These firms are being recognized for thriving and being leaders in the institutional investing market.

Parnassus Investments Winner

Parnassus Investments was founded in 1984, with the idea that investing in well-run companies that take care of employees and the environment will lead to better outcomes.

“We are active managers, curating concentrated portfolios composed of a relatively small number of good businesses that are undervalued but are often misunderstood or underappreciated,” according to a corporate brochure.

As of September 30, Parnassus had more than $43 billion in assets under management.

According to the company’s website, the firm seeks feedback from teammates, investors and business partners to “continuously improve our skills, processes and delivery. By doing so, we operate efficiently and create more value for our investors.”

The firm’s investment strategies have shown resilience across market cycles, consistently offering downside protection through market downturns, which helps investors compound their investments faster.

“For more than four decades, Parnassus has believed that investing with both conviction and conscience leads to better outcomes,” says CEO Benjamin Allen.

Parnassus announced the Parnassus International Equity Fund, its first actively managed international equity mutual fund, in May. The launch was driven by growing investor demand for broader diversification of and lower correlation to U.S. equities.

Over the past three years, Parnassus has expanded its investment team by nearly 50%, enhancing its research capabilities to evaluate high-quality companies across markets outside the U.S.

In February, the firm enhanced its sustainability and stewardship team with the addition of three experienced professionals, reinforcing the company’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its investment strategies. The sustainability and stewardship team provides specialized research on sustainable business practices—one of the four core factors Parnassus uses to identify high-quality companies for its actively managed investment strategies. The team also engages with portfolio companies to help them navigate future regulatory or reputational risks to support downside protection across strategies.

Finalists

• AQR Capital Management
• Arrowstreet Capital Management
• L&G – Asset Management, America
• Schroders Investments
• Vontobel