NIC Funds, noticeable performance … outperformed market benchmarks
February 05, 2019
National Investments Company (NIC), one of the leading investment companies in Kuwait in terms of performance and managed assets, announced that the performance of its investment funds outperformed their benchmarks in 2018, despite the decline in oil prices and the global turmoil in the financial markets over the past year.
Al Wataniya Investment Fund achieved year return for 2018 of 8.35% outperforming the return of its benchmark of 5.23% for the same period. As for Mawarid Industrial and Petroleum Services Fund, its performance has touched 6.61% outperforming the benchmark of the GCC Sharia compliant industrial and petroleum (traded 10%) of 0.66% for 2018. Al Darij Investment Fund achieved a return of 5.66 in 2018, whereas the performance of Kuwait Sharia Standards Index (All) has not exceed 1.67%. Zajil Services & Telecommunications Fund achieved a return of 6.33% for the same period outperforming the benchmark of the GCC Sharia compliant service sector index (traded 10%) of 1.11%.
Mr. Fahd Abdulrahman Al-Mukhaizim, CEO of the National Investment Company, said, “The noticeable performance of the investment funds managed by NIC reflects the sound approach and the prudent management of the work team that has extensive expertise of more than 30 years and a proven track record of achievements in managing local and regional portfolios and investment funds.
Al-Mukhaizim added, “Our strategy is based on adopting accurate and precise work methods and practices, and capturing investment opportunities that have potential for growth and achieving excellent financial returns, which made our funds outperform their peers in the market.”
Al Wataniya Fund: 8.35% return for 2018
Al Wataniya Investment Fund, established in 2001, provides capital appreciation and income primarily through investment in listed and unlisted equities on the Boursa Kuwait through one single liquid investment tool, aims to achieve returns exceed conventional deposits, in addition to providing diversity among listed companies in the local markets in terms of different sectors distributed on the base of liquidity, capital appreciation and cash returns. Al Wataniya performance is excellent when compared to the size of net assets of other funds. Al Wataniya is one of the biggest investment funds in Kuwait with a net assets value of KD 124,784,675 at the end of 2018.
Al Wataniya Investment Fund aims to achieve the best returns for investors who do not have the time or lack the means to enter the market and mange the risk. The Fund also aims to invest in the equities of excellent companies with rewarding returns, solid management and a clear future vision, which greatly resulted in the stability in the level of its dividends amounting 600 fils in cash and 160% bonus, since its inception. Al Wataniya achieved return for 2018 of 8.35% outperforming the All-Share Market Index of 5.23% for the same period.
Mawarid Fund: 6.61% return for 2018
Mawarid Industrial and Petroleum Services Fund, established in 2006 provides capital appreciation and income to its investors by investing in Kuwaiti, Arab and GCC Sharia compliant listed and unlisted equities in the industrial and petroleum service sectors.
The Fund aims to maximize the Funds expected total return on a risk-adjusted basis by investing in the Sharia compliant equities of industrial and petroleum services companies in Kuwait and GCC based on liquidity, capital appreciation and cash returns.
The Fund aims to achieve the best returns for investors who do not have the time or lack the means to enter the market and mange the risk. The Fund is managed by a specialized investment team with extensive experience in GCC and Arab markets.
Returns of the fund reached 6.61 in 2018, meanwhile the returns of the Sharia compliant GCC Industry and Petroleum Sector Index (traded 10%) was 0.66% for the same period. Since its inception, the Fund returns reached 26.95%, and its dividends was 20% and the distributed bonus share was 8%.
Al Darij Fund: return 5.66% for 2018
Al Darij Fund, established in 2003, aims to provide capital appreciation and income through investing primarily in listed and unlisted Sharia-compliant equities in Kuwait and the GCC. The Fund aims to maximize the Funds expected total return on a risk-adjusted basis by trading in listed and unlisted Sharia-compliant equities in Kuwait and the GCC, and to provide diversification among Sharia-compliant equities in a variety of sectors throughout the GCC based on liquidity, capital appreciation and dividend yield. The Fund provides exposure to Sharia-compliant equities in Kuwait and the GCC through one single liquid investment vehicle, and provides a single investment tool with the objective of achieving returns higher than traditional Islamic deposits. The Fund returns reached 5.66% in 2018 outperforming the returns of the Kuwait Index for Sharia standards (all), which amounted to 1.67% for the same period. The returns of the fund since its inception reached 74.47%, the cash dividend is 50%, and the bonus share dividend is 103%.
Zajil Fund: 6.33% returns since the beginning of the year
Zajil Services & Telecommunications Fund, established in 2005, aims to provide capital appreciation and income through investing primarily in listed and unlisted equities in the services and telecommunications sectors in Kuwait and the Arab region, which abide by Islamic Sharia.
The Fund seeks to maximize the Funds expected total return on a risk-adjusted basis by trading in service sector equities listed on the Boursa Kuwait, and telecommunications companies in the Arab market. It also provides diversification among Kuwaiti and Arab equities in the service and telecommunications sectors based on liquidity, capital appreciation and dividend yield.
The Fund provides a single investment tool with the objective of achieving returns higher than traditional Islamic deposits, and creating a liquid vehicle for investors wishing to benefit from the potential return of an investment fund dedicated to proper investment guidelines and Sharia compliant. The Fund is managed by a specialized investment team with extensive experience.
Zajil Services & Telecommunications Fund achieved returns for 2018 of 6.33 outperforming the Sharia Complaint GCC Service Sector Index (traded 10%) of 1.11 for the same period. The distributed cash dividends of the Fund reached 35%, and the bonus share 50%.
