N-CSR 1 sitncsr200611.htm SEXTANT MUTUAL FUNDS / IDAHO TAX-EXEMPT FUND ANNUAL REPORT NOV. 30, 2006 Sextant Mutual Funds/Idaho Tax-Exempt Report Annual Report November 30, 2006
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-05071 or 33-13247
SATURNA INVESTMENT 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)
Nicholas F. Kaiser
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, Washington 98225-4730
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Registrant’s Telephone Number- (360) 734-9900
Date of fiscal year end: November 30, 2006
Date of reporting period: November 30, 2006

Item 1. Report To Stockholders
Sextant Mutual Funds Annual Report Nov. 30, 2006

Table of Contents:
Additional Performance Information
Page 2
Letter To Shareowners
Page 3
Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
Page 4
Sextant Bond Income
Page 9
Sextant Growth Fund
Page 14
Sextant International Fund
Page 20
Expense Examples
Page 26
Notes To Financial Statements
Page 27
Report of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm
Page 29
Renewal of Investment Advisory Contracts
Page 29
Results of Special Shareowner Meeting
Page 30
Trustees and Officers
Page 31
Privacy Statement
Page 31

 

 

Additional Performance Information
Average Annual Returns (as of 12/31/2006)
1-Year
5-Year
10-Year
Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
3.86%
3.28%
4.63%
Sextant Bond Income Fund
3.04%
5.11%
6.13%
Sextant Growth Fund
8.17%
9.00%
11.43%
Sextant International Fund
22.02%
14.06%
10.24%

Performance data quoted in this report represents past performance, is before any taxes payable by shareowners, and is no guarantee of future performance. Mutual fund performance changes over time and currently may be significantly higher or lower than stated. Performance and Morningstar™ rating data current to the most recent month-end is published online at www.saturna.com or available by calling toll free (800) SATURNA. Total returns are historical and include change in share value and reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, if any. Share price, yield and return will vary and you may have a gain or loss when you sell your shares. See individual Fund performance discussions for further information. Funds that invest in foreign securities may involve greater risk, including political and economic uncertainties of foreign countries as well as the risk of currency fluctuations.

Morningstar™, Inc. is an independent fund performance monitor. Rankings are determined monthly from total returns by Morningstar™, by category as determined by Morningstar™. The overall Morningstar™ rating for a fund is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its 3-, 5-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar™ Rating. The average total return for a category is determined by Saturna Capital, utilizing the Morningstar™ database. Results are shown for twelve months because the Sextant Funds’ performance fees are based on the same period.

2
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report

Fellow Shareowners:
(unaudited)

2006 was a profitable year for securities investors, marking four years in a row of moderate advances. Stocks provided solid gains, and the bond markets also provided positive returns as interest rates stabilized. We are pleased to report that both Sextant Growth Fund and Sextant International Fund provided double-digit returns for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2006. Good performance is attracting more investors, and the assets of all four Sextant funds grew in 2006 (as they did in 2005). Sextant International Fund had the largest total return (22%) and growth in assets (135%).

Buoyed by moderate spending gains in all three major sectors (consumers, business, government), liberal trade policies, and slower commodity price increases, corporate earnings continued growing in 2006. Higher interest rates stopped the real estate boom, and falling property prices and construction activity are clearly slowing the economy. Consumer confidence is waning, but the risk of a cyclical collapse appear low. Foreign economies are generally performing better than the US, a trend likely to continue.

A number of our market indicators are flagging caution, and we warn stock market investors to expect lesser returns in 2007. We expect short-term rates to remain at or above longer-term rates - usually a precursor of stock market weakness. Inflation is controlled and the Fed’s increase in short-term interest rates is near conclusion, meaning 2007 could finally be the year for bonds to shine. Slower corporate earnings growth rates will hamper stock prices, but price / earnings multiples have room to expand.

The no-load Sextant Funds are designed to address a broad spectrum of investment needs. Again in 2006, higher equity Fund returns reflected the higher risks of equities - just as expected. All Sextant Funds stress low operating expenses and employ a “fulcrum” advisory fee structure that rewards or penalizes Saturna Capital for investment results. Contrary to popular wisdom, a higher fund advisory fee that results from superior investment performance under a fulcrum advisory fee structure and consequently a higher fund expense ratio is actually in the best interests of shareowners.

For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, comparative total returns and percentile Morningstar™ category rankings (1 is best)† are:

Sextant Fund
Total Return
vs. Morningstar™†
Total Return
Rank (category size) †
Short-Term Bond
4.41%
Short-term Bond
4.40%
43 (435)
Bond Income
4.73%
Long-term Bond
6.70%
92 (45)
Growth
10.06%
Mid-Cap Growth
10.09%
49 (997)
International
21.85%
Foreign Large Blend
27.17%
96 (634)

Two important changes were implemented by the Sextant Funds in 2006. After long consideration, the Trustees recommended and the shareowners subsequently approved a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan. The Sextant Growth and Sextant International Funds are being made available at the major mutual fund supermarkets, such as Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab, which should aid asset growth in these funds. The supermarkets provide useful services such as centralized investor accounts, but require a fee from the distributor (which now gains revenue from the 12b-1 plan) to do so. Secondly, the trustees approved a fifth Sextant fund (expected to be available this Spring) designed to simplify investing by retirement plan accounts by incorporating a balance of stocks and bonds in one fund.

Further information on each Fund is found in its section of this report. Operating expenses are well below industry averages. Perhaps uniquely, equity portfolio brokerage commission expenses are entirely borne by the adviser. Consequently, the Sextant Funds can not use portfolio brokerage to pay any expenses of the Funds or the adviser. In the footnotes, you will notice another unusual feature of the Sextant funds: on average, more than 30% of each Sextant Fund is owned by the trustees, officers, and their related accounts. Our portfolio managers welcome your comments and suggestions. We invite you to invest your money with ours.

 
Nicholas Kaiser, President
(Manager, Sextant Growth, Sextant International)
Phelps McIlvaine, Vice President
(Manager, Sextant Short-Term Bond, Sextant Bond Income)
December 29, 2006
†The 12-month Rank shows how each Fund ranks in its Morningstar™ peer category for the year ended November 30, 2006 - please see previous page for more performance information.
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
3

Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
Investments
Rating*
Issuer
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
 
Cosmetics & Toiletries
 
A
Avon Products Inc.
6.55% due 8/1/2007
$95,000
$94,907
3.2%
 
Diversified Operations
 
A
First Data Corp.
4.50% due 6/15/2010
100,000
98,317
3.3%
 
Finance & Insurance
 
AA-
HSBC Finance Corp.
6.375% due 10/15/2011
100,000
105,196
3.6%
A+
Lehman Brothers Holdings
5.75% due 4/25/2011
100,000
101,443
3.4%
 
Subtotal
200,000
206,639
7.0%
 
Food & Beverages
 
BBB
Fortune Brands
5.125% due 1/15/2011
120,000
118,515
4.1%
A+
W M Wrigley Jr. Co.
4.30% due 7/15/2010
100,000
97,813
3.3%
 
Subtotal
220,000
216,328
7.4%
 
Machinery
 
A
Caterpillar Inc.
7.25% due 9/15/2009
100,000
105,684
3.6%
A-
Rockwell Automation International
6.15% due 1/15/2008
95,000
95,376
3.3%
 
Subtotal
195,000
201,060
6.9%
 
Medical Drugs
 
A
Amgen
6.50% due 12/1/2007
90,000
90,530
3.1%
 
Oil & Gas
 
A-
ConocoPhillips Co.
8.75% due 5/25/2010
100,000
111,743
3.8%
 
Retail-Discount & Variety
 
A-
TJ X Companies Inc.
7.45% due 12/15/2009
95,000
101,484
3.5%
 
Telecommunications
 
BBB+
Southwestern Bell Telephone
6.625% due 7/15/2007
95,000
95,151
3.2%
A-
Verizon Wireless Capital
5.375 due 12/15/2006
82,000
81,511
2.8%
 
Subtotal
177,000
176,662
6.0%
 
U.S. Government
 
AAA
U.S. Treasury Note
4.00% due 6/15/2009
200,000
197,500
6.7%
AAA
U.S. Treasury Note
4.00% due 4/15/2010
200,000
197,062
6.7%
 
Subtotal
400,000
394,562
13.7%
 
U.S. Government Agency
 
AAA
Federal Farm Credit Bank
4.62% due 12/7/2009
100,000
98,908
3.4%
AAA
Federal Farm Credit Bank
5.79% due 6/5/2013
200,000
203,402
6.9%
AAA
Federal Home Loan Bank
4.60% due 5/18/2009
120,000
118,872
4.1%
AAA
Federal Home Loan Bank
4.00 due 2/27/2014
300,000
297,510
10.1%
AAA
Federal Home Loan Mortgage
4.125% due 11/6/2009
120,000
117,792
4.0%
AAA
Federal National Mortgage Association
4.00% due 2/23/2010
120,000
119,512
4.1%
 
Subtotal
960,000
955,996
32.6%
Continued on next page.
4
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
Investments
Rating*
Issuer
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
 
Utilities
 
BBB
PSI Energy
7.85% due 10/15/2007
$90,000
$91,585
3.1%
BBB+
Scottish Power PLC
4.91% due 3/15/2010
100,000
99,325
3.1%
 
Subtotal
190,000
190,910
6.5%
Total Investments
(Cost = $2,848,892)
$2,822,000
$2,839,138
96.7%
Other Assets (net of liabilities)
 
 
98,234
3.3%
Total Net Assets
 
 
$2,937,372
100.0%
*Ratings are the lesser of S&P or Moody's (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
5

Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
Financial Highlights
Year Ended November 30,
Selected data per share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Net asset value at beginning of year
$4.85
$4.97
$5.09
$5.07
$5.10
 
Income from investment operations
 
Net investment income
0.16
0.17
0.19
0.23
0.27
 
Net gains or losses on securities (both realized and unrealized)
0.05
(0.12)
(0.12)
0.02
(0.02)
Total from investment operations
0.21
0.05
0.07
0.25
0.25
 
Less distributions
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
(0.16)
(0.17)
(0.19)
(0.23)
(0.28)
Total distributions
(0.16)
(0.17)
(0.19)
(0.23)
(0.28)
Paid-in-capital from early redemption penalties 1
*0.00
*0.00
-
-
-
Net asset value at end of year
$4.90
$4.85
$4.97
$5.09
$5.07
Total Return
4.41%
0.96%
1.41%
5.00%
4.90%
 
Ratios / Supplemental Data
 
Net assets ($000), at end of year
$2,937
$2,557
$2,255
$2,259
$2,177
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
 
Before fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.39%
1.23%
1.14%
1.17%
1.14%
 
After fee waivers and custody fee credits
0.57%
0.59%
0.58%
0.60%
0.93%
 
Ratio of net investment income after fee waivers and custody credits to average net assets
3.41%
3.35%
3.80%
4.47%
5.23%
Portfolio turnover rate
41%
33%
37%
22%
28%
1 Redemption penalty adopted March 29, 2005
*Amount is less than $0.01

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of November 30, 2006
Assets
 
Bond investments (Cost $2,848,892)
$2,839,138
 
 
Cash
58,979
 
 
Interest receivable
43,096
 
 
Receivable for Fund shares sold
6,000
 
 
Total Assets
 
$2,947,213
Liabilities
 
Payable for Fund shares redeemed
6,900
 
 
Other liabilities
2,289
 
 
Accrued 12b-1 Fees
576
 
 
Distribution payable
76
 
 
Total liabilities
 
9,841
Net Assets
$2,937,372
Fund shares outstanding
600,079
Analysis of Net Assets
 
Paid in Capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)
2,996,083
 
 
Undistributed net investment income
1,660
 
 
Accumulated net realized loss
(50,617)
 
 
Unrealized net depreciation on investments
(9,754)
 
 
Net Assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding
 
$2,937,372
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption price per share
$4.90
6
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2006
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2005
Increase in Net Assets
From operations
 
Net investment income
$87,091
$82,195
 
Net realized loss on investments
(10,889)
(6,540)
 
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation
34,663
(49,766)
 
Net increase in net assets
110,885
25,889
Dividends to shareowners from
 
Net investment income
(85,431)
(83,151)
From Fund share transactions
 
Proceeds from sales of shares
828,422
570,038
 
Value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
84,144
81,918
 
912,566
651,956
 
Early redemption penalties retained
64
39
 
Cost of shares redeemed
(557,227)
(293,595)
 
Net increase in net assets
355,403
358,400
Total increase in net assets
$380,827
$301,138
Net Assets
 
Beginning of year
2,556,545
2,255,407
 
End of year
$2,937,372
$2,556,545
 
Undistributed net investment income
1,660
-
Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed
 
Number of shares sold
170,721
115,934
 
Number of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
17,342
16,765
 
188,063
132,699
 
Number of shares redeemed
(114,974)
(59,815)
Net increase in number of shares outstanding
73,089
72,884
Statement of Operations
For the year ended
November 30, 2006
Investment income
 
Interest income
$101,545
 
 
Other income
68
 
 
Gross investment income
 
$101,613
Expenses
 
Investment adviser and administration fees
15,432
 
 
Filing and registrations fees
9,825
 
 
Audit fees
2,856
 
 
Custodian fees
1,531
 
 
Chief compliance officer expenses
1,269
 
 
Distribution fees
1,124
 
 
Insurance
1,046
 
 
Printing and postage
1,038
 
 
Trustee fees
643
 
 
Legal fees
420
 
 
Total gross expenses
35,639
 
 
Less adviser fees waived
(19,082)
 
 
Less custodian fees waived
(2,035)
 
 
Net expenses
 
14,522
 
Net investment income
 
87,091
Net realized loss on investments
 
Proceeds from sales
1,001,313
 
 
Less cost of securities sold (based on identified cost)
1,012,212
 
 
Realized net loss
 
(10,899)
Unrealized gain on investments
 
End of year
(9,754)
 
 
Beginning of year
(44,417)
 
 
Increase in unrealized gain for the year
 
34,663
 
Net realized and unrealized gain
 
23,764
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$110,855

 

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
7

Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund
Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
Fiscal Year 2006
For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2006, the Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund provided a total return of 4.41%. The share price moved in a narrow range of $4.80 to $4.90, a maximum variation of 2.08%. Fund assets grew 14.83%. For the last five years, the Fund earned 3.32% annualized total return; and for the last ten years, the annualized total return averaged 4.63%. The Fund’s annual expense ratio decreased to 0.57%, reflecting management fee performance adjustments and the adviser’s voluntary capping of total expenses. Saturna Capital continues to subsidize the operations of this Fund: without waivers of the Fund’s management and other fees, annual expenses would have been 1.39%.
Ratings Established
By Adviser
By Standard & Poor's
By Moody's Investor Services
AAA
46.0%
39.3%
42.6%
AA
3.6%
3.6%
3.6%
A
33.3%
36.6%
33.3%
BBB
13.8%
10.5%
10.6%
Unrated
0.0%
6.7%
6.6%
Cash
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
Factors Affecting Past Performance
Over the last twelve months, the Federal Reserve raised the Federal Funds rate from 4% to 5.25% - then paused. Credit spreads between high and low quality bonds narrowed slightly due to strong profits, which benefit weak companies more than financially solid companies. The yield curve remains flat to slightly inverted, as demand for long-term paper remains strong. As normal in stable economic times, the highest returns were generated by low-rated, long-maturity debt securities.

Steadying short-term interest rates helped the Fund’s total return, as bond prices increased. Expense fee waivers also helped performance, and will continue in 2007. The table (right) provides a summary of portfolio holdings by bond quality ratings as of November 30, 2006.

Looking Forward
We expect the US economy to continue to expand unevenly in 2007 with corporate profits rising 5% to 9%. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep a floor under short-term rates for another few months to squash inflation, then engineer lower rates to bolster asset values. The yield curve should move to flat from slightly inverted. The Fund has increased duration to take advantage of the highest short-term rates since 2001. Falling real estate prices, construction activities, energy costs, and potentially higher federal tax rates have increased the risk of recession in 2007. We expect default rates to rise only slightly from the low levels of 2006, and credit quality of investment-grade US bonds to continue improving. Having restored the Fund’s normal average maturity, the Fund may realize higher total returns in 2007 when US interest rates fall later in the year.

We plan to increase portfolio weighting in corporate bonds and reduce exposure to US Treasury and government agency positions. Globalization limits the impact of US economic inefficiencies, as substitutes are imported from less onerous foreign economies. Our expectation is another year of solid real returns for the Fund, earned without taking substantial market risks.

Management Fee Calculations
The Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund calculates part of its management fee based on a comparison of the Fund’s return to the average return of the Morningstar™ category Short-Term Bond. The Fund’s 12-month return (+4.41%) was within one percent of the Morningstar™ average (+4.40%) at month-end November 30, 2006. Therefore, no performance adjustment was made to the basic 0.60% annual management fee for the month of December 2006. Note that the management fee and distribution expense are almost entirely waived due to the adviser’s voluntary cap (0.75%) on Fund expenses.
Sextant Short Term Bond Fund vs. Citigroup Gov./Corp. Inv. Grade Index 1-3 Years (unaudited)
Comparison To Index
Comparison of any mutual fund to a market index must be made bearing in mind that the Index is unmanaged, and expense-free. The graph below compares $10,000 invested in the Fund on November 30, 1996 to a similar amount invested in the Citigroup Gov./Corp. Investment Grade Bond Index for maturities between one and three years. The graph shows that a $10,000 investment made on November 30, 1996 would have risen to $15,723 in the Fund and $16,312 in the Index.
8
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report


Sextant Bond Income Fund
Investments
Rating*
Issuer
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
 
Agricultural
 
A
Archer Daniels Midland
7.00% due 2/1/2031
$100,000
$118,933
3.5%
 
Automotive
 
BBB
AutoZone Inc.
5.50% due 11/15/2015
95,000
92,859
2.7%
 
Finance & Insurance
 
A+
CitiCorp
7.25% due 10/15/2011
50,000
54,616
1.6%
A
Comerica Bank
7.125% due 12/1/2013
50,000
52,621
1.6%
AA
Norwest Financial Inc.
6.85% due 7/15/2009
50,000
51,777
1.5%
 
Subtotal
150,000
159,014
4.7%
 
Building Products
 
BBB+
Masco
7.125% due 8/15/2013
60,000
62,122
1.8%
 
Chemicals
 
A
Air Products & Chemicals
8.75% due 4/15/2021
50,000
64,492
1.9%
 
Diversified Financial Services
 
AAA
General Electric Capital Corp.
8.125% due 5/15/2012
60,000
68,344
2.0%
 
Electric Utilities
 
A
Commonwealth Edison Corp.
7.50% due 7/1/2013
50,000
54,580
1.6%
A
Florida Power & Light
5.95 due 10/1/2033
100,000
106,259
3.2%
BBB+
Sempra Energy Corp.
7.95 due 3/1/2010
50,000
53,687
1.6%
 
Subtotal
200,000
214,526
6.4%
 
Electronics
 
A-
Koninlijke Phillips Electronics Corp.
7.25% due 8/15/2013
50,000
56,149
1.6%
 
Food
 
BBB
Conagra Inc.
7.875% due 9/15/2010
33,000
35,745
1.0%
A+
Hershey Foods Co.
6.95% due 8/15/2012
50,000
54,137
1.6%
BBB
HJ Heinz Co.
6.00% due 3/15/2012
75,000
76,644
2.3%
 
Subtotal
158,000
166,526
4.9%
 
Insurance
 
A+
Allstate Corp.
7.50% due 6/15/2013
50,000
56,017
1.7%
A+
Progressive Corp.
7.00% due 10/1/2013
75,000
81,986
2.4%
A-
XL Capital (Europe)
6.50% due 1/15/2012
90,000
94,979
2.8%
 
Subtotal
215,000
232,982
6.9%
 
Investment Finance
 
A
Bear Stearns
3.50% due 6/27/2008
154,000
144,467
4.3%
A+
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Disc.
6.75% due 10/15/2013
50,000
53,575
1.6%
AA
Paine Webber Group
7.625% due 2/15/2014
50,000
56,703
1.7%
 
Subtotal
254,000
254,745
7.6%
Continued on next page.
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
9

Sextant Bond Income Fund
Investments
Rating*
Issuer
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
 
Machinery
 
A
Caterpillar Inc.
9.375% due 8/15/2011
$40,000
$47,429
1.4%
A-
Deere & Co.
8.10% due 5/15/2030
95,000
126,727
3.7%
 
Subtotal
135,000
174,156
5.1%
 
Medical Supplies
 
A
Becton Dickinson Corp.
7.15% due 10/1/2009
40,000
41,471
1.2%
 
Oil & Gas
 
A
Baker Hughes Inc.
6.00% due 2/15/2009
20,000
20,308
0.6%
AA-
Texaco Capital
8.625% due 6/30/2010
40,000
44,186
1.3%
 
Subtotal
60,000
64,494
1.9%
 
Office Supplies
 
A-
Avery Dennison Corp.
6.00% due 1/15/2033
95,000
98,516
2.9%
 
Real Estate
 
BBB+
Archstone Smith Opr. Trust
5.625% due 8/15/2014
50,000
49,974
1.5%
 
Retail
 
A
Dayton Hudson Corp. (Target Stores)
10.00% due 1/01/2011
50,000
58,291
1.7%
A
Lowe's Companies
8.25% due 6/01/2010
50,000
54,772
1.6%
BBB
May Department Stores Co.
8.00% due 7/15/2012
50,000
54,219
1.6%
AA
Wal-Mart Stores
7.25% due 6/1/2013
45,000
49,949
1.5%
 
Subtotal
195,000
217,231
6.4%
 
Transportation
 
BBB+
Southwest Airlines Co.
6.50% due 3/01/2012
75,000
79,728
2.4%
BBB-
U.S. Freightways Corp.
8.50% due 4/15/2010
50,000
53,531
1.6%
 
Subtotal
125,000
133,259
4.0%
 
U.S. Government
 
AAA
U.S. Treasury Bonds
5.25% due 2/15/2029
277,000
299,897
8.9%
AAA
U.S. Treasury Bonds
7.125% due 2/15/2023
110,000
140,491
4.2%
 
Subtotal
387,000
440,388
13.1%
 
U.S. Government Agency
 
AAA
Federal Farm Credit Bank
5.09% due 2/17/2015
120,000
117,839
3.5%
AAA
Federal Farm Credit Bank
6.25% due 8/18/2021
150,000
152,482
4.5%
AAA
Federal Home Loan Bank
5.55% due 4/13/2015
100,000
99,247
2.9%
AAA
Federal Home Loan Mortgage
5.00% due 8/26/2009
100,000
98,531
2.9%
AAA
Federal National Mortgage Assoc.
5.00% due 4/10/2015
100,000
97,891
2.9%
 
Subtotal
570,000
565,990
16.7%
Total Investments
(Cost = $3,180,425)
$3,049,000
$3,276,441
96.8%
Other Assets (net of liabilities)
 
 
107,985
3.2%
Total Net Assets
 
 
$3,384,426
100.0%
*Ratings are the lesser of S&P or Moody's (unaudited)
10
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Bond Income Fund
Financial Highlights
Year Ended November 30,
Selected data per share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Net asset value at beginning of year
$4.92
$5.06
$5.07
$4.97
$4.81
 
Income from investment operations
 
Net investment income
0.22
0.21
0.22
0.22
0.26
 
Net gains or losses on securities (both realized and unrealized)
0.00
(0.14)
(0.01)
0.10
0.16
Total from investment operations
0.22
0.07
0.21
0.32
0.42
 
Less distributions
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
(0.22)
(0.21)
(0.22)
(0.22)
(0.26)
Total distributions
(0.22)
(0.21)
(0.22)
(0.22)
(0.26)
Paid-in capital from early redemption penalties 1
*0.00
*0.00
-
-
-
Net asset value at end of year
$4.92
$4.92
$5.06
$5.07
$4.97
Total Return
4.73%
1.40%
4.26%
6.52%
9.02%
 
Ratios / Supplemental Data
 
Net assets ($000), at end of year
$3,384
$3,050
$2,643
$2,272
$2,105
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
 
Before fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.27%
0.97%
0.89%
1.15%
1.06%
 
After fee waivers and custody fee credits
0.90%
0.94%
0.87%
0.97%
0.72%
 
Ratio of net investment income after fee waivers and custody credits to average net assets
4.64%
4.26%
4.47%
4.29%
5.40%
Portfolio turnover rate
36%
4%
0%
0%
29%
1 Redemption penalty adopted March 29, 2005
*Amount is less than $0.01

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of November 30, 2006
Assets
 
Bond investments (Cost $3,180,425)
$3,276,441
 
 
Cash
57,969
 
 
Interest receivable
52,931
 
 
Insurance reserve premium
400
 
 
Receivables for Fund shares sold
50
 
 
Total Assets
 
$3,387,791
Liabilities
 
Accrued expenses
2,553
 
 
Accrued 12b-1 Fees
676
 
 
Distributions payable
72
 
 
Due to affiliates
64
 
 
Total liabilities
 
3,365
Net Assets
$3,384,426
Fund shares outstanding
687,584
Analysis of Net Assets
 
Paid in Capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)
$3,324,909
 
 
Accumulated net realized loss
(36,499)
 
 
Unrealized net appreciation on investments
96,016
 
 
Net Assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding
 
$3,384,426
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption price per share
$4.92
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
11

Sextant Bond Income Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2006
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2005
Increase in Net Assets
From operations
 
Net investment income
$142,386
$126,312
 
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
(14,375)
826
 
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation
21,936
(86,448)
 
Net increase in net assets
149,947
40,690
Dividends to shareowners from
 
Net investment income
(142,386)
(126,361)
From Fund share transactions
 
Proceeds from sales of shares
541,154
787,201
 
Value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
141,047
124,959
 
682,201
912,160
 
Early redemption penalties retained
40
12
 
Cost of shares redeemed
(355,481)
(418,996)
 
Net increase in net assets
326,760
493,176
Total increase in net assets
$334,321
$407,505
Net Assets
 
Beginning of year
3,050,105
2,642,600
 
End of year
$3,384,426
$3,050,105
Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed
 
Number of shares sold
111,347
155,844
 
Number of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
29,113
24,894
 
140,460
180,738
 
Number of shares redeemed
(73,143)
(83,147)
Net increase in number of shares outstanding
67,317
97,591
Statement of Operations
For the year ended
November 30, 2006
Investment income
 
Interest income
$169,882
 
 
Other income
25
 
 
Gross investment income
 
$169,907
Expenses
 
Investment adviser and administration fees
17,683
 
 
Filing and registrations fees
10,399
 
 
Audit fees
3,403
 
 
Chief compliance officer expenses
1,473
 
 
Distribution fees
1,325
 
 
Insurance
1,242
 
 
Custodian fees
1,128
 
 
Printing and postage
1,078
 
 
Trustee fees
656
 
 
Legal fees
481
 
 
Other expenses
86
 
 
Total gross expenses
38,954
 
 
Less adviser fees waived
(9,794)
 
 
Less custodian fees waived
(1,639)
 
 
Net expenses
 
27,521
 
Net investment income
 
142,386
Net realized loss on investments
 
Proceeds from sales
1,067,670
 
 
Less cost of securities sold (based on identified cost)
1,082,045
 
 
Realized net loss
 
(14,375)
Unrealized gain on investments
 
End of year
96,016
 
 
Beginning of year
74,080
 
 
Increase in unrealized gain for the year
 
21,936
 
Net realized and unrealized gain
 
7,561
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$149,947

 

 

12
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Bond Income Fund
Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
Fiscal Year 2006
For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2006, the Sextant Bond Income Fund returned 4.73%. Fund assets grew 10.96%. For the last five years, the Fund earned a 5.18% annualized total return; and for the last 10 years, the Fund earned a 5.99% annualized total return. The Fund’s annual expense ratio decreased to 0.90%, reflecting management fee performance adjustments and the adviser’s voluntary capping of total expenses. Saturna Capital continues to subsidize the operations of this Fund: without the waivers of part of the management fee and the custodian bank fees, annual expenses would have been 1.27%
Ratings Established
By Adviser
By Standard & Poor's
By Moody's Investor Services
AAA
31.8%
22.9%
22.9%
AA
6.0%
6.0%
12.3%
A
42.5%
44.9%
36.2%
BBB
16.5%
14.1%
16.5%
Unrated
0.0%
8.9%
8.9%
Cash
3.2%
3.2%
3.2%
Factors Affecting Past Performance
In May, the Federal Funds rate stabilized at 5.25%. Since then, bond investors around the world have accepted lower and lower yields for longer term, non-investment grade bonds. Bond option volatility premiums, a key indicator of the perceived risk in bonds, moved to five year lows. In general, the highest bond returns were generated by non-US, non-investment grade, long maturity securities. For the year, the Fund assumed below average risk and earned below average returns out of concern for the lack of compensation paid for added maturity or credit risks.

The table (right) provides a summary of portfolio holdings by bond quality ratings as of November 30, 2006.

Looking Forward
We expect the US economy to continue to expand unevenly in 2007 with corporate profits rising 5% to 9%. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep a floor under short-term rates for another few months to squash Inflation, then engineer lower rates to bolster asset values. The yield curve should move to flat from slightly inverted. We therefore have restored the portfolio’s dollar weighted average maturity to the Fund’s normal ten-year range. We expect default rates to rise only slightly from the low levels of 2006, and credit quality of US corporate bonds to continue improving. In 2006, Sextant Bond Income Fund generated a positive real return despite a less than normal average maturity. Having restored the Fund’s normal average maturity, the Fund may realize higher total returns in 2007 should US interest rates fall later in the year.

We do not expect a prolonged yield curve inversion or a recession. We will increase purchases of investment-grade, corporate debt as opportunities allow. Use of US Treasury securities will be decreased. We expect another positive return for Bond Income Fund for the year 2007.

Management Fee Calculations
The Sextant Bond Income Fund calculates its management fee based on a comparison of the Fund’s return to the return of Morningstar’s™ “Long-term Bond” category. The Fund’s +4.73% 12-month return was below that of the index (+6.70%) on November 30, 2006. Therefore, the base 0.60% management fee was decreased by 0.10%, to 0.50%, for the month of December 2006 because the Fund underperformed its benchmark index by more than 1% but less than 2%.
Sextant Bond Income Fund vs. Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index (unaudited)
Comparison To Index
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 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 at right compares $10,000 invested in the Fund on November 30, 1996 to a similar amount invested in The Citigroup Broad Investment-Grade Bond Index. The graph shows that the investment on November 30, 1996 would have risen to $17,877 in the Fund and $18,305 in the Index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
13

Sextant Growth Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Percentage
Common Stocks (96.4%)
Automotive
Oshkosh Truck
3,000
$160,448
$144,030
1.1%
Banking
Frontier Financial
15,000
220,751
451,200
3.3%
Washington Banking Company
6,250
83,121
105,313
0.8%
Washington Mutual
6,750
44,124
294,840
2.1%
 
 
Subtotal
347,996
851,353
6.2%
Computers
3Com*
30,000
167,836
125,400
0.9%
Adobe Systems*
7,600
39,971
305,216
2.2%
Apple Inc.*
8,000
67,473
733,280
5.3%
Hewlett-Packard
7,000
157,040
276,220
2.0%
Intuit*
9,000
197,624
283,680
2.1%
MapInfo*
8,000
114,181
106,000
0.8%
Oracle*
15,000
115,139
285,750
2.1%
Symbol Technologies
10,092
122,340
149,563
1.1%
 
 
Subtotal
981,604
2,265,109
16.5%
Construction
KB Home
5,000
302,781
258,450
1.9%
Lowe's Companies
6,500
109,802
196,040
1.4%
Weyerhaeuser
4,200
246,845
271,656
2.0%
 
 
Subtotal
659,428
726,146
5.3%
Diversified Operations
Honeywell International
3,500
131,967
150,430
1.1%
Electronics
Advanced Micro Devices*
10,000
41,708
215,700
1.6%
Agilent Technologies*
8,000
218,552
254,720
1.9%
Harman International Industries
1,900
157,285
197,296
1.4%
 
 
Subtotal
417,545
667,716
4.9%
Food
Performance Food Group*
3,000
96,917
81,180
0.6%
PepsiCo
4,500
248,326
278,865
2.0%
 
 
Subtotal
345,243
360,045
2.6%
Hotels & Motels
Red Lion Hotels*
21,000
150,354
258,300
1.9%
Investments
Chubb
5,000
224,705
258,800
1.9%
Schwab (Charles)
25,000
79,726
458,500
3.3%
 
 
Subtotal
304,431
717,300
5.2%
Continued on next page.
14
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Growth Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Percentage
Common Stocks (96.4%)
Machinery
Regal-Beloit
4,000
$104,006
$204,520
1.5%
Lincoln Electric Holdings
4,000
180,617
243,400
1.8%
 
 
Subtotal
284,623
447,920
3.3%
Medical
Abott Laboratories
4,000
171,114
186,640
1.3%
Amgen*
3,700
111,703
262,848
1.9%
Barr Laboratories*
4,500
159,489
229,860
1.7%
Caremark Rx
5,000
139,942
236,500
1.7%
Genentech
2,000
179,816
163,500
1.2%
Ligand Pharmaceuticals*
10,000
112,072
107,200
0.8%
Lilly (Eli)
3,500
249,361
187,565
1.4%
Pharmaceutical Product Development
15,000
67,174
473,850
3.4%
VCA Antech*
8,000
209,048
257,920
1.9%
 
 
Subtotal
1,399,719
2,105,883
15.3%
Metal Ores
Alcoa
6,000
189,042
187,020
1.3%
Phelps Dodge
2,660
76,218
327,108
2.4%
 
 
Subtotal
265,260
514,200
3.7%
Oil & Gas Production
Devon Energy
3,000
185,020
220,110
1.6%
Noble Drilling
4,000
125,240
309,000
2.3%
 
 
Subtotal
310,260
529,110
3.9%
Publishing
Wiley (John) & Sons, Class A
5,000
134,777
198,900
1.5%
Retail
Amazon.com*
5,000
201,410
201,700
1.5%
Bed Bath & Beyond*
5,000
176,186
193,900
1.4%
Best Buy
4,000
223,149
219,880
1.6%
Build-A-Bear Workshop*
7,000
177,548
214,060
1.6%
Restoration Hardware*
15,203
94,239
129,377
0.9%
Staples
6,000
144,720
152,820
1.1%
 
 
Subtotal
1,017,252
1,111,737
8.1%
Steel
Nucor
4,000
189,851
239,400
1.7%
Telecommunications
Trimble Navigation*
7,000
202,081
335,790
2.5%
Continued on next page.
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
15

Sextant Growth Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Percentage
Common Stocks (96.4%)
Transportation
Norfolk Southern
4,500
$185,235
$221,625
1.6%
UAl Corp.*
5,500
183,801
223,190
1.6%
United Parcel Service, Cl B
2,500
189,469
194,800
1.4%
 
 
Subtotal
558,505
639,615
4.6%
Utilities
Duke Energy
6,000
175,259
190,320
1.4%
FPL Group
7,000
244,408
373,100
2.7%
IDACorp
6,000
159,539
239,940
1.7%
Sempra Energy
3,000
116,395
163,500
1.2%
 
 
Subtotal
695,601
966,860
7.0%
Total Investments
$8,556,945
$13,229,844
96.4%
Other Assets (net of liabilities)
497,845
3.6%
Total Net Assets
$13,727,689
100.0%

Industry Allocation

 

 

Top Ten Holdings
% of Fund Assets
Apple Inc.
5.3%
Pharmaceutical Product Development
3.4%
Schwab (Charles)
3.3%
Frontier Financial
3.3%
FPL Group
2.7%
Trimble Navigation
2.5%
Phelps Dodge
2.4%
Noble Drilling
2.3%
Adobe Systems
2.2%
Washington Mutual
2.1%

 

 

 

 

16
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Growth Fund
Financial Highlights
Year Ended November 30,
Selected data per share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Net asset value at beginning of year
$17.11
$14.20
$12.91
$10.64
$11.90
 
Income from investment operations
 
Net investment income
(0.02)
(0.02)
0.01
(0.04)
(0.05)
 
Net gains or losses on securities (both realized and unrealized)
1.74
2.96
1.45
2.31
(1.21)
Total from investment operations
1.72
2.94
1.46
2.27
(1.26)
 
Less distributions
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
-
*(0.00)
(0.01)
-
-
 
Distributions (from capital gains)
(0.17)
(0.03)
(0.16)
-
-
Total distributions
(0.17)
(0.03)
(0.17)
0.00
0.00
Paid-in capital from early redemption penalties 1
*0.00
*0.00
-
-
-
Net asset value at end of year
$18.66
$17.11
$14.20
$12.91
$10.64
Total Return
10.06%
20.76%
11.35%
21.31%
(10.51)%
 
Ratios / Supplemental Data
 
Net assets ($000), at end of year
$13,728
$9,006
$5,331
$4,732
$3,373
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
 
Before fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.25%
1.28%
0.80%
1.20%
1.17%
 
After fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.21%
1.24%
0.78%
1.14%
1.11%
 
Ratio of net investment income after fee waivers and custody credits to average net assets
(0.12)%
(0.17)%
0.12%
(0.40)%
(0.48)%
Portfolio turnover rate
11%
4%
8%
12%
15%
1 Redemption penalty adopted March 29, 2005
*Amount is less than $0.01

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of November 30, 2006
Assets
 
Investments (Cost $8,556,945)
$13,229,844
 
 
Cash
502,106
 
 
Dividends receivable
11,711
 
 
Receivable for Fund shares sold
1,566
 
 
Insurance reserve premium
1,214
 
 
Total Assets
 
$13,746,441
Liabilities
 
Accrued expenses
9,814
 
 
Due to affiliates
6,927
 
 
Distribution payable
2,011
 
 
Total liabilities
 
18,752
Net Assets
$13,727,689
Fund shares outstanding
735,599
Analysis of Net Assets
 
Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)
$9,054,750
 
 
Accumulated gains on investments
40
 
 
Unrealized net appreciation on investments
4,672,899
 
 
Net Assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding
 
$13,727,689
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption price per share
$18.66
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
17

Sextant Growth Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2006
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2005
Increase in Net Assets
From operations
 
Net investment loss
$(16,447)
$(11,402)
 
Net realized gain on investments
125,411
12,474
 
Net increase in unrealized appreciation
1,108,048
1,494,285
 
Net increase in net assets
1,217,012
1,495,357
Dividends to shareowners from
 
Net investment income
-
(2,289)
 
Capital gains distribution
(125,371)
(12,474)
 
(125,371)
(14,763)
From Fund share transactions
 
Proceeds from sales of shares
5,675,771
2,709,260
 
Value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
123,360
14,444
 
5,799,131
2,723,704
 
Early redemption penalties retained
1,423
53
 
Cost of shares redeemed
(2,170,902)
(528,970)
 
Net increase in net assets
3,629,652
2,194,787
Total increase in net assets
$4,721,293
$3,675,381
Net Assets
 
Beginning of year
9,006,396
5,331,015
 
End of year
$13,727,689
$9,006,396
Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed
 
Number of shares sold
323,519
186,540
 
Number of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
6,611
844
 
330,130
187,384
 
Number of shares redeemed
(120,843)
(36,600)
Net increase in number of shares outstanding
209,287
150,784
Statement of Operations
For the year ended
November 30, 2006
Investment income
 
Dividend income
$146,289
 
 
Gross investment income
 
$146,289
Expenses
 
Investment adviser and administration fees
102,992
 
 
Filing and registrations fees
19,844
 
 
Audit fees
13,817
 
 
Chief compliance officer expenses
6,817
 
 
Distribution fees
5,693
 
 
Insurance
5,051
 
 
Printing and postage
4,600
 
 
Custodian fees
4,241
 
 
Trustee fees
2,351
 
 
Legal fees
2,073
 
 
Other expenses
447
 
 
Total gross expenses
167,926
 
 
Less custodian fees waived
(5,190)
 
 
Net expenses
 
162,736
 
Net investment income (loss)
 
(16,447)
Net realized loss on investments
 
Proceeds from sales
1,372,108
 
 
Less cost of securities sold (based on identified cost)
1,246,697
 
 
Realized net gain
 
125,411
Unrealized gain on investments
 
End of year
4,672,899
 
 
Beginning of year
3,564,851
 
 
Increase in unrealized gain for the year
 
1,108,048
 
Net realized and unrealized gain
 
1,233,459
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$1,217,012

 

 

18
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant Growth Fund
Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
Fiscal Year 2006
For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2006, the Sextant Growth Fund returned 10.06%. This compares with the growth-oriented NASDAQ Composite Index’s 9.78% return and the broader S&P 500 Index’s 14.23% return. Fund assets grew 52.42%. The Fund’s annual expense ratio decreased to 1.21%, reflecting management fee performance adjustments and the spreading of fixed expenses (many of which more than doubled) over higher assets.
Factors Affecting Past Performance
The U.S. economy in 2006 grew steadily, but at a rate reduced from 2005. American companies chalked up a fifth year of solid double-digit earnings growth. Higher interest rates and commodity prices took their toll, and the extended real estate and construction markets faltered across the land.

The Sextant Growth Fund seeks long-term growth through investment in common stocks of U.S. domiciled companies. It generally follows a value investment approach, favoring companies with good fundamentals and relatively low price/earnings and price/book ratios. As illustrated in the pie chart on page 16, our portfolio is overweighted with computer (largest holding Apple Computer up 35%) and medical (largest holding Pharmaceutical Product Development up 9%) issues.

Income is not a consideration in portfolio selection, but we favor companies that institute or increase dividend payouts. Our low portfolio turnover meant we realized only about 10% of our market gains this year, minimizing the taxable capital gains distribution at year-end.

Looking Forward
The US economy is on solid ground, and will continue to expand unevenly in 2007 with corporate profits rising 5% to 9%. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep a floor under short-term rates for another few months to squash Inflation, then engineer lower rates to bolster asset values. The volatility, risks and returns of the stock market will continue. The poor stock market performances of 2000 through 2002 were reversed in 2003 through 2006 as stocks again provided investors with strong investment returns. We are expecting the good markets of late 2006 to continue through 2007, but more modestly as higher interest rates and competitve forces (aka nimble international businesses, such as Toyota) brake some key industries. Investors burned from property speculation may again return to the securities markets.

A long-term approach is the best opportunity to prosper: for the last ten years, the Fund provided an 11.56% annualized total return. At that rate of growth, investments almost triple in just ten years - see the chart below..

Management Fee Calculations
The Sextant Growth Fund calculates part of its management fee based on a comparison of the Fund’s return to the average return in Morningstar's “Mid-cap Growth” category. The Fund’s 12-month return (+10.06%) was within one percent of the Morningstar™ cateogry average (+10.09%) at month-end November 30, 2006. Therefore, no performance adjustment was made to the basic 0.60% annual management fee for the month of December 2006. Note that increased assets helped lower the expense ratio from 1.24% to 1.21% for this fiscal year.
Sextant Growth Fund vs. S&P 500 Total Return Index (unaudited)
Comparison To Index

The line graph compares Sextant Growth Fund's performance to that of a broad-based stock market index, the Standard & Poor's 500 Total Return Index. 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 various 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 below compares $10,000 invested in the Fund on November 30, 1996 (ten years ago), compared to a similar amount invested in Standard & Poor's 500 Index. The graph shows that the investment in the Fund would have risen to $29,857 versus $21,698 in the Index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
19

Sextant International Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Country
Percentage
Common Stocks (87.9%)
Aircraft
Embraer Aircraft ADR
3,400
$105,058
$141,576
Brazil
1.5%
Automotive
Nissan Motor ADR
5,500
106,770
133,595
Japan
1.4%
Banking
Australia & New Zealand Banking ADS
1,000
84,500
112,610
Australia
1.2%
AXA ADS
4,200
98,136
159,684
France
1.7%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya ADS
7,500
105,518
181,125
Spain
2.0%
ING Groep ADS
4,000
118,530
171,160
Netherlands
1.8%
Mitsubishi Financial Group ADR
10,000
131,800
127,400
Japan
1.4%
Nomura Holdings ADR
10,000
187,836
174,600
Japan
1.9%
Toronto-Dominion Bank
2,400
70,709
140,664
Canada
1.5%
 
 
Subtotal
797,029
1,067,243
11.5%
Bulding Materials
CRH plc ADR
4,000
81,159
153,600
Ireland
1.7%
Hanson plc ADR
2,100
88,247
151,536
United Kingdom
1.6%
James Hardie Industries NV ADS
3,000
83,041
99,750
Netherlands
1.1%
 
 
Subtotal
252,447
404,886
4.4%
Business Services
51job ADR*
8,000
117,920
140,000
Cayman Islands
1.5%
Chemicals
Arkema ADS*
65
1,857
3,192
France
**0.0%
BASF AG ADS
1,700
120,102
157,437
Germany
1.7%
 
 
Subtotal
121,959
160,629
1.7%
Computers
Business Objects ADS*
7,000
60,510
271,740
France
2.9%
Dassault Systems ADR
3,000
146,427
164,400
France
1.8%
Satyam
6,000
108,750
140,100
India
1.5%
 
 
Subtotal
315,687
576,240
6.2%
Consumer Products
Coca-Cola Femsa ADS
4,300
82,844
153,037
Mexico
1.7%
Cadbury Schweppes ADR
2,500
102,335
103,775
United Kingdom
1.1%
 
 
Subtotal
185,179
256,812
2.8%
Electronics
Sony
3,000
116,940
118,230
Japan
1.3%
Epcos AG ADS*
2,500
57,307
45,325
Germany
0.5%
Infineon Technologies AG*
5,000
45,900
64,650
Germany
0.7%
 
 
Subtotal
220,147
228,205
2.5%
Continued on next page.
20
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant International Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Country
Percentage
Common Stocks (87.9%)
Hotels & Motels
Orient-Express Hotels Cl A
3,500
$110,528
$149,240
Bermuda
1.6%
Machinery - Electrical
Nidec
5,000
89,122
97,000
Japan
1.1%
Medical - Drugs
American Oriental Bioengineering*
15,000
72,300
156,750
China
1.7%
GlaxoSmithKline plc ADR
3,000
145,938
159,390
United Kingdom
1.7%
Novartis AG ADR
1,600
77,283
93,456
Switzerland
1.0%
Serono SA ADR
5,000
88,661
113,000
Switzerland
1.2%
Shire
2,000
92,860
121,200
United Kingdom
1.3%
 
 
Subtotal
477,042
643,796
6.9%
Metals & Mining
Anglo-American plc ADR
7,500
138,371
175,425
United Kingdom
1.9%
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan
1,000
34,234
140,740
Canada
1.5%
Rio Tinto plc ADS
750
74,825
160,942
United Kingdom
1.7%
Tenaris SA ADR
2,500
95,290
117,525
Luxembourg
1.3%
 
 
Subtotal
342,720
594,632
6.4%
Oil & Gas Production
EnCana
3,000
84,990
156,630
Canada
1.7%
Norsk Hydro ADS
6,000
122,808
149,460
Norway
1.6%
Petro-Canada
2,000
95,990
90,400
Canada
1.0%
Repsol-YPF ADR
3,500
87,962
126,175
Spain
1.4%
Total Fina Elf ADR
2,600
121,935
185,796
France
2.0%
 
 
Subtotal
513,685
708,461
7.7%
Paper Products
Metso ADS
2,100
22,802
97,272
Finland
1.1%
UPM-Kymmene Oyj
3,500
64,384
87,675
Finland
1.0%
Votorantim Celulose ADS
8,000
102,000
159,200
Brazil
1.7%
 
 
Subtotal
189,186
344,147
3.8%
Photographic Equipment
Canon ADR
3,300
95,606
173,679
Japan
1.9%
Publishing - Books
Pearson plc ADS
7,000
84,430
103,460
United Kingdom
1.1%
Telecommunications
American Movil ADS
6,000
29,725
266,820
Mexico
2.9%
Audiocodes*
8,000
103,899
76,880
Israel
0.8%
BCE
5,490
135,460
134,999
Canada
1.5%
China Mobil Ltd.
5,500
119,327
232,100
China
2.5%
Continued on next page.
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
21

Sextant International Fund
Investments
Issue
Quantity
Tax Cost
Market Value
Country
Percentage
Common Stocks (87.9%)
Telecommunications (continued)
PT Indosat ADR
2,500
$64,692
$77,900
Indonesia
0.8%
SK Telecom ADS
5,000
100,161
129,650
South Korea
1.4%
Telcom Corp. New Zealand ADS
2,500
76,174
62,050
New Zealand
0.7%
Telefonica ADS
2,200
85,949
134,134
Spain
1.4%
Telefonos de Mexico ADS
5,000
107,470
130,500
Mexico
1.4%
Telus
2,000
63,219
96,080
Canada
1.0%
 
 
Subtotal
886,346
1,341,113
14.4%
Transportation
Canadian Pacific
3,200
109,246
178,304
Canada
1.9%
Linhas Aereas Inel ADR
6,000
178,560
170,760
Brazil
1.8%
LAN Airlines ADS
3,500
24,636
171,675
Chile
1.9%
 
 
Subtotal
312,442
520,739
5.6%
Utilities - Electric
Enel ADR
1,300
58,877
66,313
Italy
0.7%
Enersis ADR
9,000
97,125
136,890
Chile
1.5%
Korea Electric Power ADS
7,000
120,661
150,430
South Korea
1.6%
 
 
Subtotal
276,663
353,633
3.8%
Utilities - Gas
Transport de Gas del Sur ADR*
1,500
18,807
8,775
Argentina
0.1%
Total Investments
$5,618,773
$8,148,761
87.9%
Other Assets (net of liabilities)
1,117,736
12.1%
Total Net Assets
$9,266,497
100.0%
*Non-income producing
**Amount is less than 0.1%
ADS = American Depositary Share
ADR = American Depositary Receipt
Industry Allocation

 

Top Ten Holdings
% of Fund Assets
Busniess Objects ADS
2.9%
America Movil ADS
2.9%
China Mobil Ltd.
2.5%
Total Fina Elf ADR
2.0%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya ADS
2.0%
Canadian Pacific
1.9%
Anglo-American plc ADS
1.9%
Nomura Holdings ADR
1.9%
Canon ADR
1.9%
LAN Airlines
1.9%

 

22
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant International Fund
Financial Highlights
Year Ended November 30,
Selected data per share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Net asset value at beginning of year
$11.22
$9.40
$8.05
$6.07
$7.24
 
Income from investment operations
 
Net investment income
0.11
0.05
0.03
0.05
0.02
 
Net gains or losses on securities (both realized and unrealized)
2.34
1.83
1.35
1.97
(1.16)
Total from investment operations
2.45
1.88
1.38
2.02
(1.14)
 
Less distributions
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
(0.11)
(0.06)
(0.03)
(0.04)
(0.03)
Total distributions
(0.11)
(0.06)
(0.03)
(0.04)
(0.03)
Paid-in capital from early redemption penalties 1
*0.00
*0.00
-
-
-
Net asset value at end of year
$13.56
$11.22
$9.40
$8.05
$6.07
Total Return
21.85%
19.95%
17.11%
33.23%
(15.80)%
 
Ratios / Supplemental Data
 
Net assets ($000), at end of year
$9,266
$3,671
$2,053
$1,650
$1,150
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
 
Before fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.09%
1.36%
1.22%
1.29%
1.36%
 
After fee waivers and custody fee credits
1.02%
1.25%
1.10%
1.10%
1.17%
 
Ratio of net investment income after fee waivers and custody credits to average net assets
0.94%
0.52%
0.31%
0.75%
0.20%
Portfolio turnover rate
9%
5%
7%
4%
4%
1 Redemption penalty adopted March 29, 2005
*Amount is less than $0.01

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of November 30, 2006
Assets
 
Investments (Cost $5,618,773)
$8,148,761
 
 
Cash
1,205,628
 
 
Dividends receivable
11,966
 
 
Receivable for Fund shares sold
1,047
 
 
Total Assets
 
$9,367,402
Liabilities
 
Payable for Fund shares redeemed
86,333
 
 
Accrued expenses
9,037
 
 
Due to affiliates
4,543
 
 
Distribution payable
992
 
 
Total liabilities
 
100,905
Net Assets
$9,266,497
Fund shares outstanding
683,378
Analysis of Net Assets
 
Paid-in capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)
$6,767,423
 
 
Undistributed net investment income
139
 
 
Accumulated net realizzed loss
(31,053)
 
 
Unrealized net appreciation on investments
2,529,988
 
 
Net Assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding
 
$9,266,497
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption price per share
$13.56

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
23

Sextant International Fund

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2006
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2005
Increase in Net Assets
From operations
 
Net investment income
$76,757
$14,949
 
Net realized gain on investments
122,914
21,377
 
Net increase in unrealized appreciation
1,341,965
495,498
 
Net increase in net assets from operations
1,541,636
531,824
Dividends to shareowners from
 
Net investment income
(76,618)
(17,930)
From Fund share transactions
 
Proceeds from sales of shares
4,867,747
1,203,188
 
Value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
75,626
17,356
 
4,943,373
1,220,544
 
Early redemption penalties retained
80
45
 
Cost of shares redeemed
(813,073)
(115,946)
 
Net increase in net assets
4,130,380
1,104,643
Total increase in net assets
$5,595,398
$1,618,537
Net Assets
 
Beginning of year
3,671,099
2,052,562
 
End of year
$9,266,497
$3,671,099
 
Undistributed net investment income
139
-
Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed
 
Number of shares sold
415,042
118,463
 
Number of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
5,577
1,547
 
420,619
120,010
 
Number of shares redeemed
(64,517)
(10,994)
Net increase in number of shares outstanding
356,102
109,016
Statement of Operations
For the year ended
November 30, 2006
Investment income
 
Dividend income (net of foreign tax of $20,229)
$160,467
 
 
Gross investment income
 
$160,467
Expenses
 
Investment adviser and administration fees
38,436
 
 
Filing and registrations fees
19,568
 
 
Audit fees
9,434
 
 
Custodian fees
5,258
 
 
Chief compliance officer expenses
3,749
 
 
Distribution fees
3,742
 
 
Printing and postage
2,930
 
 
Insurance
2,830
 
 
Trustee fees
1,602
 
 
Legal fees
1,482
 
 
Other expenses
301
 
 
Total gross expenses
89,332
 
 
Less custodian fees waived
(5,622)
 
 
Net expenses
 
83,710
 
Net investment income
 
76,757
Net realized loss on investments
 
Proceeds from sales
620,135
 
 
Less cost of securities sold (based on identified cost)
497,221
 
 
Realized net gain
 
122,914
Unrealized gain on investments
 
End of year
2,529,988
 
 
Beginning of year
1,188,023
 
 
Increase in unrealized gain for the year
 
1,341,965
 
Net realized and unrealized gain
 
1,464,879
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$1,541,636

 

 

24
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)

Sextant International Fund
Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
Fiscal Year 2006
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, the Sextant International Fund returned 21.85%. Our benchmark AMEX International Index did better, gaining 25.02%. Fund assets grew 152.42%. The Fund’s annual expense ratio dropped to 1.02%, reflecting management fee performance adjustments and the spreading of fixed expenses over higher assets. The Fund paid a year-end income dividend of 11.2¢ per share, up from 5.5¢ per share the year before.
Countries
United Kingdom
12.0%
Canada
11.5%
France
9.6%
Japan
8.0%
Mexico
6.8%
Brazil
5.8%
Spain
5.4%
China
4.8%
Chile
3.8%
Germany
3.3%
Netherlands
3.3%
Switzerland
2.5%
Finland
2.3%
Japan
2.1%
Miscellaneous <2%
18.8%
Factors Affecting Past Performance
The U.S. dollar fell sharply during 2006, boosting the returns that the Sextant International Fund’s foreign investments provided domestic investors. The Fund is diversified across industries and countries, as shown in the adjacent table, but generally holds larger companies as it restricts investments to stocks that trade and settle in the U.S. (such as American Depositary Receipts).

Our portfolio is most heavily invested in the UK and Canada, which have economies that benefit from higher energy prices and solid currencies and governments. After several years of strong growth, commodity prices are now falling worldwide, impacting our cyclical and resource-based issues. We held more cash during the year than normal, as new shareowners increased and caution guarded our investing. The tables on page 22 show the industry allocation and our largest holdings. Telecommunications (largest holdings America Movil up 59% and China Mobil up 77%) and banking (largest holding Banco Bilbao Vizcaya up 42%) did well. Banks did reasonably, considering higher interest rates. Oil and gas producers appreciated, in response to the rise in energy prices.

Looking Forward
The world economy is strong, especially in Asia. Sextant International Fund is broadly diversified in growing companies headquartered outside the United States. The U.S. dollar should recover somewhat in 2007, hurting our portfolio. Commodity prices are unlikely to slide substantially. We continue our focus on larger companies, which tend to be more stable over time. The growth in foreign consumption is likely to keep the US from a significant recession. Interest rates will hold steady, helping our banking and insurance company investments. Technology and health company investments should be profitable. Europe, which is seeing job growth as the economic competitiveness of Germany and France improves, will aggressively seek closer economic integration with the US.
Management Fee Calculations
The Sextant International Fund calculates part of its management fee based on a comparison of the Fund’s return to the average return of the Morningstar™ “Foreign Large Blend” category. At November 30, 2006, the one-year return for this average was 27.17%. Because the Fund’s 12-month return underperformed this average by more than 4% at November 30, 2006, the maximum performance penalty of 0.30% was subtracted from the basic 0.60% annual management fee for the month of December 2006. Increased assets and underperformance penalties lowered the fiscal year’s expense ratio from 1.25% the prior year to 1.02%.
Sextant International Fund vs. AMEX International Index (unaudited)
Comparison To Index
Comparison of any fund to an index must be made bearing in mind that the Index is unmanaged, and expense-free. The graph below compares $10,000 invested in the Fund at its inception, compared to a similar amount invested in the AMEX International Index. This capitalization-weighted index averages 50 American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of large worldwide companies, and reflects the types of securities in which Sextant International Fund invests. The graph shows that a $10,000 investment made on November 30, 1996 would have risen to $25,867 in the Fund and $16,263 in the Index.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
25

Expenses (unaudited)
As a Sextant shareowner, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. With the Sextant Funds, unlike with many other mutual funds, you do not incur sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends or other distributions. Nor do you incur redemption fees, exchange fees or fees related to Individual Retirement Accounts. 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.
Example
The following example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the semi-annual period and held for six months (Thursday, June 1, 2006 to Thursday, November 30, 2006).
Actual Expenses
The first line for each Fund provides information about actual account values and expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you have invested, to estimate the expenses you have paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, a $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 also charge for extra services rendered on request, which you may need to add to determine your total expenses: $10 per checkbook, $25 per bank wire, $15 per overnight courier delivery; 2% penalty for redemptions within 30 days of purchase.
Hypothetical Example For Comparison Purposes
The second line for each Fund provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the 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 balance or expenses you paid for the year. You may use this information to compare ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareowner reports of other funds. You may wish to add other fees that are not included in the expenses shown in the table, such as IRA fees (there are no fees on Saturna Capital IRAs, ESAs or HSAs), and charges for extra services such as check writing and bank wires.
Please note that the expenses shown are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees or exchange fees, or possible early redemption penalties. Therefore, the second line is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and may not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.
 
Beginning Account Value
(June 1, 2006)
Ending Account Value
(November 30, 2006)
Expenses Paid
During Period*
Annualized
Expense Ratio
Short-Term Bond Fund
Actual
$1,000
$1,035.00
$3.06
0.60%
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000
$1,022.06
$3.04
0.60%
Bond Income Fund
Actual
$1,000
$1,055.40
$4.64
0.90%
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000
$1,020.56
$4.56
0.90%
Growth Fund
Actual
$1,000
$1,087.90
$3.14
0.60%
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000
$1,022.06
$3.04
0.60%
International Fund
Actual
$1,000
$1,124.30
$5.96
1.12%
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000
$1,019.45
$5.67
1.12%
*Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio indicated above (based on the most recent semi-annual period of June 1, 2006 through November 30, 2006), multiplied by the average account value over the period multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
26
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report

Notes To Financial Statements
NOTE 1 - Organization
Saturna Investment Trust (the "Trust") was established under Washington State Law as a Business Trust on February 20, 1987. The Trust is registered as a no-load, open-end series investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Five portfolio series have been created to date: Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund, Sextant Bond Income Fund, Sextant Growth Fund, and Sextant International Fund (the "Funds"), and Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund, distributed through a separate prospectus and the results of which are contained in a separate report.
The investment goals of the Growth and International Funds are long-term capital growth. The investment goals of the Bond Income and Short-Term Bond Funds are current income, with Short-Term Bond having the additional goal of capital preservation.
NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the Funds.
Security Valuation:
Investments in securities traded on a national securities exchange (or reported on the NASDAQ national market) are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation; other securities traded in the over-the-counter market and listed securities for which no sale was reported on that date are stated at the last quoted bid price. Securities for which quotations are not readily available are adjusted to fair value as determined in good faith under the supervision of the trustees.
Fixed-income securities for which there are no publicly available market quotations are valued using a matrix based on maturity, quality, yield and similar factors, which are compared periodically to multiple dealer bids and adjusted by the adviser under fair value policies established by the trustees. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Funds to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in a specific country or region.
Federal income taxes:
The Funds' policies are to continue to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all their taxable income to their shareowners. Therefore, no provisions for Federal income taxes are required.
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. The Sextant Short Term Bond Fund decreased accumulated net loss on investments by $767 and decreased paid in capital by $767. The Sextant Growth Fund decreased accumulated net investment loss by $16,447 and decreased paid in capital by $16,447. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
Dividends and distributions to shareowners:
Dividends and distributions to shareowners, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. For the Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund and Sextant Bond Income Fund, dividends are paid daily and distributed on the last business day of each month. For the Sextant Growth Fund and Sextant International Fund, dividends are payable at the end of each November. Shareowners electing to reinvest dividends and distributions purchase additional shares at the net asset value on the payable date.
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 from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Other:
The cost of securities is the same for accounting and Federal income tax purposes. Securities transactions are recorded on trade date.
Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized, over the lives of the respective securities. Cash dividends from equity securities are recorded as income on the ex-dividend date.
Expenses incurred by the Trust on behalf of the Fund (e.g., professional fees) are allocated to the Fund and the other Funds of the Trust on the basis of relative daily average net assets. The Adviser has agreed to certain limits on expenses, as described below.
The Trustees have adopted certain policies and procedures with respect to frequent trading of Fund shares. The Funds are intended for long-term investment and do not permit rapid trading of their shares. Shares held less than 30 calendar days, including those held in omnibus accounts at intermediaries, will be assessed a 2% early-redemption penalty (payable to the Fund) when redeemed.
New Accounting Pronouncements:
On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") released FASB Interpretation No. 48 - Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes ("FIN 48"). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Funds' tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Adoption of FIN 48 is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of FIN 48 will have on the Funds' net assets, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.
In September 2006, FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, "Fair Value Measurement" ("SFAS 157"), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund's financial statement disclosures.
NOTE 3 - Transactions with Affiliated Persons
Under a contract approved by shareowners on September 28, 1995, Saturna Capital Corporation provides investment advisory services and certain other administrative and distribution services to conduct Trust business. Each of the Funds pays the Adviser a base Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Fee of .60% of average net assets per annum, payable monthly.
The base Advisory Fee is subject to adjustment up or down depending on the investment performance of the Fund relative to a specified index.
Performance Adjustment for Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund and Sextant Bond Income Fund:
  • For each month in which either of these Funds' total investment return (change in net asset value plus all distributions reinvested) for the one year period through that month outperforms or underperforms the total return of a specified index for that period by 1% or more but less than 2%, the Base Fee is increased or decreased by the annual rate of .10% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the preceding year.
  • If the outperformance or underperformance is 2% or more, then the adjustment is at the annual rate of .20%.
Performance adjustment for Sextant Growth Fund and Sextant International Fund:
  • For each month in which either of these Funds' total investment return (change in net asset value plus all distributions reinvested) for the one year period through that month outperforms or underperforms the total return of a specified index for that period by 1% or more but less than 2%, the Base Fee is increased or decreased by the annual
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
27

Notes To Financial Statements
  • rate of .10% of the Fund's average daily net assets for the preceding year.
  • If the outperformance or underperformance is 2% or more but less than 4%, then the adjustment is at the annual rate of .20%.
  • If the outperformance or underperformance is 4% or more, the adjustment is at an annual rate of .30%.
The Adviser has voluntarily undertaken to limit expenses of Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund to 0.75%, and Sextant Bond Income Fund to 0.90%, through March 31, 2008. It waives its investment advisory and administrative fee to Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund and Sextant Bond Income Fund completely should assets of either Fund be less than $2 million. For the year ended November 30, 2006, Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund incurred advisory and administration expenses of $15,432. Sextant Bond Income Fund and Sextant Growth Fund incurred advisory and administration expenses of $17,683 and $102,992, respectively. Sextant International Fund incurred advisory and administration expenses of $38,436. In accordance with the expense waiver noted above, for the year ended November 30, 2006, Saturna Capital waived $19,082 and $9,794 of the Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund and Sextant Bond Income Fund advisory fees, respectively. The adviser cannot recoup previously waived fees.
In accordance with the Funds' custodian agreements with National City Bank Indiana, for the year ended November 30, 2006, custodian fees for Short-Term Bond, Bond Income, Growth, and International were $1,531; $1,128; $4,241; and $5,258; respectively. The custodian waived $1,531; $1,128; $4,241; and $5,258; for Short-Term Bond, Bond Income, Growth, and International Funds, respectively, of its fees based on earnings credits for the current year. In addition, custody fees of $504, $511, $949 and $364 for the Short-Term Bond, Bond Income, Growth, and International Funds, respectively, were reimbursed based on credits for expenses incurred in 2003 and 2004.
One trustee, who also serves as the president of the Trust, is a director and president of the Adviser. On November 30, 2006, the trustees, officers and their related accounts as a group owned 29.3%, 32.7%, 31.3% and 47.3% of the outstanding shares of Short-Term Bond, Bond Income, Growth and International, respectively.
The four unaffiliated trustees receive $300 per Board or committee meeting attended, plus travel expenses, allocated pro-rata to the five Funds of Saturna Investment Trust. The Trust incurred expenses for the independent trustees of $6,891 to attend meetings during the fiscal year. Regulations require the Trust to designate a Chief Compliance Officer: Mr. James Winship was retained by the Trust and paid $17,871 during the fiscal year. The other officers are paid by Saturna Capital, and not the Trust.
Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc. (a discount brokerage subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation) is a registered as a broker-dealer and acts as distributor. A Rule 12b-1 distribution plan took effect on October 3, 2006, and during the period ended November 30, 2006, the Trust paid the Distributor $11,884.
The adviser has undertaken to waive all brokerage commissions charged by its affiliate in calendar 2007.
NOTE 4 - Federal Income Taxes
At November 30, 2006, Short-Term Bond had capital loss carryforwards of $50,617, of which $4,467 expires in 2007, $9,191 expires in 2008, $15,098 expires in 2009, $4,422 expires in 2012, $6,540 expires in 2013 and $10,899 expires in 2014; Bond Income had capital loss carryforwards of $36,499, of which $5,730 expires in 2007, $2,141 expires in 2009, $14,253 expires in 2010 and $14,375 expires in 2014; and International had capital loss carryforwards of $31,053, of which $382 expires in 2010 and $30,671 expires in 2011, subject to regulation. Prior to their expiration, such loss carryforwards may be used to offset future net capital gains realized for federal income tax purposes.
NOTE 5 - Investments
During the year ended November 30, 2006, Short-Term Bond purchased $1,309,970 of securities and sold $1,001,313 of securities. Comparable figures for Bond Income are $1,401,560 w/o interest and $1,387,454 w/o interest purchased and $1,067,670 sold; for Growth $5,370,128 and $1,372,108; and for International, $4,238,498 and $620,135.
NOTE 6 - Distribution to shareholders
The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended November 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:
 
2006
2005
Short-Term Bond Fund
Ordinary income
$85,431
$83,151
Bond Income Fund
Ordinary income
$142,386
$126,361
Growth Fund
Ordinary income
-
$2,289
Capital gains 1
$125,371
$12,474
Short-Term Bond Fund
Ordinary income
$76,618
$17,930
1 Long-Term Capital Gain dividend designated pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for the year ended Nov. 30, 2006.
As of November 30, 2006, components of distributable earnings on a tax basis were as follows:
 
Short-Term Bond
Bond Income
Cost of investments
$2,848,892
$3,180,425
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
10,985
106,740
Groos tax unrealized depreciation
(20,739)
(10,724)
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
(9,754)
96,016
Undistributed ordinary income
1,660
-
Undistributed long-term capital gain (loss)
(50,617)
(36,499)
Total distributable earnings
(48,957)
(36,499)
Total accumulates earnings (losses)
$(58,711)
$59,517

 
Growth
International
Cost of investments
$8,556,945
$5,618,773
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
4,966,590
2,670,194
Groos tax unrealized depreciation
(293,691)
(140,206)
Net tax unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
4,672,899
2,529,988
Undistributed ordinary income
-
139
Undistributed long-term capital gain (loss)
40
(31,053)
Total distributable earnings
-
(30,914)
Total accumulates earnings (losses)
$4,672,939
$2,499,074

 

28
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report

Renewal of Investment Advisory Contracts (unaudited)
On September 18, 2006, the trustees of Saturna Investment Trust approved continuation of the Sextant Funds' investment advisory and administrative services agreements with Saturna Capital Corporation. In doing so, the Board considered a number of factors and made specific determinations relevant to that approval.
In addition to information provided throughout the year, the trustees utilized a comparison of performance and fees of funds in each of the Sextant Morningstar peer categories. The trustees found such information helpful in establishing expectations regarding the performance of the adviser and whether to continue the advisory contracts.
In their review, the trustees noted that the Funds offer a full range of high-quality investor services. The trustees reviewed improvements in Saturna's operations during the last year, substantial investments in staffing, training, compliance, office space and hardware and its increasing assets under management. An important factor in the consideration by the trustees was Saturna Capital's experience, ability and commitment to perform internally shareowner servicing, administration, accounting, marketing and distribution to maintain quality servicing at a reasonable expense. In addition, they recognized Saturna's efforts to improve compensation to attract and retain increasingly qualified, experienced, and specialized staff. The Trustees also took into consideration Saturna's continued avoidance of significant operational problems, and its efforts to comply with increased investment company rules and regulations.
The trustees found that the investment performance of the Sextant Growth Fund, both in absolute numbers and relative to funds in its Morningstar categories and Lipper categories, was outstanding. The investment performance of Sextant International, Sextant Bond Income and Sextant Short-term Bond Funds was found to be acceptable.
The trustees reviewed the fees and expenses of the Funds. They noted that the performance-based advisory fees are unusual in the industry and fair and reasonable to shareowners. In addition, the trustees found the expense ratios less than those of similar funds and to be advantageous to shareowners given the sizes of the funds, services provided and expenses incurred. They also considered the fees charged by the adviser to other kind of accounts and the different services provided to those accounts, as well as the ways in which Saturna's services and work done for other accounts it manages benefits the Funds. The trustees considered the ten-year history of the funds under their current advisory agreements. The adviser had recommended, and the shareowners recently approved, a 12b-1 distribution plan designed to increase assets.
The Trustees reviewed Saturna's profitability with respect to the Funds as part of their evaluation of whether the fees under the advisory contract bear a reasonable relationship to the mix of services provided by Saturna, including the nature, extent and quality of such services. The Trustees took note that the Sextant Funds continue to operate at a loss to the adviser. The Trustees also considered potential benefits to Saturna from acting as investment adviser and noted that there were no soft dollar arrangements with respect to trading in the Funds' portfolios, and that Saturna continues to voluntarily waive brokerage commissions for Fund portfolio trades, resulting in lower Fund expenses. The Trustees concluded that the fees paid by the Funds to Saturna were reasonable in light of the services provided, comparative performance, expense and advisory fee information, costs of services provided and profits to be realized and benefits derived or to be derived by Saturna from its relationship with the Funds. The Trustees saw no need for advisory fee changes or breakpoints.

Report of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees
Saturna Investment Trust,
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund, Sextant Bond Income Fund, Sextant Growth Fund and Sextant International Fund, each a series of the Saturna Investment Trust, including the schedules of investments as of November 30, 2006, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, and the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the it's internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2006, by correspondence with the custodian. Our audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund, Sextant Bond Income Fund, Sextant Growth Fund, and Sextant International Fund, as of November 30, 2006, the results of their operations for the year then ended, and 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, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 17, 2007

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
29

Morningstar™ (unaudited)
†Source: Morningstar™ 11/30/06. For each fund with at least a three-year history, Morningstar™ calculates a Morningstar™ Rating™ based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a fund's monthly performance (including the effects of sales charges, loads and redemption fees), placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% in each category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% 4 stars, the next 35% 3 stars, the next 22.5% 2 stars and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating™ for a fund is derived from a weighted average of performance figures associated with its 3-, 5- and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics.
Sextant Short-Term Bond was 155th of 435 Short-term Bond funds in the last year, 197th of 357 funds in the last 3 years, 77th of 248 funds in the last 5 years and 55th of 150 funds in the last 10 years. With respect to these Short-Term Bond funds, Sextant Short-Term Bond received a Morningstar Rating of 3, 3, 3 and 3 stars for the Overall, 3-, 5- and 10- year periods ended 11/30/06, respectively.
Sextant Bond Income was 38th of 45 Long Term Bond funds in the last year, 28th of 33 funds in the last 3 years, 19th of 30 funds in the last 5 years and 8th of 14 funds in the last 10 years. With respect to these Long Term Bond funds, Sextant Bond Income received a Morningstar Rating of 2, 1, 2 and 3 stars for the Overall, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended 11/30/06, respectively.
Sextant Growth was 395th of 997 Mid-Cap Growth funds in the last year, 141st of 824 funds in the last 3 years, 106th of 660 funds in the last 5 years and 30th of 242 funds in the last 10 years. With respect to these Mid-Cap Growth funds, Sextant Growth received a Morningstar Rating of 4, 4, 4 and 4 stars for the Overall, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended 11/30/06, respectively.
Sextant International was 515th of 634 Foreign Large Blend funds in the last year, 274th of 533 Foreign Large Blend funds in the last 3 years, 101st of 434 funds in the last 5 years and 17th of 187 funds in the last 10 years. With respect to these Foreign Large Blend funds, Sextant International received a Morningstar Rating of 3, 3, 3 and 4 stars for the Overall, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended 11/30/06, respectively.
Results of Special Shareowner Meeting (unaudited)
On 15 August 2006, the shareowners of Saturna Investment Trust convened a special meeting. At the meeting, two proposals were considered and presented to the shareowners. All proposals were approved by the shareowners. A description of each proposal and the results of the respective votes follow:
Proposal 1: Election of Trustees. The following nominees were presented for election as Trustees. The term of office of each Trustee is for the life of Trust, or until death, resignation, removal or until not reelected by shareowners.
Nominee
For
Withhold
Gary A. Goldfogel*
3,077,769
22,368
Herbert A. Grubel
3,080,461
19,677
Nicholas Kaiser*
3,093,301
6,836
John E. Love*
3,080,126
20,011
John S. Moore*
3,079,774
20,363
*Trustees standing for re-election
Proposal 2: Adoption of 12b-1 Distribution Plan. The proposed Distribution Plan for the Sextant Funds, pursuant to Rule 12b-1, allows the Trust to pay the Distributor 0.25% of average daily net assets of each Fund for distribution expenses “primarily intended to result in the sale of [Fund] shares.”
For
Against
Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund†
410,150
22,672
Sextant Bond Income Fund†
472,268
43,103
Sextant Growth Fund†
575,437
29,465
Sextant International Fund†
596,118
16,164
† 3,175 Sextant Short-Term Bond Fund shares, 4,700 Sextant Bond Income Fund shares, 23,956 Sextant Growth Fund shares, and 12,766 Sextant International Funds shares voted "Abstain" on Proposal 2, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 


Availability of Proxy Voting Information (unaudited)
  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 1-800 728-8762 (b) on the Funds' website at http://www.saturna. com; and (c) on the SEC's website at http://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 1-800 728-8752; (b) on the Funds' website at http://www.saturna.com; and (c) on the SEC's website at http://www. sec.gov.
Availability of Portfolio Information (unaudited)
  1. The Sextant Funds file complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q.
  2. The Funds' Forms N-Q are available on the SEC's website at http:// www.sec.gov., and at www.saturna.com.
  3. The Funds' Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
  4. The Funds make a complete schedule of portfolio holdings after the end of each month available to investors at http://www.saturna. com.
30
 
November 30, 2006 Annual Report

Trustees and Officers (unaudited)
Name (age)
Address
Position(s) held with Trust and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) during past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios in Saturna Fund Comples overseen by Trustee
Other Directorships held by Trustee
Independent Trustees
Gary A. Goldfogel, MD (48)
1500 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Independent Trustee
(since 1995)
Medical Examiner (pathologist);
Owner, Avocet Environmental
Testing (laboratory)
Five
None
Herbert G. Grubel (72)
Apt. 1202 - 125 West Second St.
North Vancouver, BC
Canada V7M 1C5
Independent Trustee
(since 2005)
Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute;
Professor (Emeritus) of Economics,
Simon Fraser University; Author
Five
None
John E. Love (74)
1002 Spokane Street
Garfield, WA 99130
Chairman;
Independent Trustee
(since 1987)
Owner, J.E. Love Co.
(agricultural equipment
manufacturer)
Five
None
John S. Moore (75)
346 Bayside Road
Bellingham, WA 98225
Independent Trustee
(since 1993)
Professor (now retired), College of
Business and Economics, Western
Washington University
Five
None
Interested Trustee
Nicholas F. Kaiser, CFA (60)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
President; Trustee†
(since 1989)
President, Saturna Capital
Corporation; President, Saturna
Brokerage Services
Seven
Amana Mutual Funds Trust
Officers Who Are Not Trustees
Phelps S. McIlvaine (53)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Vice President†
(since 1994)
Vice President, Saturna Capital
Corporation; Treasurer, Saturna
Brokerage Services
N/A
N/A
Christopher Fankhauser (34)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Treasurer†
(since 2002)
Manager of Operations, Saturna
Capital Corporation
N/A
N/A
Ethel B. Bartolome (34)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Secretary†
(since 2001)
Corporate Administrator, Saturna
Capital Corporation
N/A
N/A
James D. Winship, (58)
54056 Diamond Place NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Chief Compliance
Officer†
(since 2004)
Attorney; Adjunct Professor,
University of Washington and Seattle
Pacific University (1999 - 2003)
N/A
N/A
Term of Office: Each trustee serves for the life of the Trust or until he dies, resigns, is removed, or not re-elected by the shareowners. Each officer serves a one-year term subject to annual reappointment by the trustees.
The Trust's Statement of Additional Information, available without charge by calling Saturna Capital at 800-SATURNA, includes additional information about the trustees.
On November 30, 2006, the Trustees, officers and their related accounts as a group owned 32.7%, 29.3%, 31.3% and 47.3% of the outstanding shares of the Bond Income, Short-Term Bond, Growth and International Funds, respectively. Saturna Capital Corporation is the Trust's adviser and Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc. is the Trust's distributor. Mr. Kaiser is an interested person of the Trust by reason of his positions with the Trust's adviser and distributor and the portfolio primary manager of the Sextant Growth Fund and the Sextant International Fund. Mr. McIlvaine is the primary portfolio manager of the Sextant Bond Income Fund and Sextant Short-term Bond Fund. Mr. Winship is also Chief Compliance Officer for Saturna Capital Corporation.
† Holds the same position with Amana Mutual Funds Trust.

 


Privacy Statement
At Saturna Capital, we understand the importance to you in maintaining the privacy of your financial information. To that end, we want to assure you that we protect the confidentiality of any personal information you share with us.
We collect personal information about you from information we receive from you on applications and other forms and from transactions or trades placed with us. Please be assured that except to administer a transaction with an affiliated third party upon your request, we do not disclose any personal information about our customers, or our former customers, to anyone, except as may be required by law. We maintain our own technology resources to minimize the use of outside service providers.
Additionally, Saturna Capital restricts access to personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with regulations to guard your personal information. If you have further questions or concerns about the security or privacy of the information we receive from you, please call us at 800 / SATURNA.
November 30, 2006 Annual Report
 
31

 

1300 North State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
www.saturna.com
sextant@saturna.com
(800) SATURNA
This report is issued for the information of the shareowners of the Funds. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless it is accompanied or preceded by an effective prospectus relating to the securities of the Funds. The Sextant Funds are a series of Saturna Investment Trust.
Saturna Brokerage Services, Distributor

Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November, 30 2006

Fellow Shareowners: (unaudited)
For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2006, Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund provided a total return of +4.66%, up from 1.66% the previous year. The net asset value was $5.32 per share compared to $5.27 at November 30, 2005. Fund assets increased slightly to $8.78 million. The expense ratio was an annual rate of 0.83%, down for the second year from 0.88% in 2005 and 0.93% in 2004.
In May the Federal Funds rate stabilized at 5.25%. Since then, bond investors around the world have accepted lower and lower yields for longer term, non-investment grade bonds, as well as US Treasury inflation protected securities and municipal bonds. Bond option volatility premiums and credit spreads, key indicators of the perceived risk in bonds, moved to five year lows. In general, the highest returns were generated by non-US, non-investment grade, long maturity securities. For a second year, long-term bonds outperforming short-term bonds. Long-term municipal bonds again out-performed long -term US Treasuries.
We expect the US economy to continue to expand unevenly in 2006 with corporate profits rising 5% to 10%. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep a floor under short-term rates for another six months to control US Inflation and the yield curve to remain flat. We will continue to extend the portfolio's dollar weighted average maturity as long as possible. We plan to selectively increase portfolio weighting in non-rated bonds as opportunities allow. In 2006, Idaho Tax Exempt Fund generated a positive real return. Having extended the Fund's average maturity, the Fund may realize higher total returns in 2007 should US interest rates fall later in the year.
Conservative investors choose the Idaho Fund for high quality tax-free municipal bonds and low price volatility when they reallocate assets from higher-risk common stocks to the relative safety of municipal bonds. Should bond and equity market volatility reemerge in 2007, the relative stability of high-quality Idaho municipal bonds will become even more attractive. We generally recommend a balanced securities portfolio, diversified with common stocks and bonds like those held by the Idaho Tax Exempt Fund. Idaho has many new residents (i.e., taxpayers) who can benefit from the State and Federal tax-exempt exemption on the Idaho Tax Exempt bonds. This boosts demand for Idaho municipal bonds.
The Idaho economy, population and State employment continue to grow above the national average. It is estimated that Idaho's population grew at a compound annual rate in excess of 2.0% a year since 2000 - more than twice the national average. Three of the five fastest growing counties are in the Boise area. State General Fund revenue continues to grow above expectations. Idaho issuer credit worthiness remains healthy and improving. The government's fiscal discipline and pro-business policies still give the State a sharp competitive edge.
We invite you to review the advantages of the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund, including low expenses, income free from Idaho and federal income taxes, a high-quality diversified bond portfolio and daily supervision by professional managers. We welcome your suggestions. Only with your help can we be certain that we are meeting your investment needs — our primary objective.
Nicholas Kaiser,
President
Phelps McIlvaine,
Vice President, Portfolio Manager

 

 

 

 

Additional Performance Information:
Average Annual Returns (as of 12/31/2006)
1 Year
3 Years
5 Years
10 Years
3.87%
2.64%
4.16%
4.48%
Performance data quoted in this report represents past performance and is no guarantee of future performance. The investment return and principal value of investments in the Fund fluctuate daily and an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost and you may lose money. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available online at www.saturna.com or by calling toll free (800) SATURNA.
Please consider an investment's objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain the Fund's prospectus that contains this and other important information please visit www.saturna.com or call toll free (800) SATURNA. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

 

2
 
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006

Investments
Rating*
Issue
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
Building
AAA
Idaho State Building Authority
4.50% due 9/1/2023
$110,000
$113,520
1.3%
Electric Power
AAA
Idaho Falls Electric Revenue
6.75% due 4/1/2019
145,000
146,409
1.7%
Financial Services
AAA
Boise City General Fund Revenue
5.20% due 12/1/2017
160,000
171,816
2.0%
AAA
Boise City General Fund Revenue
5.25% due 12/1/2018
100,000
107,201
1.2%
Subtotal
260,000
279,017
3.2%
General Obligation
AA-
Ada & Canyon JSD #2 Meridian
5.50% due 7/30/2015
50,000
56,143
0.6%
AAA
Ada & Canyon JSD #2 Meridian
5.00% due 8/15/2020
165,000
177,863
2.0%
AAA
Ada & Canyon JSD #2 Meridian
5.00% due 8/15/2021
155,000
166,651
1.9%
AAA
Bingham County SCD #55 Blackfoot
4.65% due 8/1/2017
285,000
300,088
3.4%
A
Boise County SD #73 Horseshoe Bend
5.15% due 7/31/2010
125,000
127,310
1.4%
AAA
Boundary County SCD #101
5.10% due 8/1/2022
130,000
139,831
1.6%
AAA
Caldwell, Idaho
5.30% due 5/15/2014
150,000
157,719
1.8%
AAA
Canyon County SCD #139 Vallivue
4.05% due 8/15/2016
80,000
82,702
0.9%
AAA
Canyon County SD #139 Vallivue
4.35% due 9/15/2025
350,000
350,406
4.0%
AAA
Canyon County SCD #131 Nampa
4.75% due 8/15/2019
325,000
340,847
3.9%
AAA
Canyon County SD #134 Middleton
4.65% due 7/31/2016
170,000
179,953
2.0%
A
Canyon County SD #135
6.00% due 8/1/2007
50,000
50,020
0.6%
AAA
Idaho Housing & Finance Association
4.80% due 6/1/2017
100,000
106,118
1.2%
AAA
Jerome Lincoln Gooding Cos. JSD #261
3.75% due 9/15/2018
125,000
122,760
1.4%
AAA
Jerome Lincoln Gooding Cos. JSD #261
5.00% due 9/15/2022
250,000
270,377
3.1%
AAA
Kootenai-Shonshone Area Library
4.25% due 8/1/2021
220,000
223,995
2.5%
AAA
Lakeland ID JSD #272
4.00% due 8/15/2015
100,000
101,420
1.1%
AAA
Lehmi County
4.20% due 8/1/2015
100,000
102,490
1.2%
AAA
Meridian Free Library District
5.00% due 8/1/2015
200,000
199,402
2.3%
AAA
Minidoka & Jerome JSD #331
4.50% due 8/15/2018
75,000
78,126
0.9%
AAA
Minidoka & Jerome JSD #331
4.50% due 8/15/2020
75,000
77,288
0.9%
AAA
Minidoka & Jerome JSD #331
4.50% due 8/15/2025
160,000
162,878
1.9%
AAA
Nampa Idaho Series B
5.00% due 8/1/2020
200,000
215,848
2.4%
AAA
Oneida County SCD #351 Malad City
4.00% due 8/15/2015
150,000
153,651
1.8%
AAA
Owyhee & Canyon Cos. JSD #370
4.55% due 8/15/2016
160,000
173,426
2.0%
AAA
Payette Co. ID SCD #373
5.00% due 9/15/2024
100,000
107,278
1.2%
AAA
Valley & Adams Co. JSD #421
4.50% due 8/1/2024
290,000
295,922
3.4%
AAA
Washington & Adams Co. JSDC #432
4.00% due 8/15/2019
100,000
101,243
1.2%
Subtotal
4,440,000
4,621,755
52.6%
Housing
AA+
Idaho Housing Agency Refunding Series A
6.15% due 7/1/2024
10,000
9,926
0.1%
AAA
Idaho Housing Agency Single Family Mortgage Mezz-E-1
6.60% due 7/1/2011
10,000
9,940
0.1%
Subtotal
20,000
19,866
0.2%
(Continued on next page.)

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006
 
3

Investments
Rating*
Issue
Coupon/Maturity
Face Amount
Market Value
Percentage
Medical/Hospitals
AAA
Idaho Health Facility Auth. Ref. Holy Cross Sys. Corp. Rev.
5.25% due 12/1/2014
$110,000
$112,654
1.3%
AAA
Idaho Health Facility Auth. Corp. Holy Cross Rev. Refunding
5.00% due 12/1/2022
115,000
118,335
1.4%
AAA
Madison CO Hospital COP
5.00% due 12/1/2018
105,000
107,717
1.2%
Subtotal
330,000
338,706
3.9%
Pollution Control
AAA
Idaho Bond Bank Authority
4.30% due 9/1/2022
135,000
136,662
1.6%
Real Estate
AAA
Idaho State Building Association
5.05% due 9/1/2018
95,000
96,683
1.1%
AAA
Idaho State Building Authority
5.00% due 9/1/2021
100,000
102,166
1.2%
A
Jerome Urban Renewal District
5.40% due 9/1/2013
200,000
201,638
2.3%
A
Post Falls LID
5.00% due 5/1/2021
300,000
300,420
3.4%
Subtotal
695,000
700,907
8.0%
Roads
A
Post Falls ID
7.95% due 4/15/2007
20,000
19,884
0.2%
State Education
AAA
Boise State University Rev.
5.00% due 4/1/2019
295,000
319,706
3.6%
AAA
Idaho State Building Authority
4.00% due 9/1/2016
105,000
107,050
1.2%
AAA
Idaho State University Ref. & Impt.
4.90% due 4/1/2017
150,000
153,210
1.7%
AAA
Idaho State University Rev.
4.625% due 4/1/2024
220,000
228,712
2.6%
AAA
University of Idaho Student Fee Rev.
5.00% due 4/1/2019
200,000
216,750
2.5%
AAA
University of Idaho Student Fee Rev.
5.00% due 4/1/2020
160,000
173,035
2.0%
Subtotal
1,130,000
1,198,463
13.6%
Sewer
A
Troy ID Sewer System
7.90% due 2/1/2007
15,000
14,901
0.2%
A
Troy ID Sewer System
8.00% due 2/1/2008
15,000
14,902
0.2%
A
Troy ID Sewer System
8.00% due 2/1/2009
20,000
19,872
0.2%
A
Troy ID Sewer System
8.00% due 2/1/2010
20,000
19,879
0.2%
Subtotal
70,000
69,554
0.8%
Urban Renewal
AAA
Boise City Urban Renewal Agency Pk. Rev. & RA
5.00% due 9/1/2012
65,000
66,702
0.8%
AAA
Boise City Urban Renewal Lease Revenue
5.00% due 8/15/2020
190,000
205,700
2.3%
AAA
Boise City Urban Renewal Agency Lease Revenue
5.00% due 8/15/2021
110,000
118,846
1.3%
Subtotal
365,000
391,248
4.5%
Water Supply
AAA
Blackfoot COP Series 2000
5.80% due 9/1/2018
135,000
145,378
1.7%
AAA
Idaho Bond Bank Authority
5.00% due 9/15/2026
250,000
269,280
3.0%
AAA
Ketchum Water Revenue
4.75% due 9/1/2013
60,000
60,974
0.7%
Subtotal
445,000
475,632
5.4%
Total Investments
(Total Cost = $8,374,471)
$8,165,000
$8,511,623
96.9%
Other Assets (net of liabilities)
 
 
271,150
3.1%
Total Net Assets
 
 
$8,782,773
100.0%
*These unaudited bond ratings reflect the adviser's current rating of each bond, as determined using Standard & Poor's and Moody's Ratings.
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
4
 
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006

 

Financial Highlights
Year Ended November 30,
Selected data per share of capital stock outstanding throughout the year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Net asset value at beginning of year
$5.27
$5.39
$5.46
$5.37
$5.28
 
Income from investment operations
 
Net investment income
0.18
0.19
0.19
0.21
0.22
 
Net gains (losses) on securities (both realized and unrealized)
0.06
(0.10)
(0.07)
0.09
0.09
Total from investment operations
0.24
0.09
0.12
0.30
0.31
 
Less distributions
 
Dividends (from net investment income)
(0.18)
(0.19)
(0.19)
(0.21)
(0.22)
 
Distributions (from capital gains)
(0.01)
(0.02)
-
-
-
Total distributions
(0.19)
(0.21)
(0.19)
(0.21)
(0.22)
Paid-in capital from early redemption penalties 1
*0.00
*0.00
-
-
-
Net asset value at end of year
$5.32
$5.27
$5.39
$5.46
$5.37
Total Return
4.66%
1.66%
2.29%
5.40%
5.98%
 
Ratios / Supplemental Data
 
Net assets ($000), at end of year
$8,783
$8,531
$8,472
$7,692
$6,943
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets
 
Before fee waivers and custody fee credits
0.87%
0.91%
0.95%
0.88%
0.88%
 
After fee waivers and custody fee credits
0.83%
0.88%
0.93%
0.85%
0.80%
 
Ratio of net investment income after fee waivers and custody credits to average net assets
3.40%
3.58%
3.56%
3.78%
4.14%
Portfolio turnover rate
24%
21%
15%
6%
11%
1 Redemption penalty adopted March 29, 2005
*Amount is less than $0.01

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of November 30, 2006
Assets
 
Bond investments (Cost $8,374,471)
$8,511,623
 
 
Cash
165,407
 
 
Interest receivable
122,620
 
 
Receivable for Fund shares sold
7,376
 
 
Insurance reserve premium
801
 
 
Total Assets
 
$8,807,827
Liabilities
 
Distributions payable
10,024
 
 
Accrued expenses
9,057
 
 
Due to affiliates
4,318
 
 
Payable for Fund shares redeemed
1,655
 
 
Total Liabilities
 
25,054
Net Assets
$8,782,773
Fund shares outstanding
1,652,009
Analysis of Net Assets
 
Paid in Capital (unlimited shares authorized, without par value)
$8,645,621
 
 
Unrealized net appreciation on investments
137,152
 
 
Net Assets applicable to Fund shares outstanding
 
$8,782,773
Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption price per share
$5.32

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006
 
5

Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2006
Year ended
Nov. 30, 2005
Increase in Net Assets
From operations
 
Net investment income
$291,745
$302,302
 
Net realized gain on investments
19,527
60,461
 
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation
67,593
(224,149)
 
Net increase in net assets
378,865
138,614
Dividends to shareowners from
 
Net investment income
( 291,745)
(302,222)
 
Capital gains distributions
(19,527)
(25,992)
 
(311,272)
(328,214)
From Fund share transactions
 
Proceeds from sales of shares
1,123,133
1,076,370
 
Value of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
241,424
264,076
 
1,364,557
1,340,446
 
Early redemption penalties retained
2
28
 
Cost of shares redeemed
(1,180,827)
(1,091,850)
 
Net increase in net assets
183,732
248,624
Total increase in net assets
$251,325
$59,024
Net Assets
 
Beginning of year
8,531,448
8,472,424
 
End of year
$8,782,773
$8,531,448
 
Undistributed net investment income
-
80
Shares of the Fund sold and redeemed
 
Number of shares sold
225,928
218,971
 
Number of shares issued in reinvestment of dividends
45,798
49,415
 
271,726
268,386
 
Number of shares redeemed
(237,777)
(221,568)
Net increase in number of shares outstanding
33,949
46,818
Statement of Operations
For the year ended
November 30, 2006
Investment income
 
Interest income
$392,674
 
 
Amortization of bond premium
(30,002)
 
 
Gross investment income
 
$362,672
Expenses
 
Investment adviser and administration fees
42,846
 
 
Audit fees
9,419
 
 
Chief compliance officer expenses
4,563
 
 
Shareholder service fees
3,744
 
 
Insurance
3,531
 
 
Filing and registrations fees
3,141
 
 
Printing and postage
2,381
 
 
Custodian fees
2,113
 
 
Trustee fees
1,639
 
 
Legal fees
940
 
 
Other fees
349
 
 
Total gross expenses
74,666
 
 
Less custodian fees waived
(3,739)
 
 
Net expenses
 
70,927
 
Net investment income
 
291,745
Net realized loss on investments
 
Proceeds from sales
2,014,069
 
 
Less cost of securities sold (based on identified cost)
1,994,542
 
 
Realized net gain
 
19,527
Unrealized gain on investments
 
End of year
137,152
 
 
Beginning of year
69,559
 
 
Increase in unrealized gain for the year
 
67,593
 
Net realized and unrealized gain
 
87,120
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
$378,865

 

(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.)
6
 
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006

Discussion of Fund Performance (unaudited)
Fiscal Year 2006
For the year ending November 30, 2006, Idaho Tax Exempt Fund returned shareowners 4.66%. For the last five years, the Fund has provided a 4.02% annualized total return. At November 30, 2006 the thirty-day SEC yield was 3.69%. Consistent with the Fund's conservative investment philosophy, the Fund's net asset value moved within a 2.50% range ($5.19 to $5.32) from low to high.
Ratings Established
By Adviser
By Standard & Poor's
By Moody's Investor Services
AAA
87.4%
35.0%
85.0%
AA
0.8%
0.6%
0.8%
A
8.7%
0.0%
0.0%
BBB
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
Unrated
0.0%
61.3%
11.1%
Cash
3.1%
3.1%
3.1%
Factors Affecting Past Performance
Over the last twelve months, many non-traditional municipal bond buyers were attracted to the high relative yields offered in long municipal bonds. As a result, the two-year to thirty-year AAA Municipal General Obligation bond yield curve flattened from 127 basis points to 59 basis points mimicking the flattening of taxable yield curves. The yield on ten-year AAA Municipal General Obligation bonds ended the period about 0.25% lower.
In May the Federal Funds rate stabilized at 5.25%. Since then, bond investors around the world have accepted lower and lower yields for longer term, noninvestment grade bonds. Bond option volatility premiums, a key indicator of the perceived risk in bonds, moved to five year lows. In 2006, high-grade municipal bonds generally outperformed US Treasuries.
The average maturity of the Fund is the most influential factor affecting principal values in the portfolio. For a second year, short-term securities underperformed long-term securities and the Fund's intermediate average maturity reduced the Fund's total return. As almost all long-term Idaho bonds contain a ten-year call feature it is difficult to extend the dollar weighted average maturity of the fund much beyond eight to nine years. The Fund average maturity is now 6.9 years up from 6.04 years last November. We will continue our efforts to extend portfolio average maturity.
For a second year, Idaho's State General Fund revenue grew above forecasts despite three upward revisions. According to Idaho Outlook from the State Division of Financial Management (Vol. XXVIV, No. 6, Dec. 2006), “Overall the General Fund is $34.8 million ahead of where it is expected to be (based on the Executive Revenue Forecast) as of the end of November.”
Idaho's relatively high state income taxes create a substantial appetite among residents for tax-exempt bonds. The imbalance between the demand for and the supply of new issues is an important element in the overall performance of Idaho paper in both bull and bear markets. The relative stability of municipal bond prices in periods of rising rates is one of the primary attractions of the asset class for all investors.
Looking Forward
In 2007, we expect the US economy to grow unevenly with corporate profits rising 5%-10%. We expect the Federal Reserve to keep a floor under short-term rates to quell inflation for another six months. We expect ten-year AAA Idaho municipal yields to range between 3.60% and 4.60%.
The yield advantage of quality unrated paper can be attractive, but the supply has dwindled to a trickle. We will continue to seek quality nonrated issuers for the Fund. 8.9% of the portfolio remains invested in non-rated paper up from 5.9%. Credit quality of non-rated issuers owned by the Fund remains stable.
Idaho Tax-Exempt vs. Lehman Composite Municipal Bond Index (unaudited)
Comparison To Index
Though the Fund does not try to “beat” the Lehman Brothers Composite Municipal Bond Index or any other index, the Fund's returns compare well to that of the Index for the fiscal year, as shown in the accompanying chart. The line graph below compares the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund's performance to the performance of the Lehman Brothers Composite Municipal Bond Index, a broad-based municipal bond market index. To be comparable, the Municipal Index data includes reinvested income (as computed by Lehman Brothers Fixed Income Research).
Note that this graph compares an unmanaged, expense free index to an actively managed Fund that has transaction and other costs. The Fund also stands ready to buy and sell its own securities to shareholders on a daily basis, as well as providing a wide range of services to them. Few investors are able to invest in an exact index portfolio because of the large amount of securities required to model such an index.
Were the Fund to target the index as an objective, the Fund might take greater risk by extending the average maturity of its portfolio to take advantage of the greater price fluctuation (for better or worse) available in such a portfolio. However, maintaining the stability of capital is an objective of the portfolio, and we believe the Fund has performed well considering its investment restrictions.
The graph shows that $10,000 invested in the Idaho Tax Exempt Fund on November 30, 1996 would have grown to $15,551 on November 30. 2006. If $10,000 could have been invested in the Lehman Brothers Composite Municipal Bond Index on 11/30/96, it would have grown to $17,514.

 

Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006
 
7

Expenses (unaudited)
As an Idaho Tax-Exempt mutual fund shareowner, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other fund expenses. Unlike many mutual funds, the Idaho tax-Exempt Fund does not impose sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends or other distributions. Nor do you incur exchange fees or fees related to Individual Retirement Accounts. You may incur fees related to extra services requested by you for your account, such as a checkbook to use for redemptions or bank wires.
EXAMPLE
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the fiscal year and held for six months [Thursday, June 1, 2006 to Thursday, November 30, 2006].
ACTUAL EXPENSES
The first line 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, a $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 fiscal year. The Fund also charges the following fees for extra services rendered on request, which you may need to add to determine your total expenses: $10 per checkbook, $25 per bank wire, $15 per overnight courier delivery.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES
The second line provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the 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 year. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareowner reports of the other funds. You may wish to add other fees that are not included in the expenses shown in the table, such as charges for extra services like check writing and bank wires.
Please note that the expenses shown are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees 1, or exchange fees (note that the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund does not have any such transaction costs). Therefore, the second line is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and may not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.

 

 
Beginning Account Value
[Thursday, June 1, 2006]
Ending Account Value
[Thursday, November 30, 2006]
Expenses Paid During Period*
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,037.00
$3.96
Hypothetical
(5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,021.18
$3.93
* Expenses are equal to Idaho Tax-Exempt Bond Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.78% (based on the most recent semi-annual period of June 1, 2006 through November 30, 2006, multiplied by the average account value of $1,018.50 over the period multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
1 The Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund, unlike many mutual funds, does not impose sales charges (loads) on purchases, reinvested dividends or distributions. You do not incur exchange fees, or fees related to Individual Retirement Accounts. However, to discourage speculative trading, you may incur a penalty for redemption of shares held less than 30 days. You may incur fees related to extra services requested by you for your account, such as a checkbook to use for redemptions or bank wires.
8
 
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006

Notes to Financial Statements
Note 1 — Organization
Saturna Investment Trust (the “Trust”) was established under Washington State Law as a Business Trust on February 20, 1987. The Trust is registered as a no-load, open-end series investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Four portfolios have been created to date in addition to Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund (the “Fund”). The other four portfolios distribute through a separate prospectus and the results of those funds are contained in a separate report.
The investment objective of the Fund is to provide income free from federal income, federal alternative minimum and Idaho state income taxes, with a secondary objective of capital preservation.
Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies followed by the Fund.
Security valuation:
Fixed-income securities for which there are no publicly available market quotations are valued using matrices based on maturity, quality, yield, call features and similar factors, which are compared periodically to multiple dealer bids and adjusted by the adviser under fair value policies established by the Trustees. The ability of issuers of debt securities held by the Fund to meet their obligations may be affected by economic and political developments in the State of Idaho.
Income taxes:
The Fund's policy is to continue to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code that are applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all its taxable income to its shareowners. Therefore, no provision for Federal income taxes is required. Further, the Fund intends to meet requirements for tax-free income dividends, and requirements of the Idaho Department of Revenue for income dividends free of Idaho state income tax.
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. The Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund decreased accumulated net income on investments by $80 and increased paid in capital by $80. This reclassification had no effect on the net assets or net assets value per share.
Dividends and distributions to shareowners:
Dividends and distributions to shareowners, which are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends are paid daily and distributed on the last business day of each month. Shareowners electing to reinvest dividends and distributions purchase additional shares at the net asset value on the payable date.
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 from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Other:
The cost of securities is the same for accounting and Federal income tax purposes. Securities transactions are recorded on trade date.
Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the lives of the respective securities.
Expenses incurred by the Trust on behalf of the Fund (e.g., professional fees) are allocated to the Fund and the other Funds of the Trust on the basis of relative daily average net assets.
The Trustees have adopted certain policies and procedures with respect to frequent trading of Fund shares. The Funds are intended for long-term investment and do not permit rapid trading of their shares. Shares held less than 30 calendar days, including those held in omnibus accounts at intermediaries, will be assessed a 2% early-redemption penalty (payable to the Fund).
New Accounting Pronouncements:
On July 13, 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") released FASB Interpretation No. 48 - Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes ("FIN 48"). FIN 48 provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. FIN 48 requires the evaluation of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing the Funds tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" of being sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the more likely-than-not threshold would be recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. Adoption of FIN 48 is required for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of FIN 48 will have on the Funds' net assets, results of operations and financial statement disclosures.
In September 2006, FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157, "Fair Value Measurement" ("SFAS 157"), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund's financial statement disclosures.
Note 3 — Transactions with Affiliated Persons
Under a contract approved by shareowners on October 12, 1990, Saturna Capital Corporation provides investment advisory services and certain other administrative and distribution services to conduct the Fund's business. For such services, the Fund pays an annual fee equal to .50% of average daily net assets. For the year ended November 30, 2006, the Fund incurred advisory fee expenses of $42,846.
In accordance with the Fund's agreement with its custodian, National City Bank of Indiana, for the year ended November 30, 2006, custodian fees incurred by the Fund amounted to $2,113. The custodian waived $2,113 of its fees for earnings credits for the current year. In addition, custody fees in the amount of $1,626 were reimbursed based on credits from expenses incurred in 2003 and 2004.
Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc. (a subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation) is a broker-dealer and acts as distributor without compensation. Saturna Capital Corporation acts as shareowner servicing agent for the Fund, for a monthly fee plus certain expenses. For the year ended November 30, 2006, the Fund paid shareholder servicing fees of $3,744.
Trustee Nicholas Kaiser, who also serves as the president of the Trust, is a director and president of the Adviser. On November 30, 2006, the trustees, officers and their immediate families as a group owned 0.05% of the outstanding shares of the Fund. Mr. Kaiser owned 833 shares.
The four unaffiliated trustees receive $300 per Board or committee meeting attended, plus travel expenses, allocated pro-rata to the five Funds of Saturna Investment Trust. The Trust paid the Independent Trustees $6,891 to attend meetings during the fiscal year. Regulations require the Trust to designate a Chief Compliance Officer; Mr. Winship was retained by the Trust and paid $17,871 during the fiscal year. The other officers are paid by Saturna Capital, and not the Trust.
Note 4 — Investments
During the year ended November 30, 2006, the Fund purchased $2,220,314 of securities and sold/matured $2,014,069 of securities.
Distributions to shareowners:
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended November 30, 2006 and 2005 were as follows:
 
2006
2005
Tax-Exempt Income
$291,026
$302,222
Taxable Income
702
-
Capital Gains 1
19,527
25,992
1 Long-Term Capital Gain dividend designated pursuant to Section 8 (b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
As of November 30, 2006 the components of capital on a tax basis were as follows:
Cost of investments
$8,374,471
Gross unrealized appreciation
150,500
Gross unrealized depreciation
(13,348)
Net unrealized appreciation
$137,152
Total accumulatied earnings/losses
$137,152

 

Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006
 
9

Renewal of Investment Advisory Contract (unaudited)
On September 18, 2006, the trustees of Saturna Investment Trust approved continuation of Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund's investment advisory and administrative services agreement with Saturna Capital Corporation. In doing so, the board considered a number of factors and made specific determinations relevant to that approval.
In addition to information provided throughout the year, the trustees utilized a comparison of performance and fees of the Fund with the other Idaho tax-exempt mutual funds. The trustees found such information helpful in establishing expectations regarding the performance of the adviser and whether to continue the advisory contract.
In their review, the trustees noted that the Fund offers a full range of highquality investor services. The trustees reviewed improvements in Saturna's operations during the last year, substantial investments in staffing, training, compliance, office space and hardware and its increasing assets under management. An important factor in the consideration by the trustees was Saturna Capital's experience, ability and commitment to perform internally shareowner servicing, administration, accounting, marketing and distribution to maintain quality servicing at a reasonable expense. In addition, they recognized Saturna's efforts to improve compensation to attract and retain increasingly qualified, experienced, and specialized staff. The Trustees also took into consideration Saturna's continued avoidance of significant operational problems, and its efforts to comply with increased investment company rules and regulations.
The trustees also reviewed Morningstar and Lipper mutual fund ratings, and found that the investment performance of the Fund was acceptable. The board took into consideration the investment objectives and policies of the Fund.
The Trustees reviewed Saturna's profitability with respect to the Fund as part of their evaluation of whether the fee under the advisory contract bears a reasonable relationship to the mix of services provided by Saturna, including the nature, extent and quality of such services. They considered the fees charged by the adviser to other kinds of accounts and the different services provided to those accounts. The Trustees took note that the Fund continues to operate at a loss to the adviser. The Trustees also considered whether there are other potential benefits to Saturna from acting as investment adviser and found none. The Trustees concluded that the fee paid by the Fund to Saturna is reasonable in light of the services provided, comparative performance, expense and advisory fee information, costs of services provided and profits to be realized and benefits derived or to be derived by Saturna from its relationship with the Fund. The Trustees saw no need for advisory fee changes or breakpoints.
Availability of Fund Portfolio Information (unaudited)
  1. The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q.
  2. The Fund's Form N-Q is available on the SEC's website at http://www. sec.gov., and at www.saturna.com.
  3. The Fund's Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
  4. The Fund makes a complete schedule of portfolio holdings after the end of each month available to investors at http://www.saturna.com.
Privacy Statement (unaudited))
At Saturna Capital, we understand the importance to you in maintaining the privacy of your financial information. To that end, we want to assure you that we protect the confidentiality of any personal information you share with us.
We collect personal information about you from information we receive from you on applications and other forms and from transactions or trades placed with us. Please be assured that except to administer a transaction with an affiliated third party upon your request, we do not disclose any personal information about our customers, or our former customers, to anyone, except as may be required by law. We maintain our own technology resources to minimize the use of outside service providers.
Additionally, Saturna Capital restricts access to personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards that comply with regulations to guard your personal information. If you have further questions or concerns about the security or privacy of the information we receive from you, please call us at 800 / SATURNA.

 

Report of Registered Independent Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareowners and Board of Trustees of Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund, a series of shares of the Saturna Investment Trust, including the schedules of investments as of November 30, 2006, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform audits, of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expression an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. Audits include examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2006, by correspondence with the custodian. Audits also include assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund as of November 30, 2006, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
January 17, 2007

 

10
 
Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006


Trustees and Officers (unaudited)
Name (age)
Address
Position(s) held with Trust and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) during past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios in Saturna Fund Comples overseen by Trustee
Other Directorships held by Trustee
Independent Trustees
Gary A. Goldfogel, MD (48)
1500 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Independent Trustee
(since 1995)
Medical Examiner (pathologist);
Owner, Avocet Environmental
Testing (laboratory)
Five
None
Herbert G. Grubel (72)
Apt. 1202 - 125 West Second St.
North Vancouver, BC
Canada V7M 1C5
Independent Trustee
(since 2005)
Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute;
Professor (Emeritus) of Economics,
Simon Fraser University; Author
Five
None
John E. Love (74)
1002 Spokane Street
Garfield, WA 99130
Chairman;
Independent Trustee
(since 1987)
Owner, J.E. Love Co.
(agricultural equipment
manufacturer)
Five
None
John S. Moore (75)
346 Bayside Road
Bellingham, WA 98225
Independent Trustee
(since 1993)
Professor (now retired), College of
Business and Economics, Western
Washington University
Five
None
Interested Trustee
Nicholas F. Kaiser, CFA (60)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
President; Trustee†
(since 1989)
President, Saturna Capital
Corporation; President, Saturna
Brokerage Services
Seven
Amana Mutual Funds Trust
Officers Who Are Not Trustees
Phelps S. McIlvaine (53)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Vice President†
(since 1994)
Vice President, Saturna Capital
Corporation; Treasurer, Saturna
Brokerage Services
N/A
N/A
Christopher Fankhauser (34)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Treasurer†
(since 2002)
Manager of Operations, Saturna
Capital Corporation
N/A
N/A
Ethel B. Bartolome (34)
1300 N. State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Secretary†
(since 2001)
Corporate Administrator, Saturna
Capital Corporation
N/A
N/A
James D. Winship, (58)
54056 Diamond Place NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Chief Compliance
Officer†
(since 2004)
Attorney; Adjunct Professor,
University of Washington and Seattle
Pacific University (1999 - 2003)
N/A
N/A
Term of Office: Each Trustee serves for the lifetime of the Trust or until he dies, resigns, is removed, or not re-elected by the shareowners. Each officer serves a one-year term subject to annual reappointment by the Trustees.
The Fund's Statement of Additional Information, available without charge by calling Saturna Capital at 800-SATURNA, includes additional information about the Trustees.
Saturna Capital Corporation is the Fund's adviser and Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc. is the Fund's distributor.
Mr. Kaiser is an interested person of the Fund by reason of his positions with the Fund's adviser and distributor.
Mr. McIlvaine is the primary manager of the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund.
† Holds same position with Amana Mutual Funds Trust.

 

 

 

 

Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund Annual Report November 30, 2006
 
11

 

(graphic omitted)

 

This report is issued for the information of the shareowners of the Fund. It is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless it is accompanied or preceded by an effective prospectus relating to the securities of the Fund. Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund is a series of Saturna Investment Trust.

 

1300 North State Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
www.saturna.com
sextant@saturna.com
(800) SATURNA

 

 

 

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Registrant has adopted a code of ethics and is included with this submission as Exhibit (a).

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
(a)(1)(i) The Trustees of Saturna Investment Trust determined, at their quarterly meeting of September 25, 2003, that the Trust has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.
(a)(2)(ii) Mr. John Moore, an independent Trustee (as defined for investment companies), was deemed qualified and agreed to serve.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a) Audit Fees
For the fiscal years ending November 30, 2006 and 2005, the aggregate audit fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant were $40,000 and $24,500, respectively.

(b) Audit-Related Fees
For the fiscal years ending November 30, 2006 and 2005, the aggregate audit related fees were $38,000 and $18,500 respectively. The nature of the services are: (1) auditing of the statements of assets and liabilities, related statements of operations and changes in net assets, and the financial highlights of each of the Funds; (2) auditing and reporting on the financial statements to be included in the Amendment to the Funds' Registration Statement, Form N-1A, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (3) review of the Amendment to the Registration Statement; and (4) issuance of a Report on Internal Control Structure for inclusion in Form N-SAR.

(c) Tax Fees
For the fiscal years ending November 30, 2006 and 2005, the aggregate tax fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant were $2,000 and $6,000, 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 November 30, 2006 and 2005.

(e)(1) Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The following is an excerpt from the Saturna Investment Trust Audit 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
One hundred percent 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) Not applicable.

(h) Not applicable.

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.
Proposals submitted to a vote by security holders are included as part of the report to shareholders under Item 1 of this Form.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Internal control over financial reporting is under the supervision of the principal executive and financial officers. On December 29, 2006, Mr. Nicholas Kaiser (President) and Mr. Christopher Fankhauser (Treasurer), reviewed the internal control procedures for Saturna Investment TrustFunds Trust and found them reasonable and adequate. (b) No change.

Item 12. Exhibits
Exhibits included with this filing:

(a) Code of Ethics.

(b) Certifications.
(1) Nicholas Kaiser, President, Saturna Investment Trust
(2) Christopher Fankhauser, Treasurer, Saturna Investment Trust

 

 

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.

SATURNA INVESTMENT TRUST

 

By:

/s/ Nicholas Kaiser
Nicholas Kaiser, President

Date: January 30, 2007

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

/s/ Nicholas Kaiser
Nicholas Kaiser, President

Date: January 30, 2007

 

By:

/s/ Christopher Fankhouser
Christopher Fankhouser, Treasurer

Date: January 30, 2007