ESG AND COMPANY PROFITABILITY: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW OF GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS

Abstract

The aim of the study is to systematise research on the impact of ESG activities on corporate profitability and to identify future directions for research. The study is based on a bibliometric analysis of articles published in the Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2012 and 2025. The results allow for the identification of seven clusters of research related to ESG and corporate profitability, the presentation of key research areas and directions. The originality of the study consists in a synthetic overview of research results concerning both the overall impact of ESG practices on corporate profitability and the separate significance of individual components – Environmental, Social, and Governance. The results suggest that this is a multifaceted relationship, significantly influenced by regional and sectoral factors. There is a need for in-depth research that could help investors and companies to understand more comprehensively the complicated relationships between ESG practices and company performance.