BlackRock bets on increased ESG enthusiasm with four new ETFs

Four ETFs that track companies using environmental, social and governance criteria started trading Thursday. Among the changes BlackRock's chief outlined in his January letter was making sustainability integral to portfolio construction and risk management.

Fink pledged to double sustainable ETF offerings, push index providers to expand their environmental, social and governance benchmarks and drop thermal coal producers from BlackRock's approximately $1.8 trillion in active strategies. Investor interest in value-based and sustainable strategies has surged amid protests against racism and a deadly outbreak that has infected more than 8.3 million people around the world.

"One thing that has emerged as a result of the virus and the lockdown is a renewed appreciation for the environment broadly speaking," said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management.

The new suite of BlackRock funds includes: the iShares ESG Aware Conservative Allocation ETF (EAOK); the iShares ESG Aware Moderate Allocation ETF (EAOM); the iShares ESG Aware Growth Allocation ETF (EAOR); and the iShares ESG Aware Aggressive Allocation ETF (EAOA). Each has a 0.18% expense ratio.

BlackRock is also planning to launch four ESG funds that provide exposure to companies with higher scores in that category while also screening for controversial activities such as fossil fuels, palm oil, for-profit prisons and weapons.

"This strong demand across our global wealth and institutional clients is driving more innovation in index and product development and portfolio solutions," the firm said in a statement.

After taking in a record $4 billion in April, ETFs focused on ESG have seen $52 million in outflows so far this month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Three BlackRock products -- ESGU, ESGE, ESGD -- have lured $8.5 billion out of the total $13.1 billion inflows for the category this year.