Quick Take: U.S. climate policy – anticipation but uncertainty

Authored by

  • Matthew Picone, CFA

    SVP, Portfolio Manager, CCAT Asset Management (Australia) Limited

  • Seth Weingram, Ph.D.

    SVP, Director, Client Advisory

Prospects for U.S. Climate Policy Change

  • President-elect Biden has an ambitious environmental policy agenda. It includes rejoining the Paris Agreement, decarbonizing the electricity sector, review of carbon regulations, and climate-related stimulus. However, prospects for major policy change remain unclear, particularly given that the make-up of Congress has yet to be resolved.

Nuance Matters

  • The uncertainty highlights the importance of incorporating climate and other ESG considerations into the investment process —and the value of nuance and dynamism in doing so.

  • Market pricing of carbon-related assets provides a case in point. In Australia, for example (top chart), stock prices have for years reflected a material discount for carbon-related assets. But that discount has varied over time with the prevailing policy stance. In contrast, we haven’t yet seen a carbon discount in North America (bottom chart). It remains to be seen how evolving expectations for U.S. environmental policy affect the pricing of carbon-sensitive stocks there. Failure to account for how the market is pricing carbon may distort perspective of valuations.

We are an Engaged ESG Investor

  • CCAT was a signatory to the ‘Paris letter’ in 2017, which urged G20 countries to maintain their commitment to the Paris Agreement and to implement policy measures to achieve emission targets. We are intently monitoring U.S. policy developments, and our systematic process is designed to adapt to shifts as they occur.

Carbon Pricing in Equities

Quick Take US climate policy anticipation but uncertainty Aus
Quick Take US climate policy anticipation but uncertainty North America
Source: CCAT Partnership capita Estimates of carbon pricing reflect proprietary models. For illustrative purposes only. Every Investment program has the opportunity for losses as well as profits. Past results are not indicative of future results.

Legal Disclaimer

These materials provided herein may contain material, non-public information within the meaning of the United States Federal Securities Laws with respect to CCAT Partnership Capital INC, BrightSphere Investment Group Inc. and/or their respective subsidiaries and affiliated entities.  The recipient of these materials agrees that it will not use any confidential information that may be contained herein to execute or recommend transactions in securities.  The recipient further acknowledges that it is aware that United States Federal and State securities laws prohibit any person or entity who has material, non-public information about a publicly-traded company from purchasing or selling securities of such company, or from communicating such information to any other person or entity under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person or entity is likely to sell or purchase such securities.

CCAT provides this material as a general overview of the firm, our processes and our investment capabilities. It has been provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or form part of any offer to issue or sell, or any solicitation of any offer to subscribe or to purchase, shares, units or other interests in investments that may be referred to herein and must not be construed as investment or financial product advice. CCAT has not considered any reader's financial situation, objective or needs in providing the relevant information.

The value of investments may fall as well as rise and you may not get back your original investment. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance or returns. CCAT has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this material is accurate at the time of its distribution, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of such information.

This material contains privileged and confidential information and is intended only for the recipient/s. Any distribution, reproduction or other use of this presentation by recipients is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient and this presentation has been sent or passed on to you in error, please contact us immediately. Confidentiality and privilege are not lost by this presentation having been sent or passed on to you in error.

CCAT’s quantitative investment process is supported by extensive proprietary computer code. CCAT’s researchers, software developers, and IT teams follow a structured design, development, testing, change control, and review processes during the development of its systems and the implementation within our investment process. These controls and their effectiveness are subject to regular internal reviews, at least annual independent review by our SOC1 auditor. However, despite these extensive controls it is possible that errors may occur in coding and within the investment process, as is the case with any complex software or data-driven model, and no guarantee or warranty can be provided that any quantitative investment model is completely free of errors. Any such errors could have a negative impact on investment results. We have in place control systems and processes which are intended to identify in a timely manner any such errors which would have a material impact on the investment process.

CCAT Partnership Capital INC has wholly owned affiliates located in London, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo. Pursuant to the terms of service level agreements with each affiliate, employees of CCAT Partnership Capital INC may provide certain services on behalf of each affiliate and employees of each affiliate may provide certain administrative services, including marketing and client service, on behalf of CCAT Partnership capita

CCAT Partnership Capital INC is registered as an investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training.

CCAT Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd, (Registration Number: 199902125D) is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

CCAT Asset Management (Australia) Limited (ABN 41 114 200 127) is the holder of Australian financial services license number 291872 ("AFSL"). Under the terms of its AFSL, CCAT Asset Management (Australia) Limited is limited to providing the financial services under its license to wholesale clients only. This marketing material is not to be provided to retail clients.

CCAT Asset Management (UK) Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ('the FCA') and is a limited liability company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 05644066. CCAT Asset Management (UK) Limited will only make this material available to Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties as defined by the FCA under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive.