Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund

A globally diversified, sustainability-focused equity fund for long-term wealth building – tailored to the needs of expats in Germany.

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E (ISIN NL0000289783) is a high-conviction global equity fund that combines active management, rigorous research and integrated sustainability (ESG) analysis. It aims to deliver long-term capital growth by investing in a focused selection of high-quality companies from around the world, while promoting sustainable business practices.

At Finanz2Go Consulting, we have analysed this fund in detail and consider it a strong candidate for the core global equity allocation of long-term investors – especially expats living and investing in Germany.

https://www.fondsweb.com/de/NL0000289783

Fund at a Glance

Fund name: Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E
ISIN / WKN: NL0000289783 / 970259
Fund type: Global equity fund (Aktienfonds)
Fund company: Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.
Benchmark: MSCI World Index (EUR)
Investment style: Actively managed, concentrated portfolio of high-quality global equities
Sustainability: SFDR Article 8 (promotes environmental and/or social characteristics)
Distribution: Annual dividend (distributing share class)
Base currency: EUR
Domicile: Netherlands

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund offers investors broad access to developed equity markets while maintaining a disciplined focus on quality, valuation and sustainability.

Investment Philosophy & Strategy

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund follows a clear and robust investment philosophy:

Focus on High-Quality Global Companies

Instead of owning hundreds of stocks, the fund invests in a concentrated portfolio of carefully selected companies. These are typically large and mid-cap businesses with:

• Sustainable business models
• Strong balance sheets and solid profitability
• Attractive and predictable cash flows
• Durable competitive advantages
• Management teams with a proven track record

This quality bias means the portfolio often includes companies in sectors such as technology, healthcare, industrial innovation, consumer brands and other long-term growth themes.

Active, Research-Driven Stock Selection

Robeco is known worldwide for its research capabilities and academic approach to investing. The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund benefits from:

1. Fundamental analysis
   Each company is analysed in depth: business model, market positioning, profitability, cash flow generation and long-term growth prospects.
2. Valuation discipline
   Even outstanding companies can be poor investments if bought at inflated valuations. The fund applies strict valuation criteria to avoid overpaying for growth.
3. Integrated sustainability (ESG) analysis
   Environmental, social and governance factors are embedded into every investment decision. Companies with severe ESG risks or controversial business practices are avoided.

This combination of fundamental quality, valuation discipline and ESG analysis is designed to produce attractive, risk-adjusted returns over the long run.

Sustainability & ESG Approach

Sustainability is at the core of the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund, not an afterthought or marketing label.

How ESG Is Integrated

For every potential investment, the fund team evaluates:

• Environmental risks (e.g. emissions, resource usage, climate transition risks)
• Social factors (e.g. labour standards, supply chain practices, product responsibility)
• Governance quality (e.g. board structure, shareholder alignment, transparency)

In addition, the fund applies explicit exclusions, for example:

• Controversial weapons
• Certain fossil fuel intensive activities (such as thermal coal and oil sands)
• Severe and repeated ESG controversies

The goal is twofold:

1. Improve the fund’s sustainability profile relative to its benchmark (MSCI World).
2. Reduce long-term risk by avoiding companies vulnerable to regulatory, legal or reputational shocks.

For many investors – especially expats who want to invest responsibly – the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund offers a way to participate in global equity markets without compromising on sustainability values.

Performance Overview

(Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.)

Over multiple years, the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E has demonstrated that a combination of active management and ESG integration can compete successfully with broad global indices.

Key performance characteristics include:

• Attractive long-term returns: The fund has historically delivered strong returns in line with or above its benchmark over extended periods.
• Competitive performance in up and down markets:
  • In rising markets, the quality focus allows the fund to capture growth.
  • In turbulent or falling markets, robust balance sheets and sustainable business models can help cushion drawdowns compared to more speculative approaches.
• Consistent track record: The fund’s performance profile reflects a repeatable investment process rather than one-off bets or short-term market timing.

For investors building long-term wealth – particularly over horizons of 5–10+ years – such consistency is often more important than short-term outperformance.

Risk & Volatility

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund invests in stocks and therefore carries the typical risks of equity investing. Prices can fluctuate significantly in the short term, and there is no guarantee of profit or capital preservation.

However, several aspects help shape its risk profile:

• Broad global diversification across regions and sectors
• Quality bias towards financially sound, established companies
• ESG integration to avoid elevated long-term risk factors
• Active risk management by an experienced portfolio team

Investors should be comfortable with market volatility and ideally have a long-term investment horizon of at least 5 years. For shorter horizons, the fund may be too volatile.

Portfolio Characteristics

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E typically exhibits the following characteristics:

Geographic Allocation

• Significant exposure to North America (especially the United States)
• Additional exposure to Europe, Japan and other developed markets
• Select holdings in other regions where high-quality companies can be found

This global spread helps reduce dependence on the economic development of a single country or region.

Sector Allocation

While sector weights can change over time, the fund often allocates to:

• Information technology and digitalisation
• Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
• Industrial innovation and automation
• Consumer brands and services
• Financials and business services

This reflects the fund’s focus on long-term structural growth trends such as digital transformation, demographic change, efficiency gains and rising global consumption.

Concentrated but Diversified

The number of holdings is lower than in many index funds, but still sufficiently diversified to avoid excessive single-stock risk. The fund is designed as a high-conviction, core global equity holding.

Deep-Dive: Why Sustainability and Quality Matter for Long-Term Investors

From our perspective at Finanz2Go, the combination of sustainability and quality in the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund is more than just a “nice-to-have” feature – it is a source of long-term resilience.

• Companies with poor ESG standards often face higher regulatory fines, reputational damage and operational disruptions.
• Poor corporate governance can lead to misaligned incentives, excessive risk taking or shareholder-unfriendly decisions.
• Environmental negligence may trigger long-term liabilities or force costly transition investments.

By systematically considering these factors, the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund aims to reduce exposure to such risks. That can translate into more stable earnings, less volatility and better risk-adjusted returns over time.

How This Fund Can Fit into Your Portfolio

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E can play different roles depending on your overall strategy:

1. Core Global Equity Building Block

For many investors, this fund can serve as the central global equity component of their portfolio. It combines global diversification, active management and sustainability in a single product, which simplifies implementation and monitoring.

2. Complement to Passive ETFs

Investors who already use global ETFs can combine them with the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund to:

• Add an active, high-conviction layer on top of passive exposure
• Integrate stronger ESG criteria than many broad indices
• Benefit from fundamental research and stock selection in addition to mechanical index construction

3. Long-Term Growth Engine for Retirement Planning

For expats in Germany planning for retirement, the fund can serve as a long-term growth engine within a diversified retirement or wealth plan. Due to its global, quality-oriented and sustainability-focused nature, it aligns well with long-term goals such as financial independence and retirement security.

Ideal Investor Profile

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund is generally suitable for investors who:

• Have a medium to long-term investment horizon (5+ years)
• Are prepared to accept equity market volatility
• Want global diversification beyond their home country
• Prefer high-quality companies with robust fundamentals
• Intend to invest responsibly, with sustainability as a relevant factor
• Are looking for a professionally managed, institutionally robust solution

It is not suitable for investors seeking capital protection, short-term speculation or guaranteed returns.

Why Finanz2Go Recommends This Fund to Expats in Germany

As independent financial consultants specializing in expats, we evaluate funds like the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E through multiple lenses:

• Investment quality & process: Is there a clear, repeatable and research-based strategy?
• Long-term performance & risk profile: Has the fund demonstrated consistency over different market phases?
• Cost structure: Are the fees appropriate for the quality delivered?
• Sustainability integration: Does the fund genuinely integrate ESG, rather than using it as a marketing label?
• Practicality for expats: Availability through common German platforms and compatibility with long-term planning in Germany.

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund scores strongly on all these dimensions, which is why we frequently consider it as part of personalised portfolios for our clients.

FAQs About the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund

Is this fund suitable for expats living in Germany?
Yes. The fund is EUR-denominated, widely available via German brokers and banks, and can be integrated into German investment and retirement strategies.

Can I combine this fund with ETFs?
Absolutely. Many clients use a mix of low-cost ETFs and selected active funds like the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund to balance passive diversification with active research and ESG integration.

Does the fund pay dividends?
The EUR E share class is distributing. Dividends are typically paid annually and can be reinvested or used as income, depending on your personal plan and tax situation.

Is sustainability a performance drag?
Not necessarily. The fund’s philosophy is that sustainability improves the risk/return profile over the long term by avoiding companies with elevated ESG risks.

Important Risk Notice

Investing in the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E involves risks, including the possible loss of the capital you invest. The value of investments may rise as well as fall, and past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Returns are not guaranteed.

Before investing, you should carefully consider:

• Your investment horizon
• Your risk tolerance
• Your financial goals
• Your overall asset allocation

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment advice.

Next Steps: How Finanz2Go Can Help You

If you’re curious whether the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund fits your personal situation as an expat in Germany, we can help you answer questions like:

• How much of your portfolio should be invested in global equities?
• How can you combine this fund with ETFs or other building blocks?
• What is the best way to structure your investments for life in Germany (and possibly other countries in the future)?
• How does this fund fit into your long-term retirement and wealth strategy?

👉 Book a free, non-binding consultation with Finanz2Go
Together, we’ll analyse your situation and show you how a global, sustainable strategy like the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E can support your long-term financial goals.

Why Finanz2Go Selects the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund for Expat Clients in Germany

At Finanz2Go, we apply a strict selection process when recommending funds to expat clients. These criteria include cost efficiency, long-term stability, global diversification, volatility control, accessibility through German brokers, sustainability metrics, and consistency of performance versus benchmarks.

Based on our analysis, the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E meets or exceeds these criteria in several important ways:

1. Strong Long-Term Risk–Return Profile Compared to the MSCI World

The fund has demonstrated an ability to match or outperform the MSCI World Index over longer time periods while keeping volatility at a competitive level.
Key data points include:

• Long-term return outperformance in multiple market cycles versus the benchmark (source: fondsweb.com & finanzen.net).
• Consistent performance in both bull and bear markets, supported by its focus on high-quality, financially stable companies.
• Lower drawdowns in stress periods thanks to quality and valuation discipline.

For long-term expat investors who are building wealth in a foreign country, this stability is critical.

2. Competitive Volatility and Robust Risk Management

The fund displays moderate volatility compared to global index funds and competing active funds:

• 1-year volatility: ~13.9%
• 3-year volatility: ~12.4%
• 5-year volatility: ~13.2%

These values are consistent with or slightly better than broad equity benchmarks, reflecting:

• Stronger balance sheets in the portfolio
• Avoidance of controversial, high-risk industries
• Active risk monitoring by the portfolio management team

For expats who often face additional financial uncertainties (currency exposure, relocation risk, fragmented pension systems), controlled volatility is a major advantage.

3. High Global Diversification with Quality Tilt

Expat investors typically seek:

• Global market exposure
• Reduced home bias
• Proven diversification across economies

The fund achieves exactly this:

• Over 70% allocation to U.S. markets, which dominate global equity performance
• Additional exposure to Europe, Japan, and other developed markets
• Portfolio weighting towards technology, healthcare, industrial innovation, and strong consumer brands

This global approach ensures clients are not overexposed to any single market—especially important for those who may eventually return to their home country or move internationally.

4. ESG Integration Backed by Quantitative Scores

Robeco’s ESG methodology is data-driven and fully integrated, not a marketing add-on.
The company uses:

• Proprietary ESG scoring models
• Detailed controversy assessments
• Sector-specific sustainability risk models
• Carbon footprint reduction metrics compared to benchmarks

The fund must maintain a better sustainability score than the MSCI World Index, which it consistently achieves.

For expats—many of whom come from countries with high sustainability awareness—this is both ethically appealing and financially pragmatic, as ESG integration reduces long-term business risk.

5. Consistent Dividend Payments (E-Share Class)

The EUR E share class pays annual dividends, historically around €1.20 per share.
Many expat investors:

• Prefer cash-flow-generating investments
• Use dividends for reinvestment or tax planning
• Appreciate predictable distribution structures

Dividends also make this fund suitable for wealth-building and retirement-oriented portfolios.

6. Transparent Cost Structure and High Institutional Quality

Robeco charges competitive ongoing costs considering:

• Active management
• Research-heavy stock selection
• Advanced ESG integration
• Experienced portfolio team

The Total Expense Ratio (TER) is appropriate for the value delivered, and far lower than many comparable active global equity funds.

Institutional reliability matters greatly to expat clients who want:

• Transparency
• Regulatory oversight
• International credibility

Robeco is a globally recognized asset manager with decades of track record.

7. Accessibility for Expat Investors in Germany

Many international expats face challenges accessing global investment products due to:

• Regional restrictions
• Language barriers
• Local tax considerations
• Limited fund availability at banks

The Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund solves these issues:

• Widely available on German investment platforms
• EUR-denominated (no USD currency risk for the share class)
• Tax-transparent for German residents
• Compatible with common investment accounts (Depot, ETF savings plans, etc.)

This makes implementation effortless for clients who are new to the German financial system.

8. Excellent Fit for Long-Term Retirement and Wealth Planning

For expats who want to accumulate wealth and invest efficiently over 10–30 years, this fund provides:

• A robust long-term growth engine
• Controlled risk through quality and ESG
• Strong diversification
• Dividend income
• Transparent reporting and availability

It can serve as:

• A core global equity component
• A complement to ETFs
• A long-term retirement building block
• A sustainability-aligned investment without sacrificing returns

These attributes align exceptionally well with Finanz2Go’s evidence-based investment philosophy.

Why Finanz2Go Prefers This Fund for Expat Portfolios

In summary, the Robeco Sustainable Global Stars Equities Fund – EUR E meets critical criteria for our expat clients:

This combination is rare among global equity funds, which is why we consider it a strategic building block for many expat investment plans in Germany.