
- how they do it – business practices that help to shape industry standards and inspire wider change
Our framework lays out how companies are contributing to one of three broad themes: people, planet or prosperity.
For full transparency we present our portfolio according to these classifications in all communications with our clients.
We want to invest in businesses that are resilient and in control of their own destiny financially – those that make their own weather.
Meet the managers
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Strategy portfolio holdings
A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.
All figures up to: 31 August 2024
# | Holding | % of portfolio |
---|---|---|
1 | MercadoLibre | 4.5% |
2 | TSMC | 4.2% |
3 | Microsoft | 4.1% |
4 | Recruit Holdings | 3.7% |
5 | Illumina | 3.3% |
6 | UnitedHealth Group | 3.1% |
7 | Beijer, G & L AB | 3.1% |
8 | Texas Instruments | 3.0% |
9 | Alphabet | 2.9% |
10 | Atlas Copco | 2.7% |
Please note
The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.
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You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
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Making a difference
Our clients want a portfolio they can be proud of, both for its investment returns and for the benefit it delivers for society. We believe companies can make a difference in one of two ways, either through what they do or how they do it. We invest in firms with products or services that have a clear benefit to society, or where leadership in business practices helps shape industry standards and inspire wider change.
Sustainability report
Sustainability means different things to different people. We commit to full transparency so that our clients can assess how their values align with ours. In our 2023 Sustainability Report we show how portfolio holdings are helping tackle the biggest challenges facing society today; challenges of people, planet and prosperity. We also include case studies of the year’s most notable engagement activity, analysis of company alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the results of our annual climate audit.
People, planet, prosperity
For every prospective holding we try to understand which of the world’s biggest problems the company is addressing, this could relate to people's welfare, the planet’s condition or broadening prosperity. Within each of these, a diverse set of sustainability themes gives our clients a clearer picture of how the companies they invest in are making a difference. Learn more about this in our Sustainable Growth stock cards.
Sustainable Growth stock cards
Explore why we invest in some of our largest holdings.
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Insights
Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:
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Insights
Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Japan
Thomas Patchett uncovers three companies driving new opportunities in Japan.Future Stocks: Our best ideas in the US
Ben James explains why DoorDash, The Trade Desk and CoStar stand out as growth stocks.Academic collaborations that count
The experts helping us gain an investment edge when thinking about farming, human rights and AI.Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Sustainable Growth Q1 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Moderna: designing drugs on a computer
Can scientists meet unmet health needs by writing code to help the body heal itself?Enduring good
What values are important to you? And are they reflected in your investments?Sustainable Growth Q4 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Why growth, why now?
Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.A net zero initiative update
A reflection on Baillie Gifford’s commitment to the climate transition.Sustainable Growth Sustainability Report 2023
Reviewing the difference companies make to the challenges of people, planet and prosperity.Sustainable Growth Q3 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.The secrets of enduring growth
Toby Ross reveals the four signs that a company’s growth might endure for decades.Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes, and market developments.Sustainable Growth Q1 update
Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes, and market developments.Sustainable growth: an introduction
ESG investing is broken. Changing our approach could open up opportunities for better returns.Sustainable Growth: Investing for society
We think investing long-term in companies that benefit society gives us the best chance of outperformance.Sustainable Growth: owner's manual
How investing in unique companies which seek to benefit society in the long run could bring significant rewards.Sustainable Growth Sustainability Report
The Sustainable Growth team on climate change, carbon emissions and sustainable growth companies.Fuelling the energy transition
Active investment and engaging with companies aid the energy transition to a low-carbon future.Scale as a service
Companies become more efficient as they grow. In the past, that involved big capital outlays and was bad news for challengers. However, as Gary Robinson explains, entrepreneurs can now rent the essential tools from cloud platforms, enabling them to compete more easily.
Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
Related insights
Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Japan
Thomas Patchett uncovers three companies driving new opportunities in Japan.Future Stocks: Our best ideas in the US
Ben James explains why DoorDash, The Trade Desk and CoStar stand out as growth stocks.Academic collaborations that count
The experts helping us gain an investment edge when thinking about farming, human rights and AI.Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Sustainable Growth Q1 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Moderna: designing drugs on a computer
Can scientists meet unmet health needs by writing code to help the body heal itself?Enduring good
What values are important to you? And are they reflected in your investments?Sustainable Growth Q4 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Why growth, why now?
Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.A net zero initiative update
A reflection on Baillie Gifford’s commitment to the climate transition.Sustainable Growth Sustainability Report 2023
Reviewing the difference companies make to the challenges of people, planet and prosperity.Sustainable Growth Q3 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.The secrets of enduring growth
Toby Ross reveals the four signs that a company’s growth might endure for decades.Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes, and market developments.Sustainable Growth Q1 update
Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes, and market developments.Sustainable growth: an introduction
ESG investing is broken. Changing our approach could open up opportunities for better returns.Sustainable Growth: Investing for society
We think investing long-term in companies that benefit society gives us the best chance of outperformance.Sustainable Growth: owner's manual
How investing in unique companies which seek to benefit society in the long run could bring significant rewards.Sustainable Growth Sustainability Report
The Sustainable Growth team on climate change, carbon emissions and sustainable growth companies.Fuelling the energy transition
Active investment and engaging with companies aid the energy transition to a low-carbon future.Scale as a service
Companies become more efficient as they grow. In the past, that involved big capital outlays and was bad news for challengers. However, as Gary Robinson explains, entrepreneurs can now rent the essential tools from cloud platforms, enabling them to compete more easily.
Invest in this strategy
You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
Explore further
Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.
How to invest in this strategy
You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
Explore further
Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.
Important information
The content of this website is intended exclusively for professional investors in accordance with MiFID legislation. ’Professional investors’ are potential investors who are deemed to have the status of “professional clients”, within the meaning of MiFID (2004/39/EC), as transposed in Ireland. It is not intended for retail investors.
Baillie Gifford Investment Management (Europe) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (Reference number C182354) as an Alternative Investment Fund Manager and UCITS Manager to Baillie Gifford Worldwide Funds plc. Its registered office is 4/5 School House Lane East, Dublin 2, D02 N279, Ireland.
This website is informative only and the information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. Read our Legal and regulatory information for further details.