This article provides an analysis of equity costs in Brazilian public companies regarding the adoption of sustainability principles. The concept of sustainable development has evolved considering the relation among economic growth, the society and the environment. The triple-bottom-line of economic, environmental, and social dimensions has emerged as an interpretation model by companies, although each of these dimensions may present a challenge. The corporate sector has faced an increasing demand from society regarding these sustainability concepts, though the actions and the role to be played by companies within this context are still being questioned. Equity costs were analyzed by a multivariate regression of beta on accounting measures, including a dummy variable obtaining the sustainability component. The results confirmed the hypothesis that there is a reduction in the cost of capital for companies classified as sustainable, which also suggests an increase in economic value.
sustainability; cost of equity; sustainable development
