Hera, a global leader in sustainability: once again at the top of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index
Search Bar
Asset Publisher
Hera, a global leader in sustainability: once again at the top of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index
The Group, included for the sixth year in both the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe and World Indices, confirms its position as the most sustainable Multi & Water Utility at global level. A further recognition that rewards the results achieved and the Group’s approach to creating shared value for all stakeholders.
According to S&P Global, the Hera Group has once again been ranked the world’s leading company in the Multi & Water Utility sector and has been included, for the sixth consecutive year, in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index (formerly known as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index), both at European and global level.
This result follows an in-depth assessment of performance across environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions. The Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index, a leading international stock market index, comprises listed companies demonstrating the highest performance in Environmental, Social and Governance & Economic dimensions.
In particular, the multi-utility has reaffirmed its global leadership in its sector, achieving a score of 83/100 compared with a sector average of 37/100.
This recognition rewards the quality of the Group’s sustainability reporting, the results achieved by a company that has always been aware of its role within its operating ecosystem, and its strategy of pursuing the creation of shared value for all stakeholders, in line with its purpose.
The Group is considered a best practice across multiple areas:
- In governance, it stands out for the transparency of its reporting, its careful and effective risk management – including cyber risk – and its exemplary ability to manage the supply chain sustainably;
- In the environmental dimension, it ranks first for the efficient management of energy in its internal processes and for safeguarding biodiversity in the territories in which it operates, and has distinguished itself in particular for its reporting and management of climate change-related risks and opportunities;
- In the social dimension, it has achieved the highest global score in respect for human rights, the development of its employees’ human capital, customer engagement, data privacy protection and relations with local communities.
These assessments confirm the aspects most highlighted by analysts: a company capable of combining economic growth with sustainable development, continuing to generate value for its stakeholders and not only for shareholders. This is also evidenced by a shared value EBITDA, which rose in 2025 to 60% of Group EBITDA (in line with the 2029 target of 68% set out in the business plan), and by an expected double-digit average annual Total Shareholder Return.
Listed since 2003 and included in the FTSE MIB since 2019, Hera stock has been part of the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index Europe & World (formerly the Dow Jones Sustainability Index) and the FTSE4Good Index since 2020, and is also included in the Italian ESG MIB blue-chip index dedicated to best ESG practices. For a decade, the Group has been included in the FTSE Diversity & Inclusion Index Top 100 and, in 2025, reached the global Top 10, according to FTSE Russell certification, in recognition of its commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and people development. Furthermore, for the past five years it has ranked among the top three companies in the ESG Identity Corporate Index, acknowledging the full and conscious integration of sustainability policies into its governance and business strategies.
Download Press release
Hera Custom Facet Publish Date
Custom Facet
Category Facet
Asset Publisher
The Group's continued inclusion in the index confirms the strength of its ESG profile, standing above the Utilities and Multiutilities sector average in key areas including Climate Change, Labour Standards, Governance and Anti-Corruption.
Hera confirmed in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the seventh consecutive year
Hera stock has been confirmed, for the seventh consecutive year, as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series, FTSE Russell's sustainability index that includes companies worldwide recognised for their commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices.
The 2026 assessment confirms the Group's inclusion in the index with a score well above the utilities sector average, reflecting the effectiveness of Hera’s long-standing commitment to environmental, social and governance excellence.
Among the areas in which Hera achieved particularly strong performance are climate change management, labour standards, the robustness of its corporate governance framework and its anti-corruption practices. These are key pillars of the Group's strategy, as demonstrated by its Climate Transition Plan, which targets net-zero emissions by 2050, and by the signing of the Good Work Pact with trade unions.
Inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series therefore represents a further recognition of Hera's sustainable growth journey, underpinned by a business model focused on creating shared value for local communities, customers, employees and shareholders. Shared value creation accounts for 77% of the investments envisaged under the Group's Business Plan, with the objective of increasing shared value EBITDA to 68% of total EBITDA by 2029, while delivering a structural Total Shareholders' Return averaging 10% per year, while maintaining a low-risk profile.
FTSE4Good Index Series
The FTSE4Good Index Series was created by FTSE Russell to support investment in companies that meet globally recognised environmental, social and governance standards. It serves as an important benchmark for the development of sustainable investment portfolios and indices.
Companies included in the FTSE4Good Index meet rigorous ESG criteria and are therefore considered to be better positioned to capture the benefits associated with responsible business conduct.