RADNOR, PA — Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE: LNC) has been recognized as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 by Newsweek Magazine. This recognition could potentially boost investor confidence in the company, given the growing emphasis on Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions.
Newsweek, in collaboration with research firm Statista, Inc., selected honorees based on over 30 publicly available key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability reports. The process also involved an independent survey of 17,000 U.S. citizens evaluating companies on their CSR performance across social, environmental, and governance dimensions. The final list recognizes the top 600 most responsible U.S. companies across 14 industries.
For investors, Lincoln Financial’s inclusion in this list underscores the company’s commitment to ESG principles, which are increasingly being seen as indicators of long-term financial sustainability and risk management. As investors become more conscious of the social and environmental impact of their investments, companies that demonstrate strong ESG performance are likely to attract more investment capital.
Allison Green Johnson, Chief Diversity Officer and President of the Lincoln Financial Foundation, hailed the award as a testament to the company’s robust CSR and ESG strategy. “At Lincoln, we continuously explore innovative ways of thinking, tapping into diverse backgrounds and new ideas, to help enhance our CSR and ESG efforts to generate a real impact,” she said.
In 2023, Lincoln Financial made charitable contributions exceeding $9.5 million, reaching over 1.5 million people through approximately 300 partners. The company also continued to coordinate local giving through its Employee Activities Committees.
Moreover, Lincoln Financial has been making strides in its environmental commitment, achieving its targets for reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and making significant progress on expanding Scope 3 emissions reporting. In 2022, the company reduced paper purchases by 21% by adopting a digital-first model.
Amber Williams, Chief Sustainability Officer at Lincoln Financial Group, emphasized the company’s commitment to integrating ESG performance into its operations. “Every day, we are moving closer to this commitment by integrating our ESG performance in everything we do and holding ourselves accountable to being more than just a business,” she said.
Lincoln Financial’s recognition as a responsible company extends beyond Newsweek’s list. The company has also been named to Newsweek’s list of Most Trustworthy Companies for the second consecutive year and included on major sustainability indices, such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America.
With investors increasingly placing a premium on corporate responsibility, Lincoln Financial’s achievements in this area could enhance its attractiveness as an investment. As the company continues to integrate ESG principles into its operations, it could potentially offer investors not just financial returns, but also the satisfaction of contributing to a more sustainable and equitable society.
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