Ave Maria Mutual Funds is a family of mutual funds that invests according to Catholic values. It avoids investing in companies involved in practices that go against Catholic teachings, such as abortion, contraception, pornography, embryonic stem cell research, and policies undermining the sacrament of marriage. The fund’s investment philosophy aligns with biblically responsible investing principles. Ave Maria Mutual Funds was founded in 2001 and is based in Michigan. It offers a range of equity, fixed-income, and balanced funds catering to investors with different risk appetites and investment horizons. Investors appreciate Ave Maria’s strict moral screening process and commitment to aligning investments with faith. The fund’s performance also stands out, outperforming secular counterparts in some cases.
Ave Maria Funds Uphold Stringent Moral Screens
Ave Maria Mutual Funds adheres to the Catholic Advisory Board’s guidelines for biblically responsible investing. Its moral screening process is very strict compared to other faith-based funds. Companies involved in any practices against Catholic values are excluded. There is also a limit on investing in companies indirectly involved through subsidiaries or ventures. Companies deriving even small amounts of revenue from objectionable businesses may be excluded. This narrows the investment universe significantly but allows the fund to stay true to Catholic principles.
The Fund Family Covers a Range of Assets Classes
Ave Maria Mutual Funds offers 8 different funds covering various asset classes. This includes 4 equity funds focused on different market caps, including the Ave Maria Growth Fund, Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund, Ave Maria World Equity Fund, and Ave Maria Small Cap Fund. There are also 2 fixed-income funds, a balanced fund, and a target date retirement fund. Having a family of funds allows Catholic investors to build a values-aligned portfolio diversified across equities, bonds, and cash.
Performance Has Been Competitive in Many Cases
While values-based screening limits the investment universe, Ave Maria’s performance remains competitive. The Ave Maria Rising Dividend Fund has outperformed the S&P 500 Value Index over the past 1, 3, 5 and 10 years. The Ave Maria Bond Fund has also fared better than its benchmark across multiple time horizons. However, the Ave Maria Growth Fund has lagged the S&P 500 Index over long time periods. But overall, investors have benefitted from respectable returns through many Ave Maria funds.
Ave Maria Appeals to Investors Seeking Values Alignment
Ave Maria Mutual Funds is especially attractive for Catholic investors who want their investments to align with their faith and values. It allows them to build wealth without violating religious beliefs. The fund’s strict screening provides assurance that no objectionable companies are included. This gives investors peace of mind. The fund’s competitive performance relative to conventional funds also makes it a viable choice for values-based investors.
The Funds Offer an Ethical Investing Option
For investors concerned about ethics, Ave Maria Mutual Funds provides an opportunity to invest in line with Catholic values. Companies passed through its moral screens are more ethically sound based on religious criteria. Issues like abortion and pornography that some Catholics view as morally wrong are completely avoided through the fund’s screens. Investing in Ave Maria allows investors to put their money toward companies they judge to be ethical.
Ave Maria Mutual Funds offers Catholic values-based investing through a family of equity, fixed-income and balanced mutual funds. Its strict moral screening process aligns investments closely with Catholic principles by excluding companies involved in practices objectionable to the Catholic faith. The fund appeals especially to Catholic investors who want their investments to reflect their religious values. It has also delivered competitive returns relative to conventional funds in many cases.