Catalyst, a nonprofit organization that expands women’s opportunities in business, released a 2011 study on Fortune 500 companies that showed a lack of diversity in the boardrooms, with women holding only 16.1% of board seats. Women of color hold only 3% of board seats, only 11.3% of women board members are African American, and fewer are represented by other minorities. The issue of women being poorly represented in board rooms is one that is prevalent across the globe, according to a 2012 Credit Suisse study. That study also showed, however, that stocks of companies with at least one female board member performed better in the market, as well as other assets.

Read the full article here: Why Investors Must Push Harder for Greater Diversity on Corporate Boards