DBS: Firms can do well if they ease millennial worries

Eco-friendly companies should take heed of the concerns of millennials as people in this age bracket will have significant spending power in coming decades, said DBS's chief investment officer yesterday.

Mr Hou Wey Fook told a briefing that companies will do well if they can meet the demands of those born between 1981 and 1996.

Sustainable investing is an area set to benefit, he added, noting that 90 million millennials across the world stand to inherit US$30 trillion (S$41 trillion) over the next few decades.

"The world is changing, and (the changes have) profound implications to the way we should be investing. If a public-listed company is not embracing sustainability policies, I'm afraid it will be bypassed," he added, noting climate change is on millennials' minds.

A DBS report said millennials are almost twice as likely to invest in companies or funds that target specific social or environmental outcomes.

"Sustainable investing is becomingly increasingly compelling, given the increasing awareness among them," the report added.

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Analysts predict environmental, social and governance investments will be part of core investment portfolios in the future.

Portfolios will also be increasingly rated according to the impact they have on the environment and society, they added.

Mr Hou, who was outlining the bank's outlook for the rest of the year, said the listing of Beyond Meat is a sign of how well environmentally-friendly products can do.

Beyond Meat's shares have soared more than 570 per cent since its initial public offering last month, CNN reported.

The US company was valued at nearly US$10 billion in what has been called the most successful market debut this year.

Mr Hou added that firms can also benefit if their products impress on social media given that millennials grew up with the likes of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

But they will not be the sole group to dictate investment trends, he noted, pointing out that healthcare spending will also increase as the world greys and people have longer lifespans.