Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.
In calling out Lockheed Martin (LMT), it seems the writer is conflating two different though related issues: military weapons manufacturing and civilian firearms manufacturing. If your concern is about companies involved with the leading cause of death of children in the US, then look at the list of gun free funds.
According to Money Magazine, there are only two publicly traded US companies that manufacture (civilian guns): Smith & Wesson (SWBI) and Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR), though American Outdoor Brands (AOUT) is the parent company of Smith & Wesson. https://money.com/avoid-gun-stocks-investing-advice/
There are many other gun manufacturers, but they tend to be private. Here's a list of the top 25 firearm manufacturers. It includes familiar names like Colt (Colt CZ Group SE, traded on the Prague stock exchange), Beretta (privately owned, Italian parent), and Glock Ges.m.b.H (privately owned).
GunFreeFunds takes ownership a step further (as noted in the Kiplinger piece) by considering parent companies of privately owned manufacturers. For example, it looks out for ownership of Colt CZ Groupe SE (CZG). Here's its whole list of companies it looks for: https://gunfreefunds.org/how-it-works
If you're interested in avoiding companies involved in weapons of war (military contractors, munitions manufacturers, nuclear arms manufacturers, etc.), Invest Your Values provides the site weaponsfreefunds.org.
By way of example, here’s what the screener produced when I entered ASRAX: ”Gun grade: No holdings flagged for our civilian firearm screens. Assigned a grade of A.”
Unfortunately, some funds i tried to screen (CEF @ OEF) were not found. One was a fund-of-funds which likely makes the task more difficult.
Thanks @msf for all the clarification and added information. It gets complicated for sure. I hope some of the major fund companies will go on record and, in some way, shape, or manner, disavow investments in arms manufacturers whose non-military, non-law enforcement related products too often wind up in the wrong hands and do so much damage to innocent persons. (I think there’s already been some limited progress.) There’s likely to be different interpretations and implementation of such policy. But, heavens, we need to start somewhere.
Thanks for the link @msf. The scope of guns can be broaden to something much bigger since they can be “dual uses” for civilian and military uses. Depending how they are being use, they can be beneficial to mankind and potentially for military uses as well. Satellites, weather balloons and drones are some examples. Certainly not as easy task for investors to sort out the boundaries in many of these companies.
Comments
In calling out Lockheed Martin (LMT), it seems the writer is conflating two different though related issues: military weapons manufacturing and civilian firearms manufacturing. If your concern is about companies involved with the leading cause of death of children in the US, then look at the list of gun free funds.
According to Money Magazine, there are only two publicly traded US companies that manufacture (civilian guns): Smith & Wesson (SWBI) and Sturm, Ruger & Co. (RGR), though American Outdoor Brands (AOUT) is the parent company of Smith & Wesson.
https://money.com/avoid-gun-stocks-investing-advice/
There are many other gun manufacturers, but they tend to be private. Here's a list of the top 25 firearm manufacturers. It includes familiar names like Colt (Colt CZ Group SE, traded on the Prague stock exchange), Beretta (privately owned, Italian parent), and Glock Ges.m.b.H (privately owned).
https://orchidadvisors.com/top-25-largest-firearm-manufacturers-of-2021/
GunFreeFunds takes ownership a step further (as noted in the Kiplinger piece) by considering parent companies of privately owned manufacturers. For example, it looks out for ownership of Colt CZ Groupe SE (CZG). Here's its whole list of companies it looks for:
https://gunfreefunds.org/how-it-works
M* has an article similar to Kiplingers.
https://www.morningstar.com/articles/1133372/how-to-find-gun-stocks-in-your-fund-portfolios
It offers its own sampling of gun free funds
If you're interested in avoiding companies involved in weapons of war (military contractors, munitions manufacturers, nuclear arms manufacturers, etc.), Invest Your Values provides the site weaponsfreefunds.org.
Here it is: FUND GUN SCREENER
By way of example, here’s what the screener produced when I entered ASRAX: ”Gun grade: No holdings flagged for our civilian firearm screens. Assigned a grade of A.”
Unfortunately, some funds i tried to screen (CEF @ OEF) were not found. One was a fund-of-funds which likely makes the task more difficult.
Thanks @msf for all the clarification and added information. It gets complicated for sure. I hope some of the major fund companies will go on record and, in some way, shape, or manner, disavow investments in arms manufacturers whose non-military, non-law enforcement related products too often wind up in the wrong hands and do so much damage to innocent persons. (I think there’s already been some limited progress.) There’s likely to be different interpretations and implementation of such policy. But, heavens, we need to start somewhere.