September 4, 2019
2019 Russell 1000 Flash Report
60% of Russell 1000® Are Publishing Sustainability Reports
G&A Institute’s 2019 Inaugural Benchmark Study
Governance & Accountability Institute (G&A) is pleased to share the results of its inaugural Russell 1000 Sustainability Reporting in Focus research. This analysis expands G&A’s annual studies of the S&P 500 to examine the next 500 largest publicly traded U.S. companies, providing a more complete picture of ESG reporting trends across the full Russell 1000 Index.
Key Findings
60% of Russell 1000 companies published sustainability reports in 2018.
Reporting among the largest half of the Russell 1000 (generally equivalent to the S&P 500) was 86%.
Only 34% of the smallest half of the Russell 1000 reported in 2018, highlighting a significant gap between large-cap and mid-cap disclosure practices.
Of all Russell 1000 reporters, 72% were S&P 500 companies, while 28% came from the smaller half of the index.
Among non-reporters, 83% were companies in the smallest half of the index, while only 17% were in the S&P 500.
Summary
The inaugural Russell 1000 study underscores that while sustainability reporting has become a near-universal practice among large-cap U.S. companies, smaller firms continue to lag. With 60% of Russell 1000 companies reporting overall, the data highlights both the progress made and the opportunities ahead for mid-cap and smaller firms to align with investor and stakeholder expectations. Given the overlap between the S&P 500 and Russell 1000 indices, G&A’s ongoing research provides valuable insights into how disclosure practices are expanding beyond the largest companies to a broader set of U.S. public firms.
What You’ll Learn
This report offers a detailed look at sustainability reporting trends within the Russell 1000, breaking down differences between the largest and smallest halves of the index. Readers will learn how reporting practices compare across market caps, which companies are adopting leading frameworks, and how mid-cap companies are beginning to close the gap with their large-cap peers. The findings provide a benchmark for understanding where U.S. companies stand on ESG reporting and where growth is still needed.
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