- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Think Sustainability Hurts Shareholder Value? Think Again. https://www.3blmedia.com/news/think-sustainability-hurts-shareholder-value-think-again?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/news/think-sustainability-hurts-shareholder-value-think-again?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/news/think-sustainability-hurts-shareholder-value-think-again?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Think Sustainability Hurts Shareholder Value? Think Again.&body=ESG News from 3BL https://www.3blmedia.com/news/think-sustainability-hurts-shareholder-value-think-again?absolute=1 "Share via email") [Research, Reports & Publications](/CSR-News/research-reports-publications) # Think Sustainability Hurts Shareholder Value? Think Again. ##### New 3BL research creates an even stronger link between corporate sustainability leadership and stock price over time. Oct 1, 2025 11:00 AM ET !["Sustainable Companies Make More Money, But Does Anyone Trust Them?"](/sites/default/files/styles/carousel_2x/public/images/sustainability-shareholder-value_3BL_100125.png) NORTHAMPTON, Mass., October 1, 2025 /3BL/ - Last year, 3BL research showed that companies on the [100 Best Corporate Citizens list]() outperformed the S&P 500, a clear sign that strong sustainability performance can align with financial success. But as U.S. markets face greater volatility and political attitudes shift, are the nation’s largest companies still acting on and disclosing sustainability efforts? And if they are, does it help or hurt their bottom line? Since 1999, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens has ranked the largest publicly traded U.S. companies on sustainability disclosure and performance. The methodology evolves annually to reflect changing stakeholder expectations and best practices across areas like climate change, employee relations, human rights, and governance. The 2025 results show steady progress, with average scores rising 2.5% this year. Our latest research confirms that these efforts matter in the market, too. From January 2022 to July 2025, companies recognized among the 100 Best delivered annual returns 2.2% higher than the S&P 500. The gains are even stronger for repeat honorees: - 106% cumulative return from 2022 to 2025 (vs. 37% for the S&P 500) - 40% cumulative return excluding outliers (vs. the S&P’s 36.6%) Why does this matter? Sustainability disclosures not only meet growing investor demand for risk-reducing data, but they may also be a leading indicator of financial resilience. Still, whether these disclosures carry the same weight with consumers remains an open question. [Download the full research]() [![3BL Logo](/sites/default/files/2023-06/3BL%20FULL%20LOGO_MIDNIGHT_MEDIUM.png)](/profiles/3bl) ### More from 3BL ###### [“AI Can’t Quote Coverage You Never Generated.”](/news/ai-cant-quote-coverage-you-never-generated) Mar 31, 2026 1:30 PM ET ###### [3BL Launches New Content Editor to Power Richer Brand Storytelling](/news/3bl-launches-new-content-editor-power-richer-brand-storytelling) Jan 27, 2026 5:30 PM ET ###### [3BL Joins Double the Donation Community User Conference, Jan. 22](/news/3bl-joins-double-donation-community-user-conference-jan-22) Jan 12, 2026 2:00 PM ET ###### [Our Vision for What’s Next](/news/our-vision-whats-next) Dec 17, 2025 2:30 PM ET ###### [What 10 Years and 600 Studies Tell Us About Sustainable Business Success](/news/what-10-years-and-600-studies-tell-us-about-sustainable-business-success) Dec 10, 2025 1:00 PM ET ###### [New Research Debunks Sustainability-Profitability Debate](/news/new-research-debunks-sustainability-profitability-debate) Dec 3, 2025 10:30 AM ET ###### [3BL Supports Berkshire Bounty’s Fight Against Food Insecurity With $10,000 Challenge Grant](/news/3bl-supports-berkshire-bountys-fight-against-food-insecurity-10000-challenge-grant) Dec 2, 2025 12:05 PM ET ###### [2025 Was a Big Year for Sustainability Communications — Here’s What the Research Said.](/news/2025-was-big-year-sustainability-communications-heres-what-research-said) Nov 20, 2025 2:00 PM ET