N-CSR 1 amana-ncsr20220531.htm AMANA MUTUAL FUNDS TRUST FORM N-CSR MAY 31, 2022 Amana Mutual Funds Trust Form N-CSR May 31, 2022

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 2-96924

AMANA MUTUAL FUNDS TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, Washington 98225-4730

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including ZIP Code)

Jane K. Carten
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, Washington 98225-4730

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Registrant’s Telephone Number – (360) 734-9900 Ext. 1701

Date of fiscal year end: May 31, 2022
Date of reporting period: May 31, 2022

 

Item 1. Report to Shareowners


LOGO


Performance Summary    (unaudited)

As of May 31, 2022

 

  Average Annual Returns (before any taxes paid by  shareowners)    1 Year      3 Year      5 Year      10 Year      15 Year      Expense Ratio1  

Amana Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     1.16%        13.95%        10.94%        11.54%        8.29%        1.04%  

Amana Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     1.40%        14.19%        11.19%        n/a        n/a        0.80%  
             

Amana Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     -0.62%        18.95%        17.15%        14.98%        10.62%        0.95%  

Amana Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     -0.40%        19.23%        17.42%        n/a        n/a        0.70%  
             

Amana Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     -12.47%        8.86%        3.96%        2.19%        n/a        1.20%  

Amana Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     -12.24%        9.09%        4.18%        n/a        n/a        0.97%  
             

Amana Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     -3.83%        1.57%        1.68%        n/a        n/a        0.82%  

Amana Participation Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     -3.58%        1.82%        1.90%        n/a        n/a        0.58%  
                                                       

As of June 30, 2022

 

  Average Annual Returns (before any taxes paid by shareowners)    1 Year      3 Year      5 Year      10 Year      15 Year      Expense Ratio1  

Amana Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     -4.65%        10.03%        9.67%        10.76%        8.02%        1.04%  

Amana Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     -4.44%        10.25%        9.91%        n/a        n/a        0.80%  
             

Amana Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     -11.67%        13.55%        15.53%        13.82%        10.09%        0.95%  

Amana Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     -11.46%        13.82%        15.80%        n/a        n/a        0.70%  
             

Amana Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     -19.09%        4.00%        2.44%        1.18%        n/a        1.20%  

Amana Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     -18.98%        4.18%        2.62%        n/a        n/a        0.97%  
             

Amana Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     -4.35%        1.07%        1.64%        n/a        n/a        0.82%  

Amana Participation Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     -4.19%        1.32%        1.88%        n/a        n/a        0.58%  
                                                       

Performance data quoted in this report represents past performance, is before any taxes payable by shareowners, and is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than that stated herein. Performance current to the most recent month-end is available by calling toll-free 1-888-732-6262 or visiting www.amanafunds.com. Average annual total returns are historical and include change in share value as well as reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Amana Funds limit the securities they purchase to those consistent with Islamic principles, which limits opportunities and may affect performance.

Institutional Shares of the Amana Income, Growth, and Developing World Funds began operations September 25, 2013.

The Amana Participation Fund began operations September 28, 2015.

A note about risk: Please see the Notes to Financial Statements beginning on page 35 for a discussion of investment risks. For a more detailed discussion of the risks associated with each Fund, please see the Funds’ prospectus or each Fund’s summary prospectus.

 

1 

By regulation, expense ratios shown in this table are as stated in the Funds’ most recent prospectus which is dated September 24, 2021, and incorporates results for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021. Ratios presented for Amana Growth have been restated to reflect a reduction in the Advisory and Administrative Services fee, which became effective on December 1, 2020. Ratios presented in this table differ from the expense ratios shown elsewhere in this report as they represent different fiscal periods. Also by regulation, this page shows performance as of the most recent calendar quarter-end in addition to performance through the Funds’ most recent fiscal period.

Please consider an investment’s objectives, risks, charges, and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a free prospectus or summary prospectus that contains this and other important information on the Amana Funds, please call toll-free 1-888-732-6262 or visit www.amanafunds.com. Please read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing.

 

 

 
2                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Fellow Shareowners:    July 15, 2022    (unaudited)

Securities markets declined during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022. The total return for the S&P 500 Index was -0.30% and the broader Dow Jones Islamic Market World Index fell -8.40%. Developing markets also faltered, with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index falling -18.90%. Islamic fixed-income markets suffered as well, with the FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index returning -5.79%. Year-to-date as of May 31, the S&P 500 Index was down -12.76%, fell even further to -19.96% as of June 30, and entered bear market territory in July.

The Amana Fund portfolios performed respectably compared to these indices. Amana Growth Investor Shares lost -0.62%, Amana Income Investor Shares gained 1.16%, Amana Developing World Investor Shares fell -12.47%, and Amana Participation Investor Shares fell -3.83% for the fiscal year. As expected, lower expenses allowed the Institutional Shares of each Fund to post slightly better returns: Amana Growth -0.40%, Amana Income 1.40%, Amana Developing World -12.24%, and Amana Participation -3.58%. More than half of the Amana Funds’ shareowner assets – 50.3% – are now in Institutional shares.

The Amana Funds’ investment philosophy follows Islamic principles, which preclude most investments in banking and finance. We favor companies with good sustainability factors, low debt levels, and strong balance sheets. In volatile and troubled times, these solid principles have repeatedly proven their value.

Bear Markets and Bare Necessities

Rising inflation became the dominant economic force during the fiscal year. Exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (which sparked higher oil and food prices) and Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown (which further roiled supply chains), inflation remains high, and the Federal Reserve has taken aggressive action to tame the beast. At fiscal year-end, the federal funds rate stood at 1.75% versus 0.25% a year ago. Regardless, more needs to be done and Fed governors are unanimous in their expectations that the rate will exceed 3% by year-end. Can rates be raised by such an amount without pushing the economy into recession? Historical precedent suggests not.

Trustee Iqbal Unus Retires

Trustee Iqbal Unus PhD retired from the Amana Mutual Funds Trust Board of Trustees in May of 2022. We express our deep gratitude for Dr. Unus’ long and dedicated service to the Trust and its shareowners, as well as to the Islamic community at large through his many endeavors, including leadership of the Islamic Society of North America. Dr. Unus served as a Trustee since 1989 and retired from the Board upon reaching the mandatory retirement age, in accordance with the bylaws of the Trust. He was appointed Emeritus Trustee in June.

Mr. Firas Barzinji was appointed to serve as an Independent Trustee following Dr. Unus’ retirement.

Stars, Globes, and Trophies

As experienced investors, we know that gains or losses over a short interval tell an incomplete story compared to performance evaluated over a lengthier time span, even during times of uncertainty. We take comfort along with our shareowners in the accolades bestowed by fund industry media watchdogs like Morningstar and Investor’s Business Daily.

Morningstar rated Amana Growth Fund and Amana Participation Fund with 5 Stars and Amana Developing World Fund with 4 Stars, all based on overall performance, as of May 31, 2022. Additionally, Amana Growth, Amana Participation, and Amana Developing World Funds each were rated 5 Stars for the three-year period ended May 31, 2022. Amana Growth Fund and Amana Participation Fund earned 5-Star ratings and Amana Developing World Fund earned a 4-Star rating for the five-year period ended May 31, 2022. Please refer to “Morningstar Ratings” on pages 6 and 7 for more details.

Morningstar continued to award “Low Carbon” designations to Amana Income, Growth, Developing World Funds as of March 31, 2022, which identifies them as “low-carbon” funds within the global universe (see page 7).

Amana Growth and Amana Developing World also earned “High” (5-Globe) Sustainability Ratings from Morningstar as of April 30, 2022 (see page 6).

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  3


(unaudited)

Financial news and research organization Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) recognized Amana Growth Fund among the recipients of their seventh annual Best Mutual Funds 2022 Awards for long-term performance. Amana Growth Fund placed in three categories: Best Growth Stock Mutual Funds, Best Large-Cap Stock Funds, and Best US Diversified Mutual Funds. For a fund to receive an award, it must outperform a benchmark selected by Investor’s Business Daily (in Amana Growth Fund’s case, the benchmark was the S&P 500 Index) over the 10-year period ended December 31, 2021. It was rated among 486 Growth Stock Funds, 697 Large-Cap Funds, and 1,287 US Diversified Mutual Funds.

Lower Expense Ratios

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, we are again pleased to note reductions in annualized expense ratios of most Amana Funds and share classes. For the Institutional Share class of Amana Income, the expense ratio was 0.77%, for Amana Growth it was 0.64%, and for Amana Participation Fund it was 0.56%. Investor Shares expense ratios for most Funds also decreased. See page 49 for more details.

These lower expense ratios result both from greater assets to spread Fund costs, and Saturna Capital’s December 2020 reduction of Advisory and Administrative Services fee rates for the Amana equity Funds.

Going Forward

As we emerge from the current period of disruption, what sort of long-term environment can we expect on the other side? There are two competing theses. The first is that that we return to a period like the decade following the Global Financial Crisis (GFC): anemic growth, low inflation, and low interest rates. Presumably, such an easy money environment would support renewed asset price inflation with housing and stocks once again off to the races, the latter focusing on growth opportunities, be they immediate or in the future. Elements contributing to this outlook include the deflationary effect of aging demographics, stagnant-to-falling developed world populations, and continued efficiency gains from technological developments such as automation.

The second thesis is that a pullback in globalization (coupled with an end to the China-driven surge in working age population that has helped restrain prices for much of the century) will empower workers to demand higher wages, leading companies to increase prices, creating a cycle of embedded inflation and implying higher interest rates. Any sign of trouble will spur governments to act more aggressively than they did following the GFC and more closely follow their pandemic playbooks, given the apparent victory of Modern Monetary Theory and the absence of bond market vigilantes.

While it is far too early to settle upon the likely outcome, between now and then we face the highest interest rates in decades. Given our focus on strongly cash generative, low debt companies, such an environment may prove relatively beneficial for our investments. They will not be burdened by high interest payments and may be able to exploit difficulties faced by other, more heavily indebted companies, or take advantage of opportunities to invest when others cannot.

Strong Management Matters

Amana Mutual Funds embody basic principles of sound finance: good governance, transparency, fairness, and risk sharing. The Trustees are active governors, taking seriously their responsibilities to shareowners. Saturna staff work globally, based in offices in Bellingham (Washington), Henderson (Nevada), and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to better serve you.

As a group, the five Amana Trustees are solidly committed to investing in Amana Mutual Funds. Including their affiliated accounts, they currently have over $34 million invested in the four mutual funds of the Trust. Dr. Mirza, Mr. Kaiser, and Mr. Fielding remain among the Trust’s largest individual shareowners.

For more information, please visit www.amanafunds.com or call 1-888/73-AMANA. We thank you for investing with us.

Respectfully,

(photo omitted)

Nicholas Kaiser,

President

(photo omitted)

M. Yaqub Mirza,

Independent Board Chairman

 

 

 
4                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Portfolio Managers

 

  (photo omitted)   

Scott Klimo CFA®

Portfolio Manager

Amana Growth Fund

Deputy Portfolio Manager

     (photo omitted)   

Bryce Fegley MS, CFA®, CIPM®

Deputy Portfolio Manager

Amana Income Fund

 
    

Amana Income Fund

Amana Developing World Fund

         
  (photo omitted)   

Monem Salam MBA

Portfolio Manager

Amana Income Fund

     (photo omitted)   

Christopher E. Paul MBA, CFA®

Deputy Portfolio Manager

Amana Growth Fund

 
    

Amana Developing World Fund

Deptuy Portfolio Manager

Amana Growth Fund

         
  (photo omitted)   

Patrick Drum MBA, CFA®, CFP®

Portfolio Manager

Amana Participation Fund

     (photo omitted)   

Elizabeth Alm CFA®

Deputy Portfolio Manager

Amana Participation Fund

 
          (photo omitted)   

Levi Stewart Zurbrugg MBA, CPA®

Deputy Portfolio Manager

Amana Developing World Fund

 

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  5


Morningstar Ratings (as of May 31, 2022)              (unaudited)
 

Morningstar RatingsA

   1 Year    3 Year    5 Year    10 Year    15 Year    Overall    Sustainability
Rating B
   

Amana Income Fund – “Large Blend” Category

  
 

Investor Shares (AMANX)

   n/a    êêê    êêê    êê    n/a    êêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   19    71    78    86    57    n/a    42
 

Institutional Shares (AMINX)

   n/a    êêê    êêê       n/a    êêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   17    69    75    83    51    n/a    42
 

Number of Funds in Category

   1,349    1,221    1,106    807    603    1,221    3,325
 

Amana Growth Fund – “Large Growth” Category

  
 

Investor Shares (AMAGX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    êêêê    n/a    êêêêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   4    9    6    25    19    n/a    4
 

Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê       n/a    êêêêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   3    8    5    19    15    n/a    4
 

Number of Funds in Category

   1,254    1,142    1,054    777    573    1,142    1,575
 

Amana Developing World Fund – “Diversified Emerging Markets” Category

  
 

Investor Shares (AMDWX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêê    êêê    n/a    êêêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   23    11    39    91    n/a    n/a    14
 

Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêê       n/a    êêêê    ؠؠؠؠØ
 

% Rank in Category

   21    10    34    88    n/a    n/a    14
 

Number of Funds in Category

   812    720    630    364    170    720    1,799
 

Amana Participation Fund – “Emerging Markets Bond” Category

  
 

Investor Shares (AMAPX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    n/a    n/a    êêêêê    n/a
 

% Rank in Category

   2    7    13    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a
 

Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    n/a    n/a    êêêêê    n/a
 

% Rank in Category

   1    7    10    n/a    n/a    n/a    n/a
 

Number of Funds in Category

   273    253    214    88    37    253    n/a

The Morningstar Sustainability Rating and the Morningstar Portfolio Sustainability Score are not based on fund performance and are not equivalent to the Morningstar Rating (“Star Rating”).

© 2022 Morningstar®. All rights reserved. Morningstar, Inc. is an independent fund performance monitor. The information contained herein: (1) is proprietary to Morningstar and/or its content providers; (2) may not be copied or distributed; and (3) is not warranted to be accurate, complete, or timely. Neither Morningstar nor its content providers are responsible for any damages or losses arising from any use of this information.

 

A 

Morningstar Ratings (“Star Ratings”) are as of May 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022. The Morningstar Rating for funds, or “star rating”, is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product’s monthly excess performance (not including the effects of sales charges, loads, and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.

 

B 

Morningstar Sustainability Ratings are as of April 30, 2022. The Morningstar Sustainability Rating is intended to measure how well the issuing companies of the securities within a fund’s portfolio are managing their environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) risks and opportunities relative to the fund’s Morningstar category peers. The Morningstar Sustainability Rating calculation is a two-step process. First, each fund with at least 50% of assets covered by a company-level ESG score from Sustainalytics receives a Morningstar Portfolio Sustainability Score. The Morningstar Portfolio Sustainability Score is an asset-weighted average of normalized company-level ESG scores with deductions made for controversial incidents by the issuing companies, such as environmental accidents, fraud, or discriminatory behavior. The Morningstar Sustainability Rating is then assigned to all scored funds within Morningstar Categories in which at least ten (10) funds receive a Portfolio Sustainability Score and is determined by each fund’s rank within the following distribution: High (highest 10%), Above Average (next 22.5%), Average (next 35%), Below Average (next 22.5%), and Low (lowest 10%). The Morningstar Sustainability Rating is depicted by globe icons where High equals 5 globes and Low equals 1 globe. A Sustainability Rating is assigned to any fund that has more than half of its underlying assets rated by Sustainalytics and is within a Morningstar Category with at least 10 scored funds; therefore, the rating is not limited to funds with explicit sustainable or responsible investment mandates. Morningstar updates its Sustainability Ratings monthly. Portfolios receive a Morningstar Portfolio Sustainability Score and Sustainability Rating one month and six business days after their reported as-of date based on the most recent portfolio. As part of the evaluation process, Morningstar uses Sustainalytics’ ESG scores from the same month as the portfolio as-of date.

The Fund’s portfolios are actively managed and subject to change, which may result in a different Morningstar Sustainability Score and Rating each month.

The Funds were rated on the following percentages of Assets Under Management:

 

Amana Income Fund      100%  
Amana Growth Fund      100%  
Amana Developing World Fund      98%  

As of April 30, 2022, the Amana Participation Fund had not received a Sustainability Rating.

% Rank in Category is the fund’s percentile rank for the specified time period relative to all funds that have the same Morningstar category. The highest (or most favorable) percentile rank is 1 and the lowest (or least favorable) percentile rank is 100. The top-performing fund in a category will always receive a rank of 1. Percentile ranks within categories are most useful in those categories that have a large number of funds.

The Amana Mutual Funds offer two share classes – Investor Shares and Institutional Shares, each of which has different expense structures.

 

 

 
6                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Morningstar Ratings (as of June 30, 2022)                   (unaudited)

Morningstar RatingsA

   1 Year    3 Year    5 Year    10 Year    15 Year    Overall
             

Amana Income Fund –“Large Blend” Category

                 

Investor Shares (AMANX)

   n/a    êêêê    êêê    êê    n/a    êêê

% Rank in Category

   8    40    63    81    47    n/a

Institutional Shares (AMINX)

   n/a    êêêê    êêê       n/a    êêê

% Rank in Category

   7    34    60    76    41    n/a

Number of Funds in Category

   1,359    1,225    1,107    811    606    1,225

Amana Growth Fund –“Large Growth” Category

                 

Investor Shares (AMAGX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    êêêê    n/a    êêêêê

% Rank in Category

   7    6    5    23    17    n/a

Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê       n/a    êêêêê

% Rank in Category

   6    6    4    19    14    n/a

Number of Funds in Category

   1,248    1,138    1,052    787    572    1,138

Amana Developing World Fund –“Diversified Emerging Markets” Category

           

Investor Shares (AMDWX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêê    êêê    n/a    êêêê

% Rank in Category

   18    10    35    89    n/a    n/a

Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêê       n/a    êêêê

% Rank in Category

   17    9    31    85    n/a    n/a

Number of Funds in Category

   817    734    635    364    170    734

Amana Participation Fund –“Emerging Markets Bond” Category

                 

Investor Shares (AMAPX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    n/a    n/a    êêêêê

% Rank in Category

   1    2    5    n/a    n/a    n/a

Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

   n/a    êêêêê    êêêêê    n/a    n/a    êêêêê

% Rank in Category

   1    1    4    n/a    n/a    n/a

Number of Funds in Category

   274    253    215    89    37    253

Morningstar Carbon Metrics (as of March 31, 2022)

 

LOGO

Morningstar carbon metrics are asset-weighted portfolio calculations based on their Sustainalytics subsidiary’s carbon-risk research. Based on two of these metrics – Carbon Risk Score and Fossil Fund Involvement % – funds may receive the Low Carbon designation, which allows investors to easily identify low-carbon funds within the global universe.

The portfolio Carbon Risk Score is a number between 0 and 100 (a lower score is better). A portfolio’s Carbon Risk Score is the asset-weighted sum of the carbon risk scores of its holdings, averaged over the trailing 12 months. The carbon risk of a company is Sustainalytics’ evaluation of the degree to which a firm’s activities and products are aligned with the transition to a low-carbon economy. The assessment includes carbon intensity, fossil fuel involvement, stranded assets exposure, mitigation strategies, and green product solutions.

Fossil Fuel Involvement % is the portfolio’s asset-weighted percentage exposure to fossil fuels, averaged over the trailing 12 months. Companies with fossil fuel involvement are defined as those in the following subindustries: Thermal Coal Extraction, Thermal Coal Power Generation, Oil & Gas Production, Oil & Gas Power Generation, and Oil & Gas Products & Services.

To receive the Low Carbon designation a fund must have a Carbon Risk Score below 10 and a Fossil Fuel Involvement % of less than 7% of assets. For these metrics to be calculated, at least 67% of a portfolio’s assets must be covered by Sustainalytics company carbon-risk research. All Morningstar carbon metrics are calculated quarterly.

Amana Income Fund was rated on 93%, Amana Growth Fund was rated on 90%, and Amana Developing World Fund was rated on 82% of assets under management.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  7


Amana Income Fund: Performance Summary    (unaudited)

 

Average Annual Returns (as of May 31, 2022)

 

         
       1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Expense Ratio  

Investor Shares (AMANX)

       1.16%          10.94%          11.54%          1.04%  

Institutional Shares (AMINX)2

       1.40%          11.19%          n/a          0.80%  

S&P 500 Index

       -0.30%          13.38%          14.39%          n/a  

Growth of $10,000

 

 

LOGO   Comparison of any mutual fund to a market index must be made bearing in mind that the index is unmanaged and expense-free. Conversely, the Fund will (1) be actively managed; (2) have an objective other than mirroring the index, such as limiting risk; (3) bear transaction and other operational costs; (4) stand ready to buy and sell its securities to shareowners on a daily basis; and (5) provide a wide range of services. The graph compares $10,000 invested in Investor Shares of the Fund on May 31, 2012, to an identical amount invested in the S&P 500 Index, a broad-based stock market index. The graph shows that an investment in Investor Shares of the Fund would have risen to $29,817 versus $38,377 in the Index. Investor Shares are used in this chart because they have a longer track record. Please note that investors cannot invest directly in the Index.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The “Growth of $10,000” graph and “Average Annual Returns” performance table assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. They do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareowner might pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

2 Institutional shares of the Amana Income Fund began operations September 25, 2013.

Fund Objective

 

The objectives of the Income Fund are current income and preservation of capital, consistent with Islamic principles; current income is its primary objective.

 

Top 10 Holdings

 

 
% of Total Net Assets  

Eli Lilly

     11.4%  

Microsoft

     7.1%  

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

     5.1%  

Rockwell Automation

     4.2%  

Illinois Tool Works

     4.1%  

Pfizer

     4.0%  

Genuine Parts

     3.4%  

McCormick & Co

     3.4%  

AbbVie

     3.4%  

Honeywell International

     3.3%  

 

Portfolio Diversification

      
     
% of Total Net Assets

 

    

Large Pharma

    26.8%         

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Infrastructure Software

    7.1%      

Household Products

    6.7%      

Semiconductor Devices

    5.5%      

Specialty Chemicals

    5.1%      

Semiconductor Manufacturing

    5.1%      

Basic & Diversified Chemicals

    4.5%      

Commercial & Residential Building Equipment & Systems

    4.2%      

Measurement Instruments

    4.2%      

Industrial Machinery

    4.1%      

Other industries < 3.5%

    19.3%      

Other Assets (net of liabilities)

    7.4%      

 

 

 
8                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Income Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance    (unaudited)

 

Fiscal Year 2022

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, Amana Income Fund Investor Shares returned 1.16%, compared to 30.87% the year before. The Institutional Shares of the Fund returned 1.40%, compared to 31.14% the year before. The S&P 500 returned -0.30% over the 2022 fiscal year.

In pursuit of its objective of current income, the Amana Income Fund distributed qualified income amounts of $0.55 per share (Investor Shares) and $0.77 per share (Institutional Shares) during the fiscal year. All shareowners received a capital gain distribution of $2.59 per share. The expense ratios for both share classes lowered over the fiscal year due to an increase in assets; the Investor Shares went from 1.04% to 1.01%, while the Institutional Shares went from 0.80% from 0.77%.

For the 10-year period ended May 31, 2022, Investor Shares of the Amana Income Fund provided an average annual return of

11.54%. Since the Fund’s inception in 1986, the Investor Shares provided an average annual compounded return of 8.97%. The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 5% for the fiscal year – among the lowest in the category – consistent with the overall strategy of investing in dividend-paying companies with a focus on the long-term.

Factors Affecting Past Performance

Rising inflation became the dominant economic force during the fiscal year. Supply-side issues, such as parts shortages and logistics bottlenecks in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, were compounded by demand-side forces including a strong labor market recovery and generous government stimulus measures. Because of this, higher inflation has persisted beyond the “transitory” period that policymakers estimated a year ago.

High inflation, rising interest rates, and an increasingly hawkish Federal Reserve appear to have combined to pull investors’ operative time horizons much closer to the present. Fast growth companies that had the loftiest valuations have experienced very steep share price declines as investors became less willing to wait to see if companies could meet aggressive long-term growth targets. Economically sensitive companies also fared poorly. Less cyclical companies, such as in those in the Health Care sector or companies that have the ability to pass higher costs to their customers, tended to perform better.

Five of Amana Income Fund’s top 10 performers during the fiscal year were large pharmaceutical companies, which tend to be more resilient during economic swings than other industries. The Fund’s three poorest performers, meanwhile, were Stanley Black & Decker, PPG Industries, and Johnson Controls. All three companies were negatively impacted by parts shortages, rising costs, and a weakening demand environment.

Looking Forward

In the coming fiscal year, the Fed will attempt to engineer a slowdown in inflation closer to its target of 2%, while trying to balance forces outside of its control – such as the high energy and grain prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – and avoid causing a prolonged recession. This economic uncertainty creates a challenging environment for companies to do business. However, we also believe it creates opportunities for the types of well-managed companies with low debt in which the Amana Income Fund invests to increase market share, make timely acquisitions of weaker rivals, or negotiate better terms with suppliers as a result of their stronger footing.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  9


Amana Income Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Common Stocks – 92.6%       Number of Shares      Cost      Market Value      Percentage of Net Assets  
       Consumer Discretionary                               
     
     Automotive Retailers                               
 
   

Genuine Parts

      382,000        $15,016,749        $52,230,860        3.4%  
 
     Home Improvement                               
 
   

Stanley Black & Decker

      71,950        4,850,611        8,539,746        0.6%  
             
           19,867,360        60,770,606        4.0%  
    Consumer Staples                               
     
     Household Products                               
 
   

Colgate-Palmolive

      415,400        15,151,572        32,737,674        2.1%  
 
   

Kimberly-Clark

      230,000        13,960,736        30,594,600        2.0%  
 
   

Procter & Gamble

      135,000        16,030,154        19,963,800        1.3%  
 
   

Unilever ADR

      420,000        14,236,893        20,298,600        1.3%  
 
                                  
 
             59,379,355        103,594,674        6.7%  
 
     Packaged Food                               
 
   

McCormick & Co

        559,288        13,161,835        51,857,183        3.4%  
             
           72,541,190        155,451,857        10.1%  
     Health Care                                
     
     Large Pharma                               
 
   

AbbVie

      350,000        9,148,094        51,579,500        3.4%  
 
   

Bristol-Myers Squibb

      650,000        15,185,381        49,042,500        3.2%  
 
   

Eli Lilly

      560,000        20,261,156        175,526,400        11.4%  
 
   

GlaxoSmithKline ADR

      610,000        22,889,329        26,779,000        1.7%  
 
   

Johnson & Johnson

      125,000        10,460,152        22,441,250        1.5%  
 
   

Novartis ADR

      275,400        14,323,946        25,044,876        1.6%  
 
   

Pfizer

      1,150,000        19,768,443        60,996,000        4.0%  
 
                                  
 
             112,036,501        411,409,526        26.8%  
 
     Medical Devices                               
 
   

Abbott Laboratories

        350,000        8,392,885        41,111,000        2.7%  
             
           120,429,386        452,520,526        29.5%  
    Industrials                               
   
     Commercial & Residential Building Equipment &
Systems
                          
 
   

Honeywell International

      260,000        10,768,521        50,341,200        3.3%  
 
   

Johnson Controls International

      270,000        19,152,848        14,717,700        0.9%  
 
                                  
 
             29,921,369        65,058,900        4.2%  
 
     Courier Services                               
 
   

United Parcel Service, Class B

      15,000        3,325,591        2,733,750        0.2%  
 
     Flow Control Equipment                               
 
   

Parker Hannifin

      40,000        1,586,972        10,886,800        0.7%  
 
     Industrial Distribution & Rental                               
 
   

W.W. Grainger

      80,000        7,590,798        38,965,600        2.5%  
 
     Industrial Machinery                               
 
   

Illinois Tool Works

      300,000        14,672,460        62,421,000        4.1%  

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
10                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Income Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Common Stocks – 92.6%       Number of Shares      Cost      Market Value      Percentage of Net Assets  
     Industrials (continued)                               
 
     Measurement Instruments                               
 
   

Rockwell Automation

      300,000        $13,657,124        $63,960,000        4.2%  
 
     Rail Freight                               
 
   

Canadian National Railway

      384,000        8,600,818        43,691,520        2.8%  
             
           79,355,132        287,717,570        18.7%  
     Materials                               
 
     Basic & Diversified Chemicals                               
 
   

Air Products & Chemicals

      110,000        6,424,723        27,077,600        1.8%  
 
   

Linde

      130,000        8,531,143        42,208,400        2.7%  
 
                                  
 
             14,955,866        69,286,000        4.5%  
 
     Specialty Chemicals                               
 
   

3M

      200,000        13,704,248        29,858,000        2.0%  
 
   

PPG Industries

      379,000        12,758,054        47,939,710        3.1%  
 
                                  
 
             26,462,302        77,797,710        5.1%  
             
           41,418,168        147,083,710        9.6%  
     Technology                               
 
     Communications Equipment                               
 
   

Cisco Systems

      572,000        26,072,500        25,768,600        1.7%  
 
     Consumer Electronics                               
 
   

Nintendo

      45,000        23,496,950        20,106,042        1.3%  
 
     Infrastructure Software                               
 
   

Microsoft

      400,000        7,953,170        108,748,000        7.1%  
 
     Semiconductor Devices                               
 
   

Intel

      900,000        19,537,540        39,978,000        2.6%  
 
   

Texas Instruments

      250,000        38,489,292        44,190,000        2.9%  
 
                                  
 
             58,026,832        84,168,000        5.5%  
 
     Semiconductor Manufacturing                               
 
   

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

        824,500        8,249,619        78,574,850        5.1%  
           123,799,071        317,365,492        20.7%  
                                            
  Total investments          $457,410,307        $1,420,909,761        92.6%  
  Other assets (net of liabilities)             114,347,499        7.4%  
  Total net assets             $1,535,257,260        100.0%  
             
              

ADR: American Depositary Receipt

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  11


Amana Income Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

As of May 31, 2022

 

   
                          

Assets

 

Investments in securities, at value
(Cost $457,410,307)

    $1,420,909,761  

Cash

    111,648,280  

Dividends receivable

    4,278,709  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    410,385  

Prepaid expenses

    36,754  

Other assets

    2,528  
       

Total assets

    1,537,286,417  
       

Liabilities

 

Accrued advisory fees

    959,133  

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    839,268  

Accrued 12b-1 distribution fees

    156,014  

Accrued retirement plan custody fee

    23,672  

Accrued other operating expenses

    14,269  

Accrued audit expenses

    13,597  

Accrued trustee expenses

    10,615  

Accrued Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    8,092  

Accrued legal expenses

    4,497  
       

Total liabilities

    2,029,157  
       

Net Assets

    $1,535,257,260  
   
 
   

Analysis of Net Assets

 

Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)

    $520,198,071  

Total distributable earnings

    1,015,059,189  
       

Net assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding

    $1,535,257,260  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Investor Share

    AMANX  

Net assets, at value

    $746,533,567  

Shares outstanding

    12,579,554  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $59.34  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Institutional Share

    AMINX  

Net assets, at value

    $788,723,693  

Shares outstanding

    13,415,533  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $58.79  
   
 

Statement of Operations

 

Year ended May 31, 2022

 

   
                           

Investment income

 

Dividend Income
(net of foreign tax of $711,747)

    $30,838,387  

Miscellaneous income

    7,915  
       

Total investment income

    30,846,302  
       

Expenses

 

Investment advisory fees

    11,772,305  

12b-1 distribution fees

    2,006,713  

Custodian fees

    68,083  

Filing and registration fees

    58,600  

Retirement plan custodial fees

 

Investor Shares

    102  

Institutional Shares

    58,021  

Printing and postage fees

    42,491  

Legal fees

    35,091  

Other operating expenses

    34,665  

Audit fees

    30,631  

Trustee fees

    20,879  

Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    18,753  
       

Total gross expenses

    14,146,334  
       

Less custodian fee credits

    (68,083
       

Net expenses

    14,078,251  
       

Net investment income

    $16,768,051  
   
 
   
 

Net realized gain from investments and foreign currency

    $86,498,012 A 

Net decrease in unrealized appreciation on investments

    (81,975,793
       

Net gain on investments

    $4,522,219  
   
 
   

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

    $21,290,270  
         
A

Includes $11,817,477 in net realized gains from redemptions in-kind.

 

 

 
12                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Income Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    Year ended May 31, 2022          Year ended May 31, 2021  
     

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations

      

From operations

      

Net investment income

    $16,768,051          $15,901,444  

Net realized gain on investment

    86,498,012          109,441,618  

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation

    (81,975,793        251,602,142  
                  

Net increase in net assets

    21,290,270          376,945,204  
                  

Distributions to shareowners

      

Net distribution to shareowners – Investor Shares

    (39,012,483        (48,715,136

Net distribution to shareowners – Institutional Shares

    (42,119,427        (42,660,760
                  

Total distributions

    (81,131,910        (91,375,896
                  

Capital share transactions

      

Proceeds from the sale of shares

      

Investor Shares

    63,205,053          67,430,743  

Institutional Shares

    195,808,033          200,977,427  

Value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      

Investor Shares

    37,828,390          47,457,602  

Institutional Shares

    40,674,735          41,065,802  

Cost of shares redeemed

      

Investor Shares

    (169,927,539        (169,718,357

Institutional Shares

    (117,623,925        (196,452,487
                  

Total capital share transactions

    49,964,747          (9,239,270
                  

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

    (9,876,893        276,330,038  
     
      
     

Net assets

      

Beginning of year

    1,545,134,153          1,268,804,115  

End of year

    $1,535,257,260          $1,545,134,153  
     

Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed

      

Investor Shares (AMANX)

      

Number of shares sold

    1,013,224          1,197,311  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    584,713          840,652  

Number of shares redeemed

    (2,695,833        (3,062,129
                  

Net decrease in number of shares outstanding

    (1,097,896        (1,024,166
                  

Institutional Shares (AMINX)

      

Number of shares sold

    3,142,847          3,575,035  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    636,014          732,160  

Number of shares redeemed

    (1,892,271        (3,503,470
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    1,886,590          803,725  
     
      

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  13


Amana Income Fund: Financial Highlights

 

Investor Shares (AMANX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $61.52       $50.03       $48.32       $48.91       $48.03  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeA

    0.59       0.58       0.67       0.61       0.58  

Net gains on securities (both realized & unrealized)

    0.37       14.53       5.17       1.80       3.28  
                                       

Total from investment operations

    0.96       15.11       5.84       2.41       3.86  
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.55     (0.56     (0.66     (0.62     (0.57

Distributions (from capital gains)

    (2.59     (3.06     (3.47     (2.38     (2.41
                                       

Total distributions

    (3.14     (3.62     (4.13     (3.00     (2.98
                                       
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $59.34       $61.52       $50.03       $48.32       $48.91  
           
         

Total Return

    1.16%       30.87%       11.77%       5.35%       7.82%  
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $746,534       $841,439       $735,565       $805,610       $882,571  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    1.01%       1.04%       1.06%       1.11%       1.13%  

After custodian fee credits

    1.01%       1.04%       1.06%       1.10%       1.12%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    0.94%       1.03%       1.31%       1.22%       1.14%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    5%       5%       0%       1%       1%  
           
         

 

Institutional Shares (AMINX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $61.04       $49.72       $48.12       $48.72       $47.90  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeA

    0.74       0.71       0.78       0.74       0.70  

Net gains on securities (both realized & unrealized)

    0.37       14.42       5.13       1.79       3.26  
                                       

Total from investment operations

    1.11       15.13       5.91       2.53       3.96  
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.77     (0.75     (0.84     (0.75     (0.73

Distributions (from capital gains)

    (2.59     (3.06     (3.47     (2.38     (2.41
                                       

Total distributions

    (3.36     (3.81     (4.31     (3.13     (3.14
                                       
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $58.79       $61.04       $49.72       $48.12       $48.72  
           
         

Total Return

    1.40%       31.14%       11.96%       5.63%       8.05%  
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $788,724       $703,695       $533,239       $472,724       $451,651  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    0.77%       0.80%       0.83%       0.87%       0.89%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.77%       0.79%       0.82%       0.86%       0.88%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    1.19%       1.27%       1.55%       1.47%       1.39%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    5%       5%       0%       1%       1%  
           
         
A

Calculated using average shares outstanding

 

 

 
14                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Growth Fund: Performance Summary    (unaudited)

 

Average Annual Returns (as of May 31, 2022)

                   
         
       1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Expense Ratio1  

Investor Shares (AMAGX)

       -0.62%          17.15%          14.98%          0.95%  

Institutional Shares (AMIGX)2

       -0.40%          17.42%          n/a          0.70%  

S&P 500 Index

       -0.30%          13.38%          14.39%          n/a  

Growth of $10,000

 

 

LOGO   Comparison of any mutual fund to a market index must be made bearing in mind that the index is unmanaged and expense-free. Conversely, the Fund will (1) be actively managed; (2) have an objective other than mirroring the index, such as limiting risk; (3) bear transaction and other operational costs; (4) stand ready to buy and sell its securities to shareowners on a daily basis; and (5) provide a wide range of services. The graph compares $10,000 invested in Investor Shares of the Fund on May 31, 2012, to an identical amount invested in the S&P 500 Index, a broad-based stock market index. The graph shows that an investment in Investor Shares of the Fund would have risen to $40,372 versus $38,377 in the Index. Investor Shares are used in this chart because they represent the larger share class in terms of assets and have a longer track record. Please note that investors cannot invest directly in the Index.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The “Growth of $10,000” graph and “Average Annual Returns” performance table assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. They do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareowner might pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

1 

Expense ratios shown in this table have been restated to reflect a reduction in the Advisory and Administrative Services fee, which became effective on December 1, 2020. Ratios presented in this table differ from the expense ratios shown elsewhere in this report as they represent older fiscal periods.

 

2 

Institutional shares of the Amana Growth Fund began operations September 25, 2013.

Fund Objective

 

The objective of the Growth Fund is long-term capital growth, consistent with Islamic principles.

 

Top 10 Holdings

 

 
% of Total Net Assets  

Apple

     9.5%  

ASML Holding NY

     5.6%  

Intuit

     5.5%  

Adobe

     4.4%  

Estee Lauder, Class A

     3.7%  

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

     3.7%  

Agilent Technologies

     3.6%  

Novo Nordisk ADR

     3.5%  

Eli Lilly

     3.5%  

Church & Dwight

     3.4%  

 

Portfolio Diversification

      
     
% of Total Net Assets

 

    

Communications Equipment

    13.7%           
LOGO
 

Large Pharma

    10.7%      

Application Software

    9.9%      

Semiconductor Manufacturing

    9.3%      

Household Products

    7.1%      

Measurement Instruments

    5.5%      

Rail Freight

    4.0%      

Life Science Equipment

    3.6%      

Semiconductor Devices

    3.5%      

Home Products Stores

    3.4%      

Specialty Apparel Stores

    3.2%      

Other industries < 3.0%

    16.7%      

Other Assets (net of liabilities)

    9.4%      

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  15


Amana Growth Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance    (unaudited)

 

Fiscal Year 2022

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Investor Shares of the Amana Growth Fund returned -0.62% (versus 42.16% the year before). Reflecting its lower expense structure, the Institutional Shares returned -0.40% for the year. Both slightly trailed the broad S&P 500 Index, which declined -0.30%.

While income is not an investment objective, the Amana Growth Fund paid a qualified income dividend at $0.05 per Investor Share and $0.21 per Institutional Share. All shareowners received a capital gain distribution of $0.33 per share. Higher assets helped to lower the expense ratio: 0.91% for Investor Shares and 0.64% for Institutional Shares. The Fund’s total net assets increased 4.88% during the fiscal year.

For the 15-year period ended May 31, 2022, the Investor Shares of the Amana Growth Fund provided an average annual total return of 10.62%. Since the Fund’s inception on February 3, 1994, the Investor Shares provided an average annual total return of 11.65%.

Factors Affecting Past Performance

Following a three-year stretch of remarkable equity market returns, stock indices sharply declined in the first five months of 2022 due to rapidly accelerating inflation and concurrently rising interest rates. The stock market correction, which subsequently evolved into a bear market (as measured by a 20% decline in the S&P 500 from its peak at the start of the year), followed a rational progression. As persistent inflation raised expectations for rate hikes, Technology companies with minimalist earnings and maximalist valuations based on the promise of future growth were hit especially hard. Other “long-duration” equities such as e-commerce and internet media mega-cap stocks were also sold down, dragging down Consumer Cyclical and Communication sector indices. Higher interest rates brought recession risk to the fore, leading to weakness among Industrial and Consumer Staples stocks. Eventually, war and growing geopolitical concerns pushed down the prices of defensive stocks such as Utilities and parts of Health Care. At the same time, the bond market suffered its worst start to the year in decades. Except for Energy, hiding places were few and far-between.

Several companies that led the Amana Growth Fund’s returns in calendar year 2021 have suffered the largest declines, both year-to-date and for the 2022 fiscal year. These include ASML, Johnson Controls, and Taiwan Semiconductor. Our best performers were concentrated among major pharmaceutical stocks including Eli Lilly, Novo-Nordisk, and Johnson & Johnson. Gold producer Newmont also provided positive returns as the yellow metal demonstrated its characteristic flight to quality attraction.

Our portfolio of well-established equities has more than 5% in each of the following industries: retail, pharmaceuticals, electronics, computers, semiconductors, and software.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues received increased attention with the COVID-19 pandemic, including the risks surrounding the physical and transitional risks of climate change. As climate-conscious investors, we are pleased to report that Morningstar continues to designate Amana Growth Fund a “Low Carbon” fund. Carbon, climate, and the environment constitute only one pillar of ESG. We are also concerned with social and governance issues and, as values-based investors, we are pleased that Morningstar rated the Fund in the top 4% for sustainability out of 1,575 funds in its “Large Growth” fund category for the 2022 fiscal year. See pages 6-7 for more details.

Looking Forward

Year-to-date economic statistics have settled the inflation debate. Exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (which sparked higher oil and food prices) and Shanghai’s COVID-19 lockdown (which further roiled supply chains), inflation remains high, and the Federal Reserve has taken aggressive action to tame the beast. At fiscal year-end, the federal funds rate stood at 1.75% versus 0.25% a year ago. Regardless, more needs to be done and Fed governors are unanimous in their expectations that the rate will exceed 3% by year-end. Can rates be raised by such an amount without pushing the economy into recession? Historical precedent suggests not. Rising rates will also provide support for a strengthening US dollar, which has already appreciated significantly against leading international currencies such as the euro and the Japanese yen. Major currency moves tend to have unanticipated ramifications. Nonetheless, we expect any potential recession to be mild as consumer leverage remains low, while we see little risk of the tremendous wealth destruction that made the Great Recession of 2008/09 so disruptive. We believe our portfolio of highly cash-generative companies with minimal debt is well-positioned to weather a period of economic weakness and emerge stronger on the other side.

 

 

 
16                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Growth Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Common Stocks – 90.6%       Number of Shares      Cost      Market Value      Percentage of Net Assets  
    Communications                               
     
     Internet Media                               
 
   

Alphabet, Class A1

      12,500        $27,109,896        $28,440,500        0.9%  
             
           27,109,896        28,440,500        0.9%  
    Consumer Discretionary                               
     
     Apparel, Footwear & Accessory Design                               
 
   

Nike, Class B

      100,000        9,504,490        11,885,000        0.4%  
 
     Home Products Stores                               
 
   

Home Depot

      100,000        39,180,840        30,275,000        0.9%  
 
   

Lowe’s

      400,000        8,620,300        78,120,000        2.5%  
 
                                  
 
             47,801,140        108,395,000        3.4%  
 
     Specialty Apparel Stores                               
 
   

Lululemon Athletica1

      100,000        33,874,229        29,269,000        0.9%  
 
   

TJX Companies

      1,150,000        12,679,185        73,105,500        2.3%  
 
                                  
 
             46,553,414        102,374,500        3.2%  
             
           103,859,044        222,654,500        7.0%  
    Consumer Staples                               
     
     Household Products                               
 
   

Church & Dwight

      1,200,000        21,472,365        108,072,000        3.4%  
 
   

Estee Lauder, Class A

      458,594        16,624,230        116,780,962        3.7%  
             
           38,096,595        224,852,962        7.1%  
    Health Care                               
     
     Biotech                               
 
   

Amgen

      355,000        18,341,782        91,142,700        2.9%  
 
     Large Pharma                               
 
   

AstraZeneca ADR

      780,000        53,378,052        51,854,400        1.6%  
 
   

Eli Lilly

      350,000        12,007,975        109,704,000        3.5%  
 
   

Johnson & Johnson

      380,000        23,150,478        68,221,400        2.1%  
 
   

Novo Nordisk ADR

      1,002,195        7,665,243        110,642,328        3.5%  
 
                                  
 
             96,201,748        340,422,128        10.7%  
 
     Life Science Equipment                               
 
   

Agilent Technologies

      900,000        16,302,137        114,804,000        3.6%  
 
     Medical Devices                               
 
   

Stryker

      300,000        15,657,168        70,350,000        2.2%  
             
           146,502,835        616,718,828        19.4%  
    Industrials                               
     
     Commercial & Residential Building Equipment & Systems                               
 
   

Johnson Controls International

      1,044,000        48,905,901        56,908,440        1.8%  
 
     Industrial Distribution & Rental                               
 
   

Fastenal

      633,000        7,613,244        33,903,480        1.1%  
 
     Measurement Instruments                               
 
   

Keysight Technologies1

      500,000        8,390,911        72,800,000        2.3%  
 
   

Trimble1

      1,500,000        15,966,794        102,075,000        3.2%  
 
                                  
 
             24,357,705        174,875,000        5.5%  

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  17


Amana Growth Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Common Stocks – 90.6%       Number of Shares      Cost      Market Value      Percentage of Net Assets  
    Industrials (continued)                               
     
     Metalworking Machinery                               
 
   

Lincoln Electric Holdings

      307,000        $6,707,264        $41,696,740        1.3%  
 
     Rail Freight                               
 
   

Norfolk Southern

      250,000        14,370,513        59,915,000        1.9%  
 
   

Union Pacific

      300,000        16,986,610        65,934,000        2.1%  
 
                                  
 
             31,357,123        125,849,000        4.0%  
             
           118,941,237        433,232,660        13.7%  
    Materials                               
     
     Agricultural Chemicals                               
 
   

Corteva

      145,000        7,702,357        9,079,900        0.3%  
 
     Precious Metal Mining                               
 
   

Newmont

      750,000        42,354,995        50,887,500        1.6%  
             
           50,057,352        59,967,400        1.9%  
    Technology                               
     
     Application Software                               
 
   

Adobe1

      329,950        10,859,053        137,417,576        4.4%  
 
   

Intuit

      422,950        14,637,022        175,295,857        5.5%  
 
   

SAP ADR

      10,050        660,522        1,003,392        0.0% 2  
 
                                  
 
             26,156,597        313,716,825        9.9%  
 
     Communications Equipment                               
 
   

Apple

      2,016,000        1,526,905        300,061,440        9.5%  
 
   

Cisco Systems

      1,500,000        26,759,130        67,575,000        2.1%  
 
   

Motorola Solutions

      310,000        79,705,054        68,119,400        2.1%  
 
                                  
 
             107,991,089        435,755,840        13.7%  
 
     Information Services                               
 
   

Gartner1

      179,900        6,185,085        47,205,760        1.5%  
 
     Infrastructure Software                               
 
   

Microsoft

      120,000        30,150,399        32,624,400        1.0%  
 
   

Oracle

      737,200        21,467,457        53,019,424        1.7%  
 
                                  
 
             51,617,856        85,643,824        2.7%  
 
     Semiconductor Devices                               
 
   

Advanced Micro Devices1

      674,194        8,547,213        68,673,401        2.1%  
 
   

Qualcomm

      304,350        11,757,385        43,589,007        1.4%  
 
                                  
 
             20,304,598        112,262,408        3.5%  
 
     Semiconductor Manufacturing                               
 
   

ASML Holding NY

      308,000        10,937,644        177,497,320        5.6%  
 
   

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

      1,222,471        12,765,781        116,501,486        3.7%  
 
                                  
 
             23,703,425        293,998,806        9.3%  
             
           235,958,650        1,288,583,463        40.6%  
                                            
             
  Total investments          $720,525,609        $2,874,450,313        90.6%  
  Other assets (net of liabilities)                   299,771,646        9.4%  
  Total net assets             $3,174,221,959        100.0%  
             
              
1

Non-income producing

2

Less than 0.05%

ADR: American Depositary Receipt

 

 

 
18                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Growth Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

    As of May 31, 2022  
   
 

Assets

 

Investments in securities, at value
(Cost $720,525,609)

    $2,874,450,313  

Cash

    297,906,337  

Dividends receivable

    4,259,159  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    1,874,740  

Prepaid expenses

    98,379  
       

Total assets

    3,178,588,928  
       

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    2,205,139  

Accrued advisory fees

    1,700,645  

Accrued 12b-1 distribution fees

    349,132  

Accrued other liabilities

    44,297  

Accrued retirement plan custody fee

    34,480  

Accrued audit expenses

    17,394  

Accrued Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    9,249  

Accrued trustee expenses

    6,633  
       

Total liabilities

    4,366,969  
       

Net Assets

    $3,174,221,959  
   
 
   

Analysis of Net Assets

 

Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)

    $937,977,905  

Total distributable earnings

    2,236,244,054  
       

Net assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding

    $3,174,221,959  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Investor Share

    AMAGX  

Net assets, at value

    $1,684,412,018  

Shares outstanding

    27,856,269  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $60.47  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Institutional Share

    AMIGX  

Net assets, at value

    $1,489,809,941  

Shares outstanding

    24,501,777  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $60.80  
   
 

Statement of Operations

 

Year ended May 31, 2022

 

   
 

Investment income

 

Dividend income
(net of foreign taxes of ($1,056,090))

    $33,790,350  

Miscellaneous income

    14,689  
       

Total investment income

    33,805,039  
       

Expenses

 

Investment advisory fees

    21,590,063  

12b-1 distribution fees

    4,664,456  

ReFlow fees

    250,020  

Custodian fees

    139,802  

Filing and registration fees

    136,505  

Legal fees

    92,878  

Printing and postage fees

    84,459  

Retirement plan custodial fees

 

Investor Shares

    115  

Institutional Shares

    83,653  

Other operating expenses

    71,949  

Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    62,170  

Audit fees

    59,413  

Trustee fees

    40,603  
       

Total gross expenses

    27,276,086  
       

Less custodian fee credits

    (139,802
       

Net expenses

    27,136,284  
       

Net investment income

    $6,668,755  
   
 
   
 

Net realized gain from investments

    $156,439,782 A 

Net decrease in unrealized appreciation on investments

    (212,645,392
       

Net loss on investments

    $(56,205,610
   
 
   

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

 

    $(49,536,855

 

A

Includes $76,988,051 in net realized gains from redemptions in-kind.

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  19


Amana Growth Fund   

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    Year ended May 31, 2022          Year ended May 31, 2021  
     

Increase in net assets from operations

      

From operations

      

Net investment income

    $6,668,755          $7,604,359  

Net realized gain on investment

    156,439,782          60,016,976  

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation

    (212,645,392        836,595,291  
                  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

    (49,536,855        904,216,626  
                  

Distributions to shareowners

      

Net distribution to shareowners – Investor Shares

    (10,731,202        (83,742,944

Net distribution to shareowners – Institutional Shares

    (12,600,454        (62,577,629
                  

Total distributions

    (23,331,656        (146,320,573
                  

Capital share transactions

      

Proceeds from the sale of shares

      

Investor Shares

    369,297,243          216,554,355  

Institutional Shares

    596,315,727          311,702,332  

Value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      

Investor Shares

    10,393,301          81,477,919  

Institutional Shares

    12,250,680          60,033,078  

Cost of shares redeemed

      

Investor Shares

    (404,487,360        (310,903,221

Institutional Shares

    (363,120,682        (252,942,615
                  

Total capital share transactions

    220,648,909          105,921,848  
                  

Total increase in net assets

    $147,780,398          $863,817,901  
     
      
     

Net assets

      

Beginning of year

    3,026,441,561          2,162,623,660  

End of year

    $3,174,221,959          $3,026,441,561  
     

Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed

      

Investor Shares (AMAGX)

      

Number of shares sold

    5,421,126          3,991,294  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    144,091          1,461,225  

Number of shares redeemed

    (6,077,316        (5,800,622
                  

Net decrease in number of shares outstanding

    (512,099        (348,103
                  

Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

      

Number of shares sold

    8,919,985          5,639,756  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    169,091          1,072,020  

Number of shares redeemed

    (5,581,408        (4,556,803
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    3,507,668          2,154,973  

 

 

 
20                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Growth Fund: Financial Highlights

 

Investor Shares (AMAGX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $61.17       $45.39       $39.31       $36.24       $34.42  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeA

    0.05       0.10       0.15       0.13       0.16  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

    (0.37     18.74       7.33       4.14       5.47  
                                       

Total from investment operations

    (0.32     18.84       7.48       4.27       5.63  
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.05     (0.13     (0.16     (0.16     (0.17

Distributions (from capital gains)

    (0.33     (2.93     (1.24     (1.04     (3.64
                                       

Total distributions

    (0.38     (3.06     (1.40     (1.20     (3.81
                                       
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $60.47       $61.17       $45.39       $39.31       $36.24  
           

Total Return

    (0.62 )%      42.16%       19.12%       12.28%       16.76%  
         
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $1,684,412       $1,735,349       $1,303,469       $1,263,423       $1,137,705  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    0.91%       0.96%       1.02%       1.08%       1.09%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.90%       0.96%       1.02%       1.08%       1.09%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    0.09%       0.19%       0.36%       0.34%       0.45%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    7%       5%       0% B       0%       0%  
           
         

 

Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

    Year ended May 31  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

 

    $61.50       $45.60       $39.49       $36.37       $34.53  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeA

    0.22       0.24       0.28       0.23       0.25  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

    (0.38     18.84       7.34       4.15       5.49  
                                       

Total from investment operations

    (0.16     19.08       7.62       4.38       5.74  
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.21     (0.25     (0.27     (0.22     (0.26

Distributions (from capital gains)

    (0.33     (2.93     (1.24     (1.04     (3.64
                                       

Total distributions

    (0.54     (3.18     (1.51     (1.26     (3.90
                                       
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $60.80       $61.50       $45.60       $39.49       $36.37  
           

Total Return

    (0.40 )%      42.53%       19.39%       12.54%       17.03%  
         
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $1,489,810       $   1,291,092       $   859,154       $   724,520       $   565,740  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    0.64%       0.71%       0.79%       0.84%       0.86%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.64%       0.71%       0.78%       0.84%       0.86%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    0.32%       0.43%       0.60%       0.58%       0.70%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    7%       5%       0% B       0%       0%  
           
         
A

Calculated using average shares outstanding

B

Amount is less than 0.5%

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  21


Amana Developing World Fund: Performance Summary    (unaudited)

 

Average Annual Returns (as of May 31, 2022)

 

         
       1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Expense Ratio  

Investor Shares (AMDWX)

       -12.47%          3.96%          2.19%          1.20%  

Institutional Shares (AMIDX)1

       -12.24%          4.18%          n/a          0.97%  

MSCI Emerging Markets Index

       -18.90%          3.80%          4.17%          n/a  

Growth of $10,000

 

 

LOGO   Comparison of any mutual fund to a market index must be made bearing in mind that the index is unmanaged and expense-free. Conversely, the Fund will (1) be actively managed; (2) have an objective other than mirroring the index, such as limiting risk; (3) bear transaction and other operational costs; (4) stand ready to buy and sell its securities to shareowners on a daily basis; and (5) provide a wide range of services. The graph compares $10,000 invested in Investor Shares of the Fund on May 31, 2012, to an identical amount invested in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, a broad-based international equity index. The graph shows that an investment in Investor Shares of the Fund would have risen to $12,417 versus $15,045 in the Index. Investor Shares are used in this chart because they have a longer track record. Please note that investors cannot invest directly in the Index.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The “Growth of $10,000” graph and “Average Annual Returns” performance table assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. They do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareowner might pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

1 

Institutional shares of the Amana Developing World Fund began operations September 25, 2013.

Fund Objective

 

The objective of the Developing World Fund is long-term capital growth, consistent with Islamic principles.

 

Top 10 Holdings

 

 
% of Total Net Assets  

Clicks Group

     3.1%  

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

     2.9%  

Barrick Gold

     2.8%  

Rio Tinto ADR

     2.8%  

Telekomunikasi Indonesia ADR

     2.8%  

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services NVDR

     2.7%  

Qualcomm

     2.7%  

Samsung SDI

     2.6%  

Saudi Telecom

     2.6%  

Samsung Electronics

     2.6%  

 

Portfolio Diversification

 

  
     

% of Total Net Assets

 

    

Household Products

    10.3%            LOGO  

Electronics Components

    6.8%      

Health Care Facilities

    5.9%      

Telecom Carriers

    5.4%      

Communications Equipment

    4.9%      

Semiconductor Devices

    4.7%      

Food & Drug Stores

    3.1%      

Other industries < 3.0%

    38.6%      

Other Assets (net of liabilities)

    20.3%      

 

 

 
22                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Developing World Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance    (unaudited)

 

Fiscal Year 2022

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, Amana Developing World Fund Investor Shares returned -12.47%, compared to 41.68% for the previous year. The Institutional Shares returned -12.24% for the year, compared to 41.96% for the year before. Both classes outperformed the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, which was down -18.90% for the period.

The Amana Developing World Fund’s gross expense ratio was 1.21% for the Investor Shares and 0.99% for the Institutional Shares. The Fund’s total net assets increased 7.76% during the fiscal year. The Fund’s turnover rate was 30%, consistent with our overall strategy of investing in companies with long-term growth potential.

Last year we contemplated how emerging markets were transitioning from the “lost decade” of the 2010s to a more constructive decade ahead. While some of the buoyant gains from fiscal year 2021 were given back in fiscal year 2022, we remain positive on the fundamentals underlying emerging markets. These markets are inherently volatile and near-term headwinds prevail, but long-term demographic shifts and large-scale growth in the middle class of many emerging markets encourages our outlook.

Factors Affecting Past Performance

The strength of the US dollar critically affects the performance of many asset classes – in particular, emerging market equities. In general, there is an inverse correlation between the US dollar and emerging market equities. This relationship was readily apparent over the 2022 fiscal year; as the Investor Shares of the Amana Developing World Fund dropped -12.47%, the US Dollar Index appreciated 13.02%.

A strong US dollar doubly hurts emerging markets. First, it detracts investment from those markets, as the strong dollar implies higher returns can be found in the US. Second, it disadvantages emerging markets borrowers that have issued US dollar-denominated debt (which is commonly done to attract creditors), as it effectively inflates their debt burden. Here again, we find an example that the merits of the Amana Developing World Fund’s low-debt strategy extend beyond the moral underpinnings and can dampen volatility in strong US dollar environments.

Events in China also played a large role in the performance of emerging markets during the year. With widespread government intervention in education, technology, and more, some investors questioned whether the country was “un-investable.” Along with these interventions, China saw a series of strict COVID-19 restrictions. The country’s “zero-COVID strategy” culminated with more than 25 million people being subjected to lockdowns in Shanghai during the fiscal fourth quarter of 2022.

The rash policy measures implemented in China caused investor consternation and led the country to underperform the broad emerging markets universe. During fiscal year 2022, the MSCI China Index lost -34.99%. As China accounts for more than 30% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, instability in the country was a major drag on performance, and the Index dropped -18.90% for the same period. Concerns over government intervention in China have led us to underweight the country, a decision that we believe added to the Amana Developing World Fund’s outperformance.

Last year we highlighted the near-term headwinds facing emerging markets, which pushed us to reduce our exposure to China and increase exposure to defensive industries. A testament to this approach, investments in China were cut from 26.7% of the portfolio at fiscal year-end 2021 to 7.6% by fiscal year-end 2022. Similarly, industries considered defensive – such as household products, telecom carriers, and health care facilities – now occupy three out of the four highest-weight industries, up from just one out of four at fiscal year-end 2021.

Although the Amana Developing World Fund does not hold positions in Russia, we’d be remiss to ignore the wider implications that the invasion of Ukraine has had on emerging markets and global trade. Prior to the conflict, most people had no idea of the commodities that Ukraine mined nor the foodstuffs it grew. After the invasion, commodity and food prices soared, particularly the latter. Such food inflation can destabilize the governments of nations that lack food security. The last time food prices soared was directly linked to the Arab Spring of 2010-2012.

In recent months, inflation and slowing economies have commanded headlines. Generally, inflation leads to higher commodity prices, which we believe bodes well for developing economies. Over the year, the Amana Developing World Fund has increased its exposure to commodities, particularly in those whose use will increase due to electrification. Developing world countries will be at the center of this transition, as these economies tend have wide exposure to both fossil fuels and the critical mineral resources for the electrification of transportation. As the move to a low-carbon economy picks up speed, we believe the Fund is well-positioned with exposure to both the Technology and Minerals sectors needed to power the transition. Holdings such as Samsung SDI, which manufactures batteries for electric vehicles, and Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile, which mines lithium in Chile, will help power the transition to an economy that is less dependent on carbon.

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
  Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  23


Amana Developing World Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance    (unaudited)

 

The shift away from China, having no exposure to Russia, and our growing exposure to commodities have all helped propel the Amana Developing Word Fund’s Morningstar Rating to four stars Overall as of fiscal year-end. Morningstar also rated the Fund in the top 14% for sustainability out of 1,799 funds in the “Diversified Emerging Markets” category as of April 30, 2022. (See pages 6 and 7 for more details.) Given the myriad governance structures in the developing world, we maintain that the Fund’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) mandate helps highlight companies with strong oversight and accountability.

Looking Forward

Peripheral headwinds noted in last year’s report have moved to center stage. The stalemate in Ukraine has erupted into outright war, socialist leaders have swept to power in South America, and oil prices have soared. In addition to these acute shocks, a massive shift in trade relationships and supply chains is underway.

Still, with great challenges come great opportunities. High fuel prices should spur investment in both the technologies and materials needed to energize a greener economy. We anticipate that shifting supply chains will create new jobs and bring economic progress to a host of regions and countries outside China. From Southeast Asia to Mexico, we expect that capital will be deployed to improve the resilience of supply chains amid geopolitical turmoil. Better education, improving rights for women, and a young and growing workforce provide a demographic dividend for developing economies across the world. The Amana Developing World Fund will, as it has for the past 13 years, continue to select its portfolio from financially strong, Islamically acceptable, ESG-minded securities with a long-term perspective.

 

 

 
24                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Developing World Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Common Stocks – 79.7%    Number of Shares     Cost      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
     Communications                                     
 
     Telecom Carriers                                    
 
   

Saudi Telecom

       66,000       $1,914,275        $1,808,577      Saudi Arabia      2.6%  
 
   

Telekomunikasi Indonesia ADR

         67,000       1,390,444        1,967,120      Indonesia      2.8%  
               
           3,304,719        3,775,697           5.4%  
     Consumer Discretionary                                     
 
     Apparel, Footwear & Accessory Design                                    
 
   

VF

       24,500       1,276,289        1,236,270      United States      1.8%  
 
     Automobiles                                    
 
   

Ford Otomotiv Sanayi

       87,000       1,216,294        1,636,792      Turkey      2.3%  
 
     Home Improvement                                    
 
   

Techtronic Industries

       27,500       116,348        359,320      Hong Kong      0.5%  
 
     Home Products Stores                                    
 
   

Wilcon Depot

       3,000,000       1,113,120        1,515,579      Philippines      2.2%  
               
           3,722,051        4,747,961           6.8%  
     Consumer Staples                                     
 
     Food & Drug Stores                                    
 
   

Clicks Group

       110,000       1,097,434        2,155,495      South Africa      3.1%  
 
     Household Products                                    
 
   

Colgate-Palmolive

       18,000       1,090,803        1,418,580      United States      2.0%  
 
   

Kimberly-Clark de Mexico, Class A

       1,000,000       1,779,992        1,547,217      Mexico      2.2%  
 
   

LG Household & Health Care

       1,600       1,838,358        944,898      South Korea      1.4%  
 
   

Unicharm

       45,000       1,721,410        1,545,078      Japan      2.2%  
 
   

Unilever ADR

       36,500       1,804,150        1,764,045      United Kingdom      2.5%  
 
                                       
 
             8,234,713        7,219,818           10.3%  
 
     Packaged Food                                    
 
   

Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur

       2,500,000       1,468,008        1,468,258      Indonesia      2.1%  
               
           10,800,155        10,843,571           15.5%  
     Financials                                     
 
     Islamic Banking                                    
 
   

BIMB Holdings

       1,386,700       1,124,235        923,492      Malaysia      1.3%  
 
     Islamic Insurance
Carriers
                                   
 
   

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga

       499,981       502,967        397,078      Malaysia      0.6%  
 
     Real Estate Owners &
Developers
                                   
 
   

SM Prime Holdings

       2,200,000       1,195,553        1,547,660      Philippines      2.2%  
               
           2,822,755        2,868,230           4.1%  

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  25


Amana Developing World Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

               
    Common Stocks – 79.7%        Number of Shares     Cost      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Health Care                                    
     
     Generic Pharma                                    
 
   

Hikma Pharmaceuticals

       65,000       $2,180,016        $1,390,727      Jordan      2.0%  
 
     Health Care Facilities                                    
 
   

Bangkok Dusit Medical Services NVDR

       2,500,000       1,649,593        1,880,730      Thailand      2.7%  
 
   

IHH Healthcare

       1,000,000       1,310,388        1,528,413      Malaysia      2.2%  
 
   

KPJ Healthcare

       3,600,992       847,689        714,508      Malaysia      1.0%  
 
                                       
 
             3,807,670        4,123,651           5.9%  
 
     Health Care Services                                    
 
   

Fleury

       475,000       2,353,504        1,524,182      Brazil      2.2%  
               
           8,341,190        7,038,560           10.1%  
    Industrials                                    
     
     Rail Freight                                    
 
   

Canadian Pacific Railway

       18,746       1,326,467        1,339,214      Canada      1.9%  
 
     Rubber & Plastic                                    
 
   

Hartalega Holdings

       1,000,000       1,779,279        958,637      Malaysia      1.4%  
 
     Waste Management                                    
 
   

Sunny Friend Environmental Technology

       220,000       1,756,100        1,560,568      Taiwan      2.2%  
               
           4,861,846        3,858,419           5.5%  
    Materials                                    
     
     Agricultural Chemicals                                    
 
   

Quimica y Minera Chile ADR

       16,000       1,280,873        1,698,720      Chile      2.5%  
 
     Cement & Aggregates                                    
 
   

Ambuja Cements2

       140,000       576,484        663,164      India      1.0%  
 
     Precious Metal Mining                                    
 
   

Barrick Gold

       97,000       2,198,491        1,987,530      Canada      2.8%  
 
     Steel Raw Material Suppliers                                    
 
   

Rio Tinto ADR

       27,000       2,167,869        1,982,880      China3      2.8%  
               
           6,223,717        6,332,294           9.1%  

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
26                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Developing World Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

               
    Common Stocks – 79.7%        Number of Shares     Cost      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Technology                                    
     
     Communications Equipment                                    
 
   

Samsung Electronics

       32,900       $1,585,187        $1,789,034      South Korea      2.6%  
 
   

Sercomm

       600,000       1,568,864        1,632,080      Taiwan      2.3%  
 
                                       
 
             3,154,051        3,421,114           4.9%  
 
     Computer Hardware & Storage                                    
 
   

Advantech

       127,685       914,495        1,575,739      Taiwan      2.3%  
 
     Electronics Components                                    
 
   

Delta Electronics

       180,000       1,087,325        1,481,076      China3      2.1%  
 
   

KCE Electronics NVDR

       750,000       1,705,352        1,443,625      Thailand      2.1%  
 
   

Samsung SDI

       4,000       1,840,901        1,849,761      South Korea      2.6%  
 
                                       
 
             4,633,578        4,774,462           6.8%  
 
     IT Services                                    
 
   

Infosys ADR

       60,000       1,387,786        1,131,600      India      1.6%  
 
     Semiconductor Devices                                    
 
   

NVIDIA

       7,500       1,623,160        1,400,400      United States      2.0%  
 
   

Qualcomm

       13,000       1,618,318        1,861,860      China3      2.7%  
 
                                       
 
             3,241,478        3,262,260           4.7%  
 
     Semiconductor Manufacturing                                    
 
   

Taiwan Semiconductor ADR

       21,000       843,194        2,001,300      Taiwan      2.9%  
 
                                       
               
           14,174,582        16,166,475           23.2%  
                                                 
  Total investments          $54,251,015        $55,631,207           79.7%  
  Other assets (net of liabilities)                   14,206,451             20.3%  
    Total net assets                           $69,837,658             100.0%  
               
                 
1

Country of domicile unless otherwise indicated

2

Non-Income producing

3

Denotes a country or region of primary exposure

ADR: American Depositary Receipt

NVDR: Thai Non-Voting Depository

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  27


Amana Developing World Fund: Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

Countries

     (unaudited)  
LOGO

Other assets (net of liabilities) 20.3%

  

 

 

 
28                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Developing World Fund

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

As of May 31, 2022

 

   

    

 

Assets

 

Investments in securities, at value
(Cost $54,251,015)

    $55,631,207  

Cash

    14,128,927  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    126,962  

Dividends receivable

    77,440  

Prepaid expenses

    10,280  
       

Total assets

    69,974,816  
       

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    50,836  

Accrued advisory fees

    45,989  

Accrued audit expenses

    19,122  

Accrued retirement plan custody fee

    6,829  

Accrued other liabilities

    5,130  

Accrued 12b-1 distribution fees

    4,797  

Accrued Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    4,049  

Accrued trustee expenses

    406  
       

Total liabilities

    137,158  
       

Net Assets

    $69,837,658  
   
 
   

Analysis of Net Assets

 

Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)

    $68,595,500  

Total distributable earnings

    1,242,158  
       

Net assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding

    $69,837,658  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Investor Share

    AMDWX  

Net assets, at value

    $23,122,742  

Shares outstanding

    1,950,853  
 

 

 

 

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $11.85  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Institutional Share

    AMIDX  

Net assets, at value

    $46,714,916  

Shares outstanding

    3,926,748  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $11.90  
   
 

Statement of Operations

 

 

Year ended May 31, 2022

 

 

    

 

Investment income

 

Dividend Income
(net of foreign tax of $136,178)

    $1,943,223  

Miscellaneous income

    2,300  
       

Total investment income

    1,945,523  
       

Expenses

 

Investment advisory fees

    571,303  

12b-1 distribution fees

    60,329  

Custodian fees

    51,005  

Filing and registration fees

    32,698  

Audit fees

    20,065  

Retirement plan custodial fees

 

Investor Shares

    12  

Institutional Shares

    16,175  

Printing and postage fees

    5,418  

Other expenses

    1,897  

Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    223  

Trustee fees

    216  

Legal fees

    88  
       

Total gross expenses

    759,429  
       

Less custodian fee credits

    (51,005
       

Net expenses

    708,424  
       

Net investment income

    $1,237,099  
 
   
 

Net realized gain from investments and foreign currency

    $7,693,254  

Net decrease in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency

    (18,312,459

Net loss on investments

    $(10,619,205
   
 
   

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    $(9,382,106

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.       Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  29


Amana Developing World Fund

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    Year ended May 31, 2022          Year ended May 31, 2021  
     

Increase in net assets from operations

      

From operations

      

Net investment income

    $1,237,099          $266,430  

Net realized gain (loss) on investment

    7,693,254          (395,321

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation

    (18,312,459        14,609,878  
                  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

    (9,382,106        14,480,987  
                  

Distributions to shareowners

      

Net distribution to shareowners – Investor Shares

    (283,941        -  

Net distribution to shareowners – Institutional Shares

    (735,354        -  
                  

Total distributions

    (1,019,295        -  
                  

Capital share transactions

      

Proceeds from the sale of shares

      

Investor Shares

    9,575,173          8,457,087  

Institutional Shares

    21,983,609          19,051,296  

Value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      

Investor Shares

    282,410          -  

Institutional Shares

    733,732          -  

Cost of shares redeemed

      

Investor Shares

    (5,824,543        (4,679,441

Institutional Shares

    (11,305,135        (4,727,537
                  

Total capital share transactions

    15,445,246          18,101,405  
                  

Total increase in net assets

    5,043,845          32,582,392  
     
      
     

Net assets

      

Beginning of year

    64,793,813          32,211,421  

End of year

    $69,837,658          $64,793,813  
     

Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed

      

Investor Shares (AMDWX)

      

Number of shares sold

    724,874          672,678  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    21,170          -  

Number of shares redeemed

    (441,889        (395,840
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    304,155          276,838  
                  

Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

      

Number of shares sold

    1,652,790          1,507,966  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

    54,838          -  

Number of shares redeemed

    (849,481        (393,220
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    858,147          1,114,746  
     
      

 

 

 
30                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Developing World Fund: Financial Highlights

 

Investor Shares (AMDWX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021        2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $13.70       $9.67        $9.33       $10.05       $9.97  

Income from investment operations

          

Net investment incomeA

    0.21       0.05        0.04       0.03       0.03  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized & unrealized)

    (1.90     3.98        0.34       (0.70     0.07  
                                        

Total from investment operations

    (1.69     4.03        0.38       (0.67     0.10  
                                        

Less distributions

          

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.16     -        (0.04     (0.05     (0.02
                                        

Total distributions

    (0.16     -        (0.04     (0.05     (0.02
                                        
          

Net asset value at end of year

    $11.85       $13.70        $9.67       $9.33       $10.05  
           
          

Total Return

    (12.47 )%      41.68%        4.02%       (6.70 )%      0.98%  
           

Ratios / supplemental data

          

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $23,123       $22,553        $13,253       $15,026       $15,067  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

          

Before custodian fee credits

    1.21%       1.20%        1.34%       1.36%       1.37%  

After custodian fee credits

    1.14%       1.14%        1.29%       1.31%       1.32%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    1.59%       0.44%        0.38%       0.35%       0.27%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    30%       3%        9%       9%       20%  
           
          

 

Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022       2021        2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $13.77       $9.70        $9.36       $10.08       $9.99  

Income from investment operations

          

Net investment incomeA

    0.24       0.08        0.04       0.05       0.05  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)

    (1.90     3.99        0.36       (0.72     0.07  
                                        

Total from investment operations

    (1.66     4.07        0.40       (0.67     0.12  
                                        

Less distributions

          

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.21     -        (0.06     (0.05     (0.03
                                        

Total distributions

    (0.21     -        (0.06     (0.05     (0.03
                                        
          

Net asset value at end of year

    $11.90       $13.77        $9.70       $9.36       $10.08  
           
          

Total Return

    (12.24 )%      41.96%        4.20%       (6.58 )%      1.17%  
           

Ratios / supplemental data

          

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $46,715       $42,241        $18,959       $15,127       $16,034  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

          

Before custodian fee credits

    0.99%       0.97%        1.21%       1.19%       1.19%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.92%       0.91%        1.16%       1.14%       1.14%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    1.80%       0.65%        0.43%       0.54%       0.44%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    30%       3%        9%       9%       20%  
           
          
A

Calculated using average shares outstanding

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.       Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  31


Amana Participation Fund: Performance Summary    (unaudited)

 

Average Annual Returns (as of May 31, 2022)

 

         
       1 Year        5 Year        10 Year        Expense Ratio1
 

Investor Shares (AMAPX)2

       -3.83%          1.68%          n/a          0.82%  

Institutional Shares (AMIPX)2

       -3.58%          1.90%          n/a          0.58%  

FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index

       -5.70%          2.99%          n/a          n/a  

Growth of $10,000

 

 

` LOGO   Comparison of any mutual fund to a market index must be made bearing in mind that the index is unmanaged and expense-free. Conversely, the Fund will (1) be actively managed; (2) have an objective other than mirroring the index, such as limiting risk; (3) bear transaction and other operational costs; (4) stand ready to buy and sell its securities to shareowners on a daily basis; and (5) provide a wide range of services. The graph compares $10,000 invested in Institutional Shares of the Fund on September 28, 2015, to an identical amount invested in the FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index, a measurement of global Islamic fixed-income securities, also known as sukuk. The graph shows that an investment in Institutional Shares of the Fund would have risen to $11,452 versus $12,371 in the Index. Institutional Shares are used in this chart because they represent the larger share class in terms of assets. Please note that investors cannot invest directly in the Index.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. The “Growth of $10,000” graph and “Average Annual Returns” performance table assume the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains. They do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareowner might pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares.

 

1 

By regulation, expense ratios shown in this table are as stated in the Funds’ most recent prospectus, which is dated September 24, 2021, and incorporates results for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021. Ratios presented in this table differ from the expense ratios shown elsewhere in this report as they represent different fiscal periods.

 

2 

The Amana Participation Fund commenced operations September 28, 2015.

Fund Objective

 

The objectives of the Participation Fund are capital preservation and current income, consistent with Islamic principles. Capital preservation is its primary objective.

 

Top 10 Holdings

 

 
% of Total Net Assets  

Kuwait Financial Bank Tier 1 (3.60% due 06/30/2090)

     4.3%  

Investment Corporate of Dubai (5.00% due 02/01/2027)

     4.0%  

Equate (3.944% due 02/21/2024)

     3.8%  

Almarai (4.311% due 03/05/2024)

     3.6%  

Dubai International Finance Centre (4.325% due 11/12/2024)

     3.5%  

Tabreed (5.50% due 10/31/2025)

     3.4%  

TNB Global Ventures Cap (3.244% due 10/19/2026)

     3.3%  

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (3.628% due 04/20/2027)

     3.1%  

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Capital Invest Two (7.125% due 09/20/2070)

     3.0%  

Saudi Telecom (3.89% due 05/13/2029)

     3.0%  

 

Portfolio Diversification

 

  
     
% of Total Net Assets

 

    

Financials

    34.9%          LOGO  

Foreign Government Sukuk

    20.9%    

Utilities

    9.0%      

Industrials

    4.4%    

Materials

    3.8%    

Consumer Discretionary

    3.6%      

Communications

    3.0%      

Bank Time Deposits

    2.4%    

Technology

    2.0%    

Other Assets (net of liabilities)

    16.0%             

 

 

 
32                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Participation Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance

   (unaudited)

 

Fiscal Year 2022

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Investor Shares of the Amana Participation Fund returned -3.83% and the Institutional Shares returned -3.58%. The Fund’s benchmark, the FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index, declined by -5.70%. The Fund’s outperformance can be attributed to factors including the differences in the Fund’s composition, investment objectives relative to the benchmark, and active management employing a defensive posture.

The Amana Participation Fund’s investment objectives are capital preservation and current income consistent with Islamic principles, while the FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index measures the performance of the global sukuk market. The Fund is required to maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity between two and five years to mitigate duration risk, which helps to reduce portfolio volatility. This in turn helps the Fund meet its primary objective of capital preservation. As of fiscal year-end, the Index retained an allocation of 27.12% to sukuk issues with a maturity of more than seven years. In contrast, the Fund did not hold any securities with a duration of more than seven years. This reflects the strategic positioning of the Fund in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s change in monetary policy to raise interest rates.

Compared to the FTSE IdealRatings Sukuk Index, the Amana Participation Fund employs a more diversified approach as a means of promoting prudence and conservativism. At fiscal year-end, the Index retained a 20.63% weighting to Indonesian sovereign sukuk, a 13.91% weighting to Saudi Arabian sovereign sukuk, and a 7.12% weighting to Saudi Arabian-owned utility operator Saudi Electricity Company (SECO). The Index’s combined weighting to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and SECO was 21.03%. In contrast,the Fund held 7.0% in Indonesian sovereign sukuk, 3.42% in Saudi Arabian sovereign sukuk, and 2.48% in SECO. The Fund’s combined weighting to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and SECO was 5.90%.

At fiscal year-end, the portfolio held 38 issues and reported an option-adjusted duration of 2.69 years, a decline from fiscal year 2021 when it was 3.65 years. The 30-day yield was 5.25% for the Investor Shares and 5.50% for the Institutional Shares. The Fund retained 14.8% of its total assets in cash, an increase since fiscal year-end 2021, when the cash allocation was 6.7%. The rationale for the increase in cash was to reduce the Fund’s allocation to issues with long maturities and below investment-grade credit ratings. The strategic reallocations were intended to reduce the Fund’s exposure to an anticipated increase in market risk.

We are pleased to report that as of fiscal year-end, the Amana Participation Fund grew to over $211 million in assets under management, reflecting a 27.7% year-over-year increase. We take great pride in offering the only entirely dedicated Islamic-compliant investment fund that seeks to provide capital preservation and current income.

Factors Affecting Past Performance

It’s been more than two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world moves toward normalcy and re-socialization, central banks are signaling a countertrend by tightening and restricting financial conditions. Interest rates have risen, and the prices of everyday items such as gasoline and other commodities have increased. The efforts to stabilize global economies in response to the pandemic (large government fiscal programs and accommodative monetary policies employed by central banks around the world, for instance) appear to have introduced their own virulence to the market in the form of inflationary pressures.

LOGO

To quell inflation, central banks have taken measures to tighten financial conditions. At fiscal year-end, annual inflation in the United States soared to 8.6%, marking the sharpest spike since December of 1981 – a 40-year high.1 Annual inflation in the United Kingdom surged to its own 40-year high of 9.1%.2 Meanwhile, the European Union reported a euro area annual inflation rate of 8.1%.3 The knock-on effects of these inflationary pressures have caused a significant rise in global bond yields and commodity prices. For the one-year period ended May 31, 2022, the two-year Treasury note yield increased by an astounding 1,649%, while the five-year note and the 10-year note increased by 253% and 78%, respectively.

LOGO

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
  Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  33


Amana Participation Fund: Discussion of Fund Performance    (unaudited)

 

The prices of natural gas and oil have also experienced substantial increases. For the two-year period ended May 31, 2022, natural gas (expressed as the Dutch Natural Gas Futures Contract) rose 1,812%, while oil (expressed as West Texas Intermediate) rose 224%! Unfortunately, such large price increases for energy inputs introduce negative price impulses in other industries such as agriculture, causing additional inflationary trends to develop. The FAO Food Price Index, a benchmark that tracks the international prices of a basket of food commodities, reached 159.7 points in March 2022, exceeding its previous all-time high of 129.4 points in February 2011. For the two-year period ended May 31, 2022, the benchmark rose 72.7%!4    

Despite these inflationary challenges, Middle Eastern countries including the six member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remain better insulated than most of their emerging market peers, given their beneficial position as hydrocarbon-dependent economies.5 The member states of the GCC have been able to repair their fiscal houses by reducing their deficits and debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) metrics. For the calendar year of 2021, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reported strong GDP growth at 3.3%, contrasting with the -4.1% contraction for 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2021 the Kingdom experienced GDP growth of 6.8%, which was attributed to a 10.8% rise in oil activities and a 5% increase in non-oil activities, according to the General Authority for Statistics. The Saudi economy is projected to grow 7.4% in 2022.6 Due to rising hydrocarbon prices, the Saudi government has projected a budget surplus in both 2023 and 2024.7 This would be its first anticipated budget surplus in eight years.8 The favorable economic outlook for the member states of the GCC offers a constructive environment for investors.

Looking Forward

Despite the above-mentioned challenges, we continue to see the GCC providing a supportive and constructive investment climate. The region attracts investors due to its collective favorable credit ratings and yield enhancement compared to the sovereign debt of developed countries. This is particularly important in a low interest rate environment. Additionally, JP Morgan’s emerging market benchmarks have materially increased their allocations among GCC issuers over the past several years. This is also supportive for GCC-issued sukuk and debt as it introduces new buyers to the region, enhancing liquidity and increased demand. At calendar year-end of 2018, JP Morgan’s Emerging Market Bond Index (Global) had allocated a 2.1% weighting among GCC issuers. By year-end of 2021, the Index had allocated 22.4% to GCC issuers – a substantial increase in just three years.9    

For the upcoming year, we anticipate the GCC region to demonstrate favorable results, so long as vaccines and the reopening of economies are not hindered by unexpected COVID-19 variants and subsequent lockdowns altering the positive trajectory. In the meantime, we will continue to be vigilant stewards for our investors while prioritizing capital preservation and current income consistent with Islamic principles.

 

1 

“United States Inflation Rate.” Trading Economics, June 10, 2022. https:// tradingeconomics.com/united-states/inflation-cpi

2 

Smith, Elliot. “UK inflation hits new 40-year high of 9.1% as food and energy price surge persists.” CNBC, June 22, 2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/22/ uk-inflation-hits-new-40-year-high-of-9point1percent-as-food-and-energy-price-surge-persists.html

3 

“HICP -monthly data (annual rate of change).” Eurostat, Jun 17, 2022. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/prc_hicp_manr/default/ table?lang=en

4 

“FAO Food Price Index.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, June 3, 2022. https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/

5 

The GCC is an acronym for the Gulf Cooperation Council, a political and economic alliance of six countries in the Arabian Peninsula. Its members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The GCC was established in 1981 to promote security and stability for its members and has an estimated population of 54 million.

6 

Sahu, Rakesh and Bhogaita, Chavan. “Market Insights & Strategy: Global Markets.” First Abu Dhabi Bank. February 11, 2022. https://www.bankfab. com/-/media/fabgroup/home/cib/market-insights/daily-morning-news/daily-morning-news-pdfs/2022/february/20220211.pdf?view=1

7 

“Saudi Arabia Brings Forward Budget Surplus Target Date.” FitchRatings, October 5, 2021. https://www.fitchratings.com/research/sovereigns/saudi-arabia-brings-forward-budget-surplus-target-date-05-10-2021

8 

Ugal, Nishant. “Saudi Arabia eyes first budget surplus in eight years as spending on strategic projects continue.” Upstream: Energy Exposed, December 16, 2021. https://www.upstreamonline.com/finance/saudi-arabia-eyes-first-budget-surplus-in-eight-years-as-spending-on-strategic-projects-continues/2-1-1123080

9 

Sahu, Rakesh and Bhogaita, Chavan. “GCC Fixed Income Chart Book.” First Abu Dhabi Bank, January 5, 2022. Page 9. https://www.bankfab.com/-/media/fabgroup/home/cib/market-insights/gcc-fixed-income-market-updated/gcc-fixed-income-pdf/20220105gccficb.pdf?view=1

 

 

 
34                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Amana Participation Fund:   Consolidated Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

             
    Corporate Sukuk – 60.7%   Coupon / Maturity    Face Amount      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Communications                                  
     
   

Saudi Telecom2

    3.89% due 05/13/2029      $6,450,000        $6,364,538      Saudi Arabia      3.0%  
               
              6,364,538           3.0%  
    Consumer Discretionary                              
     
   

Almarai2

    4.311% due 03/05/2024      7,580,000        7,649,710      Saudi Arabia      3.6%  
               
              7,649,710           3.6%  
    Financials                                  
     
   

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Capital Invest Two2

    7.125% due 09/20/2070      6,200,000        6,389,224      United Arab Emirates      3.0%  
 
   

Dubai International Finance Centre2

    4.325% due 11/12/2024      7,300,000        7,360,827      United Arab Emirates      3.5%  
 
   

Dubai Islamic Bank2

    2.95% due 02/20/2025      6,200,000        6,060,835      United Arab Emirates      2.9%  
 
   

EMAAR Malls2

    4.564% due 06/18/2024      2,000,000        2,003,702      United Arab Emirates      0.9%  
 
   

Emirates Islamic Bank2

    1.827% due 09/23/2025      4,000,000        3,760,516      United Arab Emirates      1.8%  
 
   

Investment Corporate of Dubai2

    5.00% due 02/01/2027      8,350,000        8,439,460      United Arab Emirates      4.0%  
 
   

Islamic Development Bank Trust Services2

    1.957% due 10/02/2024      500,000        486,529      Saudi Arabia      0.2%  
 
   

Kuwait Financial Bank Tier 12

    3.60% due 06/30/2090      9,500,000        9,029,655      Kuwait      4.3%  
 
   

Majid Al Futtaim2

    4.50% due 11/03/2025      4,600,000        4,628,728      United Arab Emirates      2.2%  
 
   

Majid Al Futtaim2

    4.638% due 05/14/2029      3,650,000        3,693,331      United Arab Emirates      1.7%  
 
   

Mar Sukuk Ltd2

    2.21% due 09/02/2025      1,500,000        1,426,946      Cayman Islands      0.7%  
 
   

National Commercial Bank Tier 12

    3.50% due 07/26/2070      5,550,000        5,230,131      Saudi Arabia      2.5%  
 
   

Noor2

    4.471% due 04/24/2023      1,000,000        1,010,961      United Arab Emirates      0.4%  
 
   

Qatar International Bank2

    3.982% due 03/26/2024      5,650,000        5,704,143      Qatar      2.7%  
 
   

Sharjah Islamic Bank2

    2.85% due 06/23/2025      4,300,000        4,172,863      United Arab Emirates      2.0%  
 
   

Sharjah2

    3.854% due 04/03/2026      4,500,000        4,472,863      United Arab Emirates      2.1%  
               
              73,870,714           34.9%  
    Industrials                                  
     
   

DP World Crescent2

    3.908% due 05/31/2023      4,500,000        4,512,193      United Arab Emirates      2.1%  
 
   

DP World Salaam2

    6.00% due 07/01/2070      4,800,000        4,818,931      United Arab Emirates      2.3%  
               
              9,331,124           4.4%  
    Materials                              
     
   

Equate2

    3.944% due 02/21/2024      8,000,000        8,007,230      United Arab Emirates      3.8%  
               
              8,007,230           3.8%  
    Technology                                  
     
   

Axiata SPV22

    4.357% due 03/24/2026      4,150,000        4,229,805      Malaysia      2.0%  
               
              4,229,805           2.0%  

 

Continued on next page.

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  35


Amana Participation Fund: Consolidated Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

               
    Corporate Sukuk – 60.7%       Coupon / Maturity    Face Amount      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Utilities                              
     
   

Saudi Elec GLB Sukuk2

    4.222% due 01/27/2024      $2,000,000        $2,022,766      Saudi Arabia      1.0%  
 
   

Saudi Electric Global2

    4.00% due 04/08/2024      1,200,000        1,209,336      Saudi Arabia      0.6%  
 
   

Saudi Electric Global3

    4.00% due 04/08/2024      1,500,000        1,511,358      Saudi Arabia      0.7%  
 
   

Tabreed2

    5.50% due 10/31/2025      6,950,000        7,295,903      United Arab Emirates      3.4%  
 
   

TNB Global Ventures Cap2

    3.244% due 10/19/2026      7,140,000        6,959,287      Malaysia      3.3%  
               
              18,998,650           9.0%  
                 
             
  Total Corporate Sukuk   (Cost $133,791,366)         $128,451,771           60.7%  
               
    Government Sukuk –  20.9%       Coupon / Maturity    Face Amount      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Foreign Government
Sukuk
                             
     
   

Department of Finance Dubai2

    3.875% due 01/30/2023      $3,750,000        $3,764,042      United Arab Emirates      1.8%  
 
   

Department of Finance Dubai2

    5.00% due 04/30/2029      5,000,000        5,238,062      United Arab Emirates      2.5%  
 
   

Dubai Aerospace Enterprises DIFC2

    3.75% due 02/15/2026      3,150,000        2,983,400      United Arab Emirates      1.4%  
 
   

Islamic Development Bank2

    3.389% due 09/26/2023      3,500,000        3,516,959      Saudi Arabia      1.7%  
 
   

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia2

    3.628% due 04/20/2027      6,500,000        6,595,357      Saudi Arabia      3.1%  
 
   

Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN2

    3.75% due 03/01/2023      4,500,000        4,530,017      Indonesia      2.1%  
 
   

Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN2

    4.55% due 03/29/2026      5,685,000        5,801,088      Indonesia      2.7%  
 
   

Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN2

    4.45% due 02/20/2029      3,050,000        3,100,325      Indonesia      1.5%  
 
   

Ras Al Khaimah2

    3.094% due 03/31/2025      3,150,000        3,083,257      United Arab Emirates      1.4%  
 
   

State of Qatar2

    3.241% due 01/18/2023      5,700,000        5,725,792      Qatar      2.7%  
             
  Total Government Sukuk   (Cost $45,910,562)         $44,338,299           20.9%  
                 
               
    Bank Time Deposits – 2.4%       Coupon / Maturity    Face Amount      Market Value      Country1    Percentage of Net Assets  
    Bank Time Deposits                              
     
   

Arab Banking Corp, NY Branch

    0.81% due 08/30/2022      $1,000,000        $1,000,000      United States      0.5%  
 
   

Arab Banking Corp, NY Branch

    0.92% due 11/28/2022      1,000,000        1,000,000      United States      0.5%  
 
   

Arab Banking Corp, NY Branch

    1.43% due 08/12/2022      2,000,000        2,000,000      United States      0.9%  
 
   

Arab Banking Corp, NY Branch

    1.72% due 02/13/2023      1,000,000        1,000,000      United States      0.5%  
             
  Total Bank Time Deposits   (Cost $5,000,000)         $5,000,000           2.4%  
                                             
  Total investments     (Cost $184,701,928)         $177,790,070           84.0%  
  Other assets (net of liabilities)             33,964,088           16.0%  
                               
    Total net assets                       $211,754,158             100.0%  
               
                 
1 

Denotes a country or region of primary exposure.

2 

Security was purchased pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933 which exempts from registration securities offered and sold outside of the United States. Such a security cannot be sold in the United States without either an effective registration statement filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, or pursuant to an exemption from registration. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. At May 31, 2022, the aggregate value of these securities was $171,278,712 representing 80.9% of net assets..

3 

Security was purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may be sold in transactions exempt from registration only to qualified institutional buyers or in public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. These securities have been deemed liquid under guidelines approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. At May 31, 2022, the net value of these securities was $1,511,358 representing 0.7% of net assets.

 

 

 
36                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Participation Fund: Consolidated Schedule of Investments    As of May 31, 2022

 

Sukuk Quality Diversification

    (unaudited)  
     
% of Total Net Assets

 

    

Rated “AAA”

    1.9%           

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 

Rated “AA-”

    2.7%        

Rated “A+”

    4.8%        

Rated “A-”

    9.2%        

Rated “BBB”

    19.3%        

Rated “BBB-”

    16.1%        

Rated “BB+”

    0.9%        

Rated “BB”

    2.3%        

Rated “B+”

    3.0%        

Not Rated

    23.8%        

Other Assets (net of liabilities)

    16.0%        

Credit ratings are the lesser of S&P Global Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service. If neither S&P nor Moody’s rate a particular security, that security is categorized as not rated (except for US Treasury securities and securities issued or backed by US agencies which inherit the credit rating for the US government). Ratings range from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Bonds rated BBB or above are considered investment grade. Credit ratings BB and below are lower-rated securities (junk bonds). Ratings apply to the creditworthiness of the issuers of the underlying securities and not the fund or its shares. Ratings may be subject to change.

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  37


Amana Participation Fund

 

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

 

 

As of May 31, 2022

 

   
 

Assets

 

Investments in securities, at value

 

(Cost $184,701,928)

    $177,790,070  

Cash

    32,777,815  

Interest receivable

    1,532,119  

Receivable for Fund shares sold

    98,153  

Prepaid expenses

    9,417  
       

Total assets

    212,207,574  
       

Liabilities

 

Payable for Fund shares redeemed

    317,391  

Accrued advisory fees

    89,934  

Accrued audit expenses

    24,821  

Accrued 12b-1 distribution fees

    5,220  

Distributions payable

    5,024  

Accrued retirement plan custody fee

    4,064  

Accrued trustee expenses

    2,207  

Accrued legal expenses

    2,043  

Accrued other expenses

    1,485  

Accrued printing fees

    535  

Accrued Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    393  

Accrued postage

    299  
       

Total liabilities

    453,416  
       

Net Assets

    $211,754,158  
   
 
   

Analysis of Net Assets

 

Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)

    $219,371,170  

Total distributable earnings

    (7,617,012
       

Net assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding

    $211,754,158  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Investor Share

    AMAPX  

Net assets, at value

    $24,722,093  

Shares outstanding

    2,507,343  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $9.86  
   
 
   

Net asset value per Institutional Share

    AMIPX  

Net assets, at value

    $187,032,065  

Shares outstanding

    18,903,057  
       

Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share

    $9.89  
   
 

 

Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

 

Year ended May 31, 2022

 

   
 

Investment income

 

Sukuk Income

    $5,221,374  

Miscellaneous income

    1,760  
       

Total investment income

    5,223,134  
       

Expenses

 

Investment advisory fees

    1,044,070  

12b-1 distribution fees

    62,742  

Custodian fees

    39,719  

Filing and registration fees

    37,600  

Printing and postage fees

    10,832  

Retirement plan custodial fees

 

Investor Shares

    133  

Institutional Shares

    7,885  

Audit fees

    7,094  

Trustee fees

    4,662  

Other operating expenses

    3,959  

Chief Compliance Officer expenses

    3,560  

Legal fees

    770  
       

Total gross expenses

    1,223,026  
       

Less custodian fee credits

    (39,719
       

Net expenses

    1,183,307  
       

Net investment income

    $4,039,827  
   
 
   

    

 

Net realized loss from investments

    $(729,144

Net decrease in unrealized appreciation on investments

    (11,554,928
       

Net loss on investments

    ($12,284,072
   
 
   

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

    $(8,244,245
         

 

 

 
38                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Amana Participation Fund

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets

    Year ended May 31, 2022          Year ended May 31, 2021  
     

Increase in net assets from operations

      

From operations

      

Net investment income

    $4,039,827          $2,883,310  

Net realized gain (loss) on investment

    (729,144        104,090  

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation

    (11,554,928        3,538,199  
                  

Net increase (decrease) in net assets

    (8,244,245        6,525,599  
                  

Distributions to shareowners

      

Net distribution to shareowners – Investor Shares

    (403,616        (384,118

Net distribution to shareowners – Institutional Shares

    (3,416,755        (2,504,890
                  

Total distributions

    (3,820,371        (2,889,008
                  

Capital share transactions

      

Proceeds from the sale of shares

      

Investor Shares

    12,131,609          15,188,117  

Institutional Shares

    110,517,839          88,371,283  

Value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions

      

Investor Shares

    396,693          374,373  

Institutional Shares

    3,373,456          2,425,384  

Cost of shares redeemed

      

Investor Shares

    (8,787,913        (10,258,013

Institutional Shares

    (59,591,919        (50,512,348
                  

Total capital share transactions

    58,039,765          45,588,796  
                  

Total increase in net assets

    45,975,149          49,225,387  
     
      
     

Net assets

      

Beginning of year

    165,779,009          116,553,622  

End of year

    $211,754,158          $165,779,009  
     

Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed

      

Investor Shares (AMAPX)

      

Number of shares sold

    1,177,129          1,467,331  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment distributions

    38,997          36,048  

Number of shares redeemed

    (856,814        (988,458
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    359,312          514,921  
                  

Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

      

Number of shares sold

    10,670,740          8,491,451  

Number of shares issued in reinvestment distributions

    330,547          232,686  

Number of shares redeemed

    (5,816,685        (4,852,400
                  

Net increase in number of shares outstanding

    5,184,602          3,871,737  
     
      

 

 

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.   Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  39


Amana Participation Fund: Financial Highlights

 

Investor Shares (AMAPX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022 A       2021 A       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $10.42       $10.12       $9.97       $9.76       $10.07  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeB

    0.18       0.19       0.24       0.24       0.22  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized & unrealized)

    (0.57     0.30       0.14       0.21       (0.31
                                       

Total from investment operations

    (0.39     0.49       0.38       0.45       (0.09
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.17     (0.19     (0.23     (0.24     (0.22
                                       

Total distributions

    (0.17     (0.19     (0.23     (0.24     (0.22
                                       

Paid-in capital from early redemption feesC

    n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a       0.00  
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $9.86       $10.42       $10.12       $9.97       $9.76  
           
         

Total Return

    (3.83 )%      4.90%       3.88%       4.70%       (0.94 )% 
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $24,722       $22,375       $16,531       $20,612       $18,212  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    0.80%       0.82%       0.88%       0.88%       0.87%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.78%       0.80%       0.86%       0.87%       0.85%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    1.71%       1.86%       2.34%       2.46%       2.18%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    15%       19%       34%       22%       7%  
           
         

Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

    Year ended May 31,  

Selected data per share of outstanding capital stock throughout each year:

    2022 A       2021 A       2020       2019       2018  
           

Net asset value at beginning of year

    $10.45       $10.16       $10.00       $9.79       $10.11  

Income from investment operations

         

Net investment incomeB

    0.20       0.22       0.26       0.27       0.24  

Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized & unrealized)

    (0.57     0.29       0.16       0.21       (0.32
                                       

Total from investment operations

    (0.37     0.51       0.42       0.48       (0.08
                                       

Less distributions

         

Dividends (from net investment income)

    (0.19     (0.22     (0.26     (0.27     (0.24
         
                                       

Total distributions

    (0.19     (0.22     (0.26     (0.27     (0.24
                                       

Paid-in capital from early redemption feesC

    n/a       n/a       n/a       n/a       0.00  
         

Net asset value at end of year

    $9.89       $10.45       $10.16       $10.00       $9.79  
           
         

Total Return

    (3.58 )%      5.04%       4.23%       4.93%       (0.80 )% 
           

Ratios / supplemental data

         

Net assets ($000), end of year

    $187,032       $143,404       $100,023       $55,716       $44,729  

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

         

Before custodian fee credits

    0.56%       0.58%       0.63%       0.64%       0.62%  

After custodian fee credits

    0.54%       0.56%       0.61%       0.63%       0.60%  

Ratio of net investment income after custodian fee credits to average net assets

    1.97%       2.10%       2.53%       2.70%       2.45%  

Portfolio turnover rate

    15%       19%       34%       22%       7%  
           
         
A

Consolidated

B

Calculated using average shares outstanding

C

Amount is less than $0.01

 

 

 
40                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


Notes to Financial Statements (Consolidated with respect to the Amana Participation Fund)

 

Note 1 – Organization

Amana Mutual Funds Trust (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware Statutory Trust on March 11, 2013, and is the successor to Amana Mutual Funds Trust, an Indiana Business Trust (“Prior Trust”) organized on July 26, 1984, pursuant to a reorganization on July 19, 2013. Each Fund is a series of the Trust and the Income, Growth, and Developing World Funds are successors to the corresponding series of the Prior Trust. The Trust is registered as an open-end, diversified management company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Trust restricts its investments to those acceptable to Muslims by investing in accordance with Islamic principles. Four portfolio series have been created. The Income Fund was first authorized to sell shares of beneficial interest to the public on June 23, 1986. The Growth Fund began operations on February 3, 1994. The Developing World Fund began operations on September 28, 2009. Institutional shares of Income, Growth, and Developing World Funds were first offered September 25, 2013. The Participation Fund (both Investor and Institutional Shares) began operations September 28, 2015. The Participation Fund is a nondiversified fund.

Each Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”

Each class of shares of a Fund represents an interest in the same portfolio of investments of the Fund and has in all respects the same rights and obligations as each other class of the Fund, except that each class bears its own class expenses, and each class has exclusive voting rights on matters affecting that class. Each class of shares may be subject to different investment minimums and other conditions of eligibility as may be described in the prospectus for the particular class of shares, as from time to time in effect.

Income, realized and unrealized capital gains and losses, and expenses to be paid by a Fund and not allocated to a particular class as provided below, shall be allocated to each class on the basis of relative net assets. Expenses allocable to a specific class are expenses specifically incurred by or for such class including the following:

 

   

Distribution fees;

   

Retirement plan custodial fees; and

   

Any applicable service fees.

Net investment income dividends and capital gain distributions paid by the Fund on each class of its shares will be calculated in the same manner on the same day and at the same time.

Commencing in the year ended May 31, 2021, the Participation Fund utilizes a wholly-owned subsidiary to achieve its investment objective (see Note 2).

Investment risks:

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 goes up and down. The 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 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. As 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.

The Funds may invest substantially in one or more sectors, which can increase volatility and exposure to issues specific to a particular sector or industry.

Please see each Fund's Summary Prospectus, the Funds' Prospectus, and Statement of Additional Information for a more detailed discussion of the risks affecting the Funds.

Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies

The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which are consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

Security valuation:

Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange and over-the-counter securities for which sale prices are available are valued at that price. Securities for which there are no sales are valued at latest bid price.

Foreign markets may close before the time as of which the Funds’ share prices are determined. Because of this, events occurring after the close and before the determination of the Funds’ share prices may have a material effect on the values of some or all of the Funds’ foreign securities. To account for this, the Funds may use outside pricing services for valuation of their non-US securities.

In cases in which there is not a readily available market price, a fair value for such security is determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Security transactions are recorded on trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are recorded on the identified cost basis.

Sukuk certificates in which the Participation Fund invests are valued based on evaluated prices supplied by an independent pricing service, which include valuations provided by market makers and other participants, provided that there is sufficient market activity on which the pricing service can base such valuations. Where market activity is insufficient for making such determinations, the independent pricing service uses proprietary valuation

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  41


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

methodologies and may consider a variety of factors, such as yield curves, credit spreads, estimated default rates, anticipated market interest rate volatility, coupon rates, and other factors in order to calculate the security’s fair value.

Foreign currency:

Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into US dollar amounts at the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into US dollar amounts on the respective dates of such transactions.

The Funds do not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.

Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the US dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

Share valuation:

Each Fund computes the share price of each share class by dividing the net assets attributable to each share class by the outstanding shares of that class. Each share class represents an interest in the same investment portfolio. Each share class is identical in all respects except that each class bears its own class expenses, and each class has exclusive voting rights. As a result of the differences in the expenses borne by each share class, the share price and distributions will vary among a Fund’s share classes. The Funds’ shares are not priced or traded on days the New York Stock Exchange is closed. The NAV is both the offering and redemption price per share.

 

Share Valuation Inputs as of May 31, 2022

 

     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3     

Funds

     Quoted Price        Significant Observable Input        Significant Unobservable Input        Total  
         

Income Fund

           

Consumer Discretionary

     $60,770,606        $-        $-        $60,770,606  

Consumer Staples

     $155,451,857        $-        $-        $155,451,857  

Health Care

     $452,520,526        $-        $-        $452,520,526  

Industrials

     $287,717,570        $-        $-        $287,717,570  

Materials

     $147,083,710        $-        $-        $147,083,710  

Technology

     $297,259,450        $20,106,042        $-        $317,365,492  

Total Common Stocks

     $1,400,803,719        $20,106,042        $-        $1,420,909,761  

Total Assets

     $1,400,803,719        $20,106,042        $-        $1,420,909,761  
           
         

Growth Fund

           

Common Stocks1

     $2,874,450,313        $-        $-        $2,874,450,313  

Total Assets

     $2,874,450,313        $-        $-        $2,874,450,313  
           
         

Developing World Fund

           

Common Stocks

           

Communications

     $1,967,120        $1,808,577        $-        $3,775,697  

Consumer Discretionary

     $1,236,270        $3,511,691        $-        $4,747,961  

Consumer Staples

     $3,182,625        $7,660,946        $-        $10,843,571  

Financials

     $-        $2,868,230        $-        $2,868,230  

Health Care

     $-        $7,038,560        $-        $7,038,560  

Industrials

     $1,339,214        $2,519,205        $-        $3,858,419  

Materials

     $5,669,130        $663,164        $-        $6,332,294  

Technology

     $6,395,160        $9,771,315        $-        $16,166,475  

Total Common Stocks

     $19,789,519        $35,841,688        $-        $55,631,207  

Total Assets

     $19,789,519        $35,841,688        $-        $55,631,207  
           
         

Participation Fund

           

Corporate Sukuk1

     $-        $128,451,771        $-        $128,451,771  

Government Sukuk1

     $-        $44,338,299        $-        $44,338,299  

Bank Time Deposits1

     $-        $5,000,000        $-        $5,000,000  

Total Assets

     $-        $177,790,070        $-        $177,790,070  

1 See the Schedule of Investments for additional details.

 

 

 
42                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Fair value measurements:

Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820 establishes a three-tier framework for measuring fair value based on a hierarchy of inputs. The hierarchy distinguishes between market data obtained from independent sources (observable inputs) and the Funds’ own market assumptions (unobservable inputs). These inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments and are summarized below.

 

  Level 1 — 

Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Trust has the ability to access.

 

  Level 2 — 

Observable inputs other than quoted prices in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, and similar data.

 

  Level 3 — 

Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Trust’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety, is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The table on page 54 is a summary of the inputs used as of May 31, 2022, in valuing the Funds’ investments carried at fair value.

Investment concentration:

The fundamental policies of the Funds prohibit earning interest, in accordance with Islamic principles. Consequently, cash is held in non-interest-bearing deposits with the Funds’ custodian or other banks. “Other assets (net of liabilities)” in the Funds’ Schedules of Investments primarily represents cash on deposit with the custodian. Cash on deposit will vary widely over time. Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 825, “Financial Instruments,” identifies these items as a concentration of credit risk. The risk is managed by careful financial analysis and review of the custodian’s operations, resources, and protections available to the Trust. This process includes evaluation of other financial institutions providing investment company custody services.

ReFlow Liquidity Program:

The Funds may participate in the ReFlow Fund, LLC (“ReFlow”) liquidity program, which is designed to provide an alternative liquidity source on days when redemptions of Fund shares exceed purchases. Under the program, ReFlow is available to provide cash to the Funds to meet all, or a portion, of daily net shareowner redemptions. Following purchases of Fund shares, ReFlow then generally redeems those shares when the Fund experiences net sales, at the end of a maximum holding period determined by ReFlow (currently 14 days) or at other times at ReFlow’s discretion. For use of the ReFlow service, a participating Fund pays a fee to ReFlow each time it purchases Fund shares, calculated by applying to the purchase amount a fee rate determined through an automated daily “Dutch auction” among other participating mutual funds seeking liquidity that day. The current minimum fee rate is 0.20% of the value of the Fund shares purchased by ReFlow, although the Fund may submit a bid at a higher fee rate if it determines that doing so is in the best interest of Fund shareowners. In accordance with federal securities laws, ReFlow is prohibited from acquiring more than 3% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. ReFlow will periodically redeem its entire share position in the Fund and request that such redemption be met in kind in accordance with the Funds’ in-kind redemption policies. There is no assurance that ReFlow will have sufficient funds available to meet the Funds’ liquidity needs on a particular day. During the year ended May 31, 2022, only the Income Fund and Growth Fund participated in ReFlow. Fees associated with ReFlow are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.

Federal income taxes:

Each Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company and to make the requisite distributions of income and capital gains to its shareowners sufficient to relieve it from all or substantially all federal income taxes. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

The Funds recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on returns filed for open tax years (2019 – 2021) or expected to be taken in the Funds’ 2022 tax returns. The Funds identify their major tax jurisdiction as US federal and foreign jurisdictions where the Funds make significant investments; however, the Funds are not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  43


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Reclassification of capital accounts:

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications are as of the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, and have no effect on net assets or NAV per share.

 

     
     Income Fund        Growth Fund  

Distributed earnings

     $(11,817,477      $(76,988,051

Paid-in capital

     $11,817,477        $76,988,051  
     
     
     Developing World        Participation Fund  

Distributed earnings

     $-          $-    

Paid-in capital

     $-          $-    

Distributions to shareowners:

For the Amana Participation Fund, dividends to shareowners from net investment income are paid daily and distributed on the last business day of each month. For the Amana Income Fund, Amana Growth Fund, and Amana Developing World Fund, dividends to shareowners from net investment income, if any, are paid in May and December. As a result of their investment strategies, the Growth and Developing World Funds do not expect to pay income dividends. Distributions of capital gains, if any, are made at least annually, and as required to comply with federal excise tax requirements. Distributions to shareowners are determined in accordance with income tax regulations and are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends are paid in shares of the Funds, at the net asset value on the payable date. Shareowners may elect to take distributions if they total $10 or more in cash.

Use of estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign taxes:

Withholding taxes on foreign dividends are paid (a portion of which may be reclaimable) or provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates and are disclosed in the Statement of Operations. Withholding tax reclaims are filed in certain countries to recover a portion of the amounts previously withheld. The Funds record a reclaim receivable based on a number of factors, including a jurisdiction’s legal obligation to pay reclaims as well as payment history and market convention.

Consolidation of Subsidiary – Amana SPV:

The Consolidated Portfolio of Investments, Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Consolidated Statement of Operations and Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Assets and the Consolidated Financial Highlights of the Amana Participation Fund includes the accounts of AMANA SPV, a wholly owned and controlled subsidiary. AMANA SPV is a C-Corporation incorporated as an exempted company under the company’s law of the Cayman Islands on January 21, 2019, and is not subject to Cayman Islands taxes at the present time. For its income tax purpose, the SPV is not subject to US income taxes, however the SPV’s net income and capital gains will be included each year in the Amana Participation Fund’s taxable income. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Amana Participation Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in the segregated portfolio vehicle (“SPV”) which acts as an investment vehicle in order to effect certain investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies.

A summary of the Amana Participation Fund’s investments in the SPV is as follows:

 

       
    

Inception Date

of SPV

 

 

    

SPV Net Assets

at May 31, 2022

 

 

    

% of Fund Net Assets

at May 31, 2022

 

 

Amana SPV

     January 21, 2019        $36,111,184        17.1%  

Other:

Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, and sukuk income is recognized on an accrual basis.

Expenses incurred by the Trust on behalf of the Funds (e.g., professional fees) are allocated to the Funds on the basis of relative daily average net assets. Net investment losses may not be utilized to offset net investment income in future periods for tax purposes

Recent Accounting Pronouncement:

In December 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, which establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act, including related oversight and reporting requirements. The rule also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act, the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security. The SEC also adopted new Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act, which sets forth the recordkeeping requirements associated with fair value determinations. Finally, the SEC is rescinding previously issued guidance on related issues, including the role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments. Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 became effective on March 8, 2021, with a compliance date of September 8, 2022. Management will implement on effective date.

 

 

 
44                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Note 3 – Transactions with Affiliated Persons

Under a contract approved annually by the Board of Trustees of the Trust, including those who are not party to the contract or “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of such parties or the Trust (the “Independent Trustees”), Saturna Capital Corporation (“Saturna Capital”) provides investment advisory services and certain other administrative services and facilities required to conduct Trust business. Effective December 1, 2020, the Amana Growth Fund, Amana Income Fund, and Amana Developing World Fund each pay an advisory and administration fee of 0.80% on the first $1 billion of a Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.65% on the next $1 billion, and 0.50% on assets over $2 billion. The Amana Participation Fund pays an advisory and administration fee of 0.50% annually of the average daily net assets. For the fiscal year ended May 31,2022, the Funds paid the following advisory fees to Saturna Capital:

 

   
     Advisory fees  

Income Fund

     $11,772,305  

Growth Fund

     $21,590,063  

Developing World Fund

     $571,303  

Participation Fund

     $1,044,070  

Certain officers and one trustee of Amana are also officers and directors of the investment adviser.

Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc. (“SBS”), a subsidiary of Saturna Capital, is registered as a broker-dealer and acts as distributor. The Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act applicable to the Investor Shares of each Fund. The plan provides that the Funds will pay a fee to SBS at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets applicable to Investor Shares of each Fund. The fee is paid to SBS as reimbursement for expenses incurred for distribution-related activity. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Funds paid the following distribution fees to SBS:

 

 
Distribution (12b-1) fees

 

Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     $2,006,713  

Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     n/a  

Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     $4,664,456  

Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     n/a  

Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     $60,329  

Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     n/a  

Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     $62,742  

Participation Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     n/a  

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, Saturna Capital spent an additional $4,584,659 of its own resources, and not part of the 12b-1 expense of the Funds, to compensate broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries, or their affiliates, in connection with the sale, distribution, retention, and/or servicing of Fund shares. To the extent that these resources are derived from advisory fees paid by the Funds, these payments could be considered “revenue sharing.” Any such payments will not change the net asset value or the price of a Fund’s shares.

SBS is used to effect equity portfolio transactions for the Trust. SBS currently executes portfolio transactions without commission. Transactions effected through other brokers are subject to commissions payable to that broker.

Saturna Trust Company (“STC”), a subsidiary of Saturna Capital, acts as retirement plan custodian for the Funds. Each class of shares of a Fund pays an annual fee of $10 per account for retirement plan services to Saturna Trust Company. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Funds incurred the following retirement plan custodial fees to STC:

 

 
Retirement plan custodial fees

 

Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     $102  

Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     $58,021  

Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     $115  

Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     $83,653  

Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     $12  

Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     $16,175  

Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     $133  

Participation Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     $7,885  

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  45


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

Mr. Nicholas Kaiser serves as a trustee and president of the Trust. He is also a director and the chairman of Saturna Capital Corporation and Saturna Trust Company. He is not compensated by the Trust. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Funds paid trustee compensation expenses of $66,000, which is included in the $66,360 of total expenses incurred for the Independent Trustees. On May 31, 2022, the trustees, officers, and their affiliates (including Saturna Capital Corporation) as a group, owned the following percentages of outstanding shares:

 

 

Trustees’, officers’, and affiliates‘ ownership

 

Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     0.30%  

Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     1.44%  

Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     0.01%  

Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     1.09%  

Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     1.00%  

Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     6.62%  

Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     0.07%  

Participation Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     3.30%  

The officers of the Trust are paid by Saturna Capital Corporation, not the Trust, except the Chief Compliance Officer, who is partially compensated by the Trust. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Funds paid the following compensation expenses for the Chief Compliance Officer:

 

 
Chief Compliance Officer

 

Income Fund

     $18,753  

Growth Fund

     $62,170  

Developing World Fund

     $223  

Participation Fund

     $3,560  

Note 4 – Distributions to Shareowners

The tax characteristics of distributions paid for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022 and May 31, 2021, were as follows:

 

     

Income Fund

     May 31, 2022        May 31, 2021  

Ordinary income

     $16,773,114        $16,054,108  

Long-term capital gain1

     $64,358,796        $75,321,788  
     
     

Growth Fund

     May 31, 2022        May 31, 2021  

Ordinary income2

     $6,261,438        $8,327,914  

Long-term capital gain1

     $17,070,218        $137,992,659  
     
     

Developing World Fund

     May 31, 2022        May 31, 2021  

Ordinary income2

     $1,019,295        $-  
     
     

Participation Fund

     May 31, 2022        May 31, 2021  

Ordinary income

     $3,820,371        $2,889,008  

 

1

Long-Term Capital Gain dividend designated pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

2

By policy, the Growth and Developing World Funds seek to avoid paying income dividends.

Note 5 – Federal Income Taxes

The cost basis of investments for federal income tax purposes at May 31, 2022, were as follows:

 

     
     Income Fund        Growth Fund  

Cost of investments

     $457,410,307        $720,525,609  
                 

Gross unrealized appreciation

     $974,108,106        $2,182,502,997  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     $(10,608,652      $(28,578,293
                 

Net unrealized appreciation

     $963,499,454        $2,153,924,704  
     
     
     Developing World Fund        Participation Fund  

Cost of investments

     $54,251,015        $184,701,928  
                 

Gross unrealized appreciation

     $7,965,515        $83,980  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     $(6,585,323      $(6,995,838
                 

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     $1,380,192        $(6,911,858

As of May 31, 2022, the components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

   

Income Fund

  

Undistributed ordinary income

     $2,112  

Accumulated capital gains

     $51,557,921  
        

Tax accumulated earnings

     $51,560,033  

Unrealized appreciation

     $963,499,156  

Total accumulated earnings

     $1,015,059,189  
  
   

Growth Fund

  

Undistributed ordinary income

     $2,865,568  

Accumulated capital gains

     $79,453,782  
        

Tax accumulated earnings

     $82,319,350  

Unrealized appreciation

     $2,153,924,704  
   

Total accumulated earnings

     $2,236,244,054  
  
   

Developing World Fund

  

Undistributed ordinary income

     $309,535  

Accumulated capital and other losses

     $(273,542
        

Tax accumulated gains

     $35,993  

Unrealized appreciation

     $1,380,201  

Post October Losses

     $(174,036
   

Total accumulated earnings

     $1,242,158  
  
   

Participation Fund

  

Undistributed ordinary income

     $115  

Accumulated capital and other losses

     $(705,269
        

Tax accumulated losses

     $(705,154

Unrealized depreciation

     $(6,911,858

Total accumulated earnings

     $(7,617,012

 

 

 
46                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Notes to Financial Statements (continued)

 

At May 31, 2022, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards and loss deferrals, subject to regulation. Prior to their expiration, loss carryforwards may be used to offset future net capital gains realized for federal income tax purposes.

 

         
    

Income

Fund

 

 

    

Growth

Fund

 

 

    

Developing

World Fund

 

 

    

Participation

Fund

 

 

Short term loss carryforwards unlimited expiration

     $-        $-        $273,542        $603,911  
                                   

Long term loss carryforwards unlimited expiration

     $-        $-        $-        $101,358  
                                   

Total Capital loss carryforward

     $-        $-        $273,542        $705,269  
                                   

Post-October loss deferral1

     $-        $-        $174,036        $509,803  

 

1

Net capital losses incurred after October 31 and within the taxable year are deemed to arise on the first business day of a fund’s next taxable year.

Note 6 – Investments

During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Funds purchased and sold the following amounts of securities.

 

     
     Purchases        Sales  

Income Fund

     $79,269,798        $111,500,249  

Growth Fund

     $230,172,449        $219,298,242  

Developing World Fund

     $27,665,177        $19,221,184  

Participation Fund

     $69,254,478        $28,699,113  

Note 7 – Custodian

Under agreements in place with the Trust’s custodian, UMB Bank, custody fees are reduced by credits for cash balances. For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, such reductions were as follows:

 

 
Custodian Fee Credits

 

Income Fund

     $68,083  

Growth Fund

     $139,802  

Developing World Fund

     $51,005  

Participation Fund

     $39,719  

Note 8 – Subsequent Events

There were no other events or transactions during the period that materially impacted the amounts or disclosures in the Funds’ financial statements.

Note 9 – COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted global commercial activity and contributed to significant volatility in global equity and debt markets. The pandemic has resulted in quarantines, stay at home orders, travel prohibitions and closures, disrupting supply chains and economic activity. The duration of the pandemic’s effects remain uncertain and difficult to assess. The effects of the pandemic may adversely impact the Funds’ performance and its ability to achieve its investment objective.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  47


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareowners and Board of Trustees

Amana Mutual Funds Trust

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the Amana Income Fund, the Amana Growth Fund, the Amana Developing World Fund and the Amana Participation Fund (the “Funds”), each a series of Amana Mutual Funds Trust (the “Trust”), including the schedules of investments, as of May 31, 2022, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes (consolidated for 2022 and 2021 with respect to the Amana Participation Fund) (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of May 31, 2022, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and their financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (consolidated for 2022 and 2021 with respect to the Amana Participation Fund), in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We have served as the auditor of one or more of the funds in the Trust since 1995.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of May 31, 2022 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 29, 2022

/s/ Tait, Weller & Baker LLP

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP

 

 

 
48                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Expenses    (unaudited)

All mutual funds have operating expenses. As an Amana Mutual Fund shareowner, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution (or service) 12b-1 fees, and other Fund expenses such as shareowner reports (like this one). Operating expenses, which are deducted from a fund’s gross earnings, directly reduce the investment return of a fund. Mutual funds (unlike other financial investments) only report their results after deduction of operating expenses.

With the Amana Funds, unlike many mutual funds, you do not incur sales charges (loads) on purchases, reinvested dividends, or other distributions. There are no redemption fees or exchange fees. You may incur fees related to extra services requested by you for your account, such as bank wires. The examples below are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

Examples

The following examples are based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (December 1, 2021 to May 31, 2022).

Actual Expenses

The first line for each Fund provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you have invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period. The Funds may charge for extra services (such as domestic bank wires, international bank wires, or overnight courier delivery of redemption checks) rendered on request, which you may need to estimate to determine your total expenses.

Hypothetical Example For Comparison Purposes

The second line for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratio (based on the last six months) and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds and other mutual funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareowner reports of other mutual funds. You may wish to add other fees that are not included in the expenses shown in the table, such as IRA fees charged by custodians other than Saturna Trust Company (note that Saturna does not charge such fees to shareowners directly on Saturna IRAs, ESAs, or HSAs with the Amana Funds), and charges for extra services such as bank wires.

Please note that the expenses shown in the tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) or exchange fees (note that the Amana Funds do not assess any such transactional costs). Therefore, the “Hypothetical” line of each fund is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and may not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

         
    

Beginning
Account Value
[December 1, 2021]
 
 
 
    


Ending

Account Value
[May 31, 2022]

 

 
 

    
Expenses Paid
During Period
 
 
    

Annualized

Expense Ratio

 

 

         

Income Fund

           

Investor Shares (AMANX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $967.60        $4.83        0.98%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,020.02        $4.96        0.98%  
         

Institutional Shares (AMINX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $968.80        $3.87        0.79%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,021.00        $3.97        0.79%  
           
         

Growth Fund

           

Investor Shares (AMAGX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $852.60        $4.19        0.91%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,020.41        $4.57        0.91%  
         

Institutional Shares (AMIGX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $853.50        $3.19        0.69%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,021.49        $3.48        0.69%  
           
         

Developing World Fund

           

Investor Shares (AMDWX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $883.70        $5.38        1.15%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,019.22        $5.77        1.15%  
         

Institutional Shares (AMIDX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $885.30        $4.43        0.94%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,020.23        $4.75        0.94%  
           
         

Participation Fund

           

Investor Shares (AMAPX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $962.40        $3.87        0.79%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,020.99        $3.98        0.79%  
         

Institutional Shares (AMIPX), Actual

     $1,000.00        $963.70        $2.80        0.57%  
         

Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)

     $1,000.00        $1,022.08        $2.88        0.57%  
                                     

Expenses are equal to annualized expense ratios indicated above (based on the most recent semi-annual period of December 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/365 to reflect the semi-annual period.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  49


Trustees and Officers    (unaudited)

 

       
  Name (Age) and Address   

Position(s) Held with Trust

& Number of Saturna

Fund Portfolios Overseen

  

Principal Occupation(s) during past

5 years, including Directorships

  

Other

Directorships

held by Trustee

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES

        

(photo omitted)

 

M. Yaqub Mirza, PhD (75)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Chairman (since 2014); Independent Trustee (since 2009); Vice Chairman (2009 to 2014); Independent Trustee (1987 to 2003); Chairman (2000 to 2003); Executive Committee (Chairman); Audit and Compliance Committee;

 

Four

   CEO, Sterling Management Group, Inc. (financial services)    None

(photo omitted)

 

Miles K. Davis, PhD (62)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Independent Trustee (since 2008); Executive Committee; Audit and Compliance Committee;

 

Four

  

President, Linfield University

 

Former Dean and George Edward Durell Chair of Management, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah University

   None

(photo omitted)

 

Ronald H. Fielding MA, MBA, PhD (Hon.) (73)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Independent Trustee1 (since 2012); Audit and Compliance Committee (Chairman, Financial Expert);

 

Thirteen

   Director, ICI Mutual Insurance Company    Saturna Investment Trust

(photo omitted)

  Firas J. Barzinji (38) 1300 N. State Street Bellingham, WA 98225   

Independent Trustee (since 2022);

 

Four

   General Counsel, Sterling Management Group, Inc. (financial services)    None

INTERESTED TRUSTEE

        

(photo omitted)

 

Nicholas F. Kaiser, MBA (76)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

President, Trustee (since 1989); Executive Committee; Governance, Compensation and Nominations Committee;

 

Four

  

Chairman, Saturna Capital Corporation (the Trust’s investment adviser);

 

Chairman, Saturna Trust Company

 

Former Director, Saturna Brokerage Services

   None

 

 

 
50                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Trustees and Officers (continued)    (unaudited)

 

       
  Name (Age) and Address    Position(s) Held with Trust
& Number of Saturna Fund
Portfolios Overseen
  

Principal Occupation(s) during past

5 years, including Directorships

  

Other

Directorships
held by Trustee

OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES

     

(photo omitted)

 

Jane K. Carten MBA (47)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Vice President (since 2012);

 

Nine

  

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, Saturna Capital Corporation;

 

President and Director, Saturna Brokerage Services;

 

Vice President and Director, Saturna Trust Company

   Saturna Investment Trust

(photo omitted)

 

Christopher R. Fankhauser (50)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Treasurer1 (since 2002);

 

N/A

  

Chief Operations Officer and Director, Saturna Capital Corporation;

 

Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Saturna Brokerage Services;

 

Vice President and Director, Saturna Trust Company

   N/A

(photo omitted)

 

Michael E. Lewis (60)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Chief Compliance Officer1 (since 2012);

 

N/A

   Chief Compliance Officer, Saturna Capital, Saturna Trust Company, and Affiliated Funds.    N/A

(photo omitted)

 

Jacob A. Stewart (41)

1300 N. State Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

  

Anti-Money Laundering Officer1 (since 2015);

 

N/A

  

Anti-Money Laundering Officer, Saturna Capital Corporation, Saturna Brokerage Services;

 

Chief Compliance Officer, Saturna Brokerage Services

 

Bank Secrecy Act Officer, Saturna Trust Company

   N/A

Term of Office: Trustees serve for the lifetime of the Trust or until death, resignation, retirement, removal, or non re-election by the shareowners. Officers serve one-year terms subject to annual reappointment by the Trustees.

Amana’s Statement of Additional Information, available without charge by calling Saturna Capital Corporation at 1-800-728-8762, includes additional information about Trustees.

On May 31, 2022, the trustees, officers, and their affiliates (including Saturna Capital Corporation) as a group, owned the following percentages of outstanding shares:

 

 
Trustees’, officers’, and affiliates‘ ownership

 

Income Fund Investor Shares (AMANX)

     0.30%  

Income Fund Institutional Shares (AMINX)

     1.44%  

Growth Fund Investor Shares (AMAGX)

     0.01%  

Growth Fund Institutional Shares (AMIGX)

     1.09%  

Developing World Fund Investor Shares (AMDWX)

     1.00%  

Developing World Fund Institutional Shares (AMIDX)

     6.62%  

Participation Fund Investor Shares (AMAPX)

     0.07%  

Particiaption Fund Institutional Shares (AMIPX)

     3.30%  

For the fiscal period June 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021, the Independent Trustees were each paid by the Trust: (1) $8,000 annual retainer plus $1,000 per board meeting attended (in person or by phone), plus reimbursement of travel expenses; (2) $250 for committee meetings; and (3) $500 per quarter for serving as chairman of the board or any committee. Starting December 1, 2021 through the fiscal year ended May 31, 2022, the Independent Trustees were each paid by the Trust: (1) $10,000 annual retainer plus $1,000 per board meeting attended (in person or by phone), plus reimbursement of travel expenses; (2) $250 for each portfolio in the trust; (3) $250 for committee meetings; and (4) $500 per quarter for serving as chairman of the board or any committee. As of May 31, 2022, all Trustees owned shares in one or more Amana Funds.

Mr. Kaiser is an Interested Trustee by reason of his position with the Trust’s adviser (Saturna Capital Corporation). The Trust’s officers are paid by Saturna Capital and not the Trust. As of May 31, 2022, all Saturna Capital employees listed above as officers owned shares in one or more of the Amana funds, with Mr. Kaiser owning (directly or indirectly) over $24 million.

 

1 

Holds the same position with Saturna Investment Trust.

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  51


 

Except for this legend, this page has been left blank intentionally.

 

 

 

 

 

 
52                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


 

Except for this legend, this page has been left blank intentionally.

 

 

 

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  53


Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Information

 

(1)

The Amana Funds file complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT.

 

(2)

The Funds’ Form N-PORT reports are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

(3)

The Funds make a complete schedule of portfolio holdings after the end of each month available at www.amanafunds.com

Availability of Proxy Voting Information

 

(1)

A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (a) without charge, upon request, by calling Saturna Capital at 1-888-732-6262; (b) on the Funds’ website at www. amanafunds.com; and (c) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

(2)

Information regarding how each Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available (a) without charge, upon request, by calling Saturna Capital at 1-888-732-6262; (b) on the Funds’ website at www.amanafunds.com; and (c) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Householding Policy

To reduce expenses, we may mail only one copy of the Funds’ prospectus, each annual and semi-annual report, and proxy statements, when necessary, to those addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to receive individual and/or more copies of these documents, please call us at 1-888-732-6262 or write to us at Saturna Capital/Amana Mutual Funds, P.O. Box N, Bellingham, WA 98227. We will begin sending you individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.

If you are currently receiving multiple copies and wish to receive only one copy, please call us at 1-888-732-6262 or write to us at Saturna Capital/Amana Mutual Funds, P.O. Box N, Bellingham, WA 98227. We will begin sending you a single copy with subsequent report mailings.

 

 

 
54                  Annual Report   May 31, 2022


Statement Regarding Liquidity Risk Management Program

The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Liquidity Rule”) to promote effective liquidity risk management throughout the open-end investment company industry, thereby reducing the risk that funds will be unable to meet their redemption obligations and mitigating dilution of the interests of fund shareowners.

Pursuant to the Liquidity Rule, the Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has adopted a liquidity risk management program (the “Program”) to govern the Trust’s approach to managing liquidity risk. The Program is overseen by Saturna Capital’s Liquidity Risk Committee, and the Program’s principal objectives include assessing, managing and periodically reviewing each Fund’s liquidity risk, based on factors specific to the circumstances of the Fund.

At a meeting of the Board held on December 6, 2021, the Trustees received a report addressing the operation of the Program and assessing its adequacy and effectiveness of implementation. It was reported to the Board that the assessment found that the Program was adequately designed and effective in achieving its objectives. Further, that review of the Program’s implementation evidenced substantial compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

Privacy Statement

At Saturna Capital and the Amana Mutual Funds Trust, we understand the importance of maintaining the privacy of your financial information. We want to assure you that we protect the confidentiality of any personal information that you share with us. In addition, we do not sell information about our current or former customers.

In the course of our relationship, we gather certain non-public information about you, including your name, address, investment choices, and account information. We do not disclose your information to unaffiliated third parties unless it is necessary to process a transaction; service your account; deliver your account statements, shareowner reports and other information; or as required by law. When we disclose information to unaffiliated third parties, we require a contract to restrict the companies’ use of customer information and from sharing or using it for any purposes other than performing the services for which they were required.

We may share information within the Saturna Capital family of companies in the course of informing you about products or services that may address your investing needs.

We maintain our own technology resources to minimize the need for any third party services, and restrict access to information within Saturna. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard your personal information. If you have any questions or concerns about the security or privacy of your information please call us at 1-800-728-8762.

 

 

 

 
Annual Report   May 31, 2022                  55


LOGO


Item 2. Code of Ethics

Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions, which is included with this submission as Exhibit (a)(1) and posted on the Registrant’s website at https://www.saturna.com/code-ethics. Requests may also be made via telephone at 1-800-728-8762, and will be processed within one business day of receiving such request.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert

(a)(1)(i) The Trustees of Amana Mutual Funds Trust determined, at their quarterly meeting of June 12, 2003, that the Trust shall have at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its Audit & Compliance Committee.

(a)(2) Mr. Ron Fielding, independent Trustee (as defined for investment companies), presently serves as financial expert.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

(a) Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ending May 31, 2022, and 2021 the aggregate audit fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant were $87,000 and $87,000, respectively.

(b) Audit-Related Fees

There were no fees billed by the principal accountant for assurance and related services that were not included under paragraph (a) for the fiscal years ending May 31, 2022, and 2021.

(c) Tax Fees

For the fiscal years ending May 31, 2022, and 2021, the aggregate tax fees billed for professional tax preparation services rendered by the principal accountant were $13,000 and $13,400 respectively. Service includes preparation of the Funds’ federal and state income tax returns.

(d) All Other Fees

There were no other fees billed by the principal accountant for the fiscal years ending May 31, 2022, and 2021.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The following is an excerpt from the Amana Mutual Funds Trust Audit & Compliance Committee Charter:

D. Oversight of Independent Auditors

3. Pre-approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services. Except as provided below, the Committee’s prior approval is necessary for the engagement of the independent auditors to provide any audit or non-audit services for the Trust and any non-audit services for any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Saturna that provides ongoing services to the Trust (Saturna and each such entity, an “Adviser Affiliate”) where the engagement relates directly to the operations or financial reporting of the Trust. Non-audit services that qualify under the de minimis exception described in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules thereunder, that were not pre-approved by the Committee, must be approved by the Committee prior to the completion of the audit. Pre-approval by the Committee is not required for engagements entered into pursuant to (a) pre-approval policies and procedures established by the Committee, or (b) pre-approval granted by one or more members of the Committee to whom, or by a subcommittee to which, the Committee has delegated pre-approval authority, provided in either case, that the Committee is informed of each such service at its next regular meeting.

(e)(2) Percentages of Services

None of the services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) Aggregate Non-Audit Fees

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the principal accountant for services rendered to the Registrant are shown above in the response to Item 4(b), (c) and (d) above.

(1) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the principal accountant for services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser, Saturna Capital Corporation (“Saturna”), for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2022, and 2021 were:

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

May 2022

May 2021

All other fees:

$20,000

$13,000

The fees listed above consist of fees paid by Saturna to the Registrant’s principal accountant for its review and report on Saturna’s internal transfer agency control procedures and Saturna’s custody control procedures.

(2) The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the principal accountant for services rendered to entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Saturna, for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2022, and 2021 were:

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

May 2022

May 2021

All other fees:

None

None

(h) Registrant’s Audit Committee

The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Saturna, and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Saturna that provides ongoing services to the Registrant, that were not pre-approved pursuant to Rule 2-01 (c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X and has determined that the provision of such services is compatible with maintaining the independence of the Registrant’s principal accountant.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants

Not applicable.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Not applicable.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers

Not applicable.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item11. Controls and Procedures

a. The Registrant’s President and Treasurer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

b. There were no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30e-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 13. Exhibits

Exhibits included with this filing:

(a)(1) Code of Ethics.

(a)(2) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT.

(a)(3) Not applicable.

(b) Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906.CERT.

(c) Registrant’s Rule 30e-3 Notice pursuant to Item 1(b) of Form N-CSR. Attached hereto as EX-99.30e-3Notice.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

AMANA MUTUAL FUNDS TRUST

By:

/s/ Nicholas F. Kaiser, President
Signature and Title

Nicholas F. Kaiser, President
Printed name and Title

July 29, 2022
Date

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

By:

/s/ Nicholas F. Kaiser, President
Signature and Title

Nicholas F. Kaiser, President
Printed name and Title

July 29, 2022
Date

By:

/s/ Christopher R. Fankhauser, Treasurer
Signature and Title

Christopher R. Fankhauser, Treasurer
Printed name and Title

July 29, 2022
Date


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