Equity Investment Process

Saturna Capital’s first and largest client, the Amana Mutual Funds Trust, follows Islamic principles as well as ESG investing principles among the equity funds.

Islamic principles require investors to share in profit and loss, to exclude investments in prohibited activities, and to avoid speculation in favor of long-term investment.

Business sector and ESG screens eliminate companies primarily involved in certain activities including:

• Interest
• Gambling
• Pork
• Fossil fuel extraction

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Pornography
• Weapons

Financial screens eliminate companies with:

  • Greater than 5% of their revenue coming from haram, or unacceptable, sources (such as those listed above)
  • Greater than 33% total debt as compared to their market capitalization (trailing 12 month average)
  • Greater than 45% accounts receivable as compared to their total assets (trailing 12 month average)
Investment Process, Step by Step 2022

The guidelines developed for the Amana Funds help ensure that investments meet the requirements of the Islamic faith and were established by Saturna in collaboration with the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA), a non-profit organization serving the Muslim community. To ensure that investments continue to meet the requirements of the Islamic faith, Saturna engages Amanie Advisors Sdn Bhd, a leading consultant specializing in Islamic finance.

Amana’s equity funds also support the fossil fuel divestment campaign by excluding companies primarily engaged in energy extraction and refining.

ESG Icons - No alcohol, no tobacco, no weapons, no gambling, no fossil fuels

About The Funds

Amana Income Fund (AMANX) seeks current income and preservation of capital, consistent with Islamic principles.

Amana Growth Fund (AMAGX) seeks long-term capital growth, consistent with Islamic principles.

Amana Developing World Fund (AMDWX) seeks long-term capital growth, consistent with Islamic principles.

Amana Participation Fund (AMAPX) seeks capital preservation and current income, consistent with Islamic principles.

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Please note that sukuk are typically structured to be Islamically acceptable.  The investment selection process for the Participation Fund is not described on this page.

A Few Words About Risk

Income, Growth, Developing World, and Participation Funds: The value of the shares of each of the Funds rises and falls as the value of the securities in which the Funds invest go up and down. The Amana Mutual Funds limit the securities they purchase to those consistent with Islamic principles. This limits opportunities and may affect performance. Each of the Funds may invest in securities that are not traded in the United States. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may involve risks in addition to those normally associated with investments in the securities of US issuers. These risks include currency and market fluctuations, and political or social instability. The risks of foreign investing are generally magnified in the smaller and more volatile securities markets of the developing world.

Growth Fund: The smaller and less seasoned companies that may be in the Growth Fund have a greater risk of price volatility.

Participation Fund: While the Participation Fund does not invest in conventional bonds, risks similar to those of conventional nondiversified fixed-income funds apply. These include: diversification and concentration risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, and high-yield risk. The Participation Fund also includes risks specific to investments in Islamic fixed-income instruments. The structural complexity of sukuk, along with the weak infrastructure of the sukuk market, increases risk. Compared to rights of conventional bondholders, holders of sukuk may have limited ability to pursue legal recourse to enforce the terms of the sukuk or to restructure the sukuk in order to seek recovery of principal. Sukuk are also subject to the risk that some Islamic scholars may deem certain sukuk as not meeting Islamic investment principles subsequent to the sukuk being issued.