Investment objective & strategy
As of Dec. 22, 2025 · prospectusObjective. The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in the common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East.
Strategy. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in African and Middle Eastern companies. The fund relies on MSCI Inc., a third-party provider of benchmark indexes and data services, or another unaffiliated data provider to determine the country assigned to a security. Any derivatives that provide exposure to the investment focus suggested by the funds name, or to one or more market risk factors associated with the investment focus suggested by the funds name, are counted (as applicable) toward compliance with the funds 80% investment policy. The fund expects to primarily invest in common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East. The countries in … The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in African and Middle Eastern companies. The fund relies on MSCI Inc., a third-party provider of benchmark indexes and data services, or another unaffiliated data provider to determine the country assigned to a security. Any derivatives that provide exposure to the investment focus suggested by the funds name, or to one or more market risk factors associated with the investment focus suggested by the funds name, are counted (as applicable) toward compliance with the funds 80% investment policy. The fund expects to primarily invest in common stocks of companies located (or with primary operations) in Africa and the Middle East. The countries in which the fund normally invests include, but are not limited to, the following: ? Primary Emphasis: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates. ? Others: Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The fund invests significantly in African and Middle Eastern countries and typically has substantial investments in Saudi Arabia and South Africa. While the adviser invests with an awareness of the advisers outlook for certain industries, sectors, and individual countries within the region, the advisers decision-making process focuses on bottom-up stock selection. Country allocation is driven largely by stock selection, though the adviser may limit investments in markets or industries that appear to have poor overall prospects. Security selection reflects a growth style. The adviser relies on a global team of investment analysts dedicated to in-depth fundamental research in an effort to identify high-quality companies capable of achieving and sustaining above-average, long-term earnings growth. The adviser seeks to purchase stocks of companies at reasonable prices in relation to present or anticipated earnings, cash flow, or book value. In selecting investments the adviser generally favors companies with one or more of the following characteristics: ? leading or improving market position; ? attractive business niche; ? attractive or improving franchise or industry position; ? seasoned management; ? stable or improving revenues, earnings, and/or cash flow; and ? sound or improving balance sheet. At times, the fund may have a significant portion of its assets invested in the same economic sector, such as the financial sector.
Top holdings
As of Jan. 31, 2026 · N-PORT| Security | Ticker | Value | % of fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL RAJHI BANK | — | $12.30M | 10.68% |
| SAUDI NATIONAL B | — | $7.30M | 6.34% |
| ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI PLC | — | $5.96M | 5.17% |
| TREASURY RESERVE FUND - Collateral | — | $5.66M | 4.91% |
| NASPERS NPV | NPN | $5.03M | 4.36% |
| QATAR NATIONAL B | — | $4.64M | 4.02% |
| FIRSTRAND LTD | — | $4.48M | 3.89% |
| CAPITEC BANK HOLDINGS LTD COMMON STOCK | CPI | $4.34M | 3.77% |
| NATL BANK KUWAIT | — | $3.64M | 3.16% |
| ETIHAD ETISALAT | — | $3.31M | 2.88% |
Portfolio moves
Oct 31, 2025 → Jan 31, 2026How many positions this fund opened, exited, grew, trimmed, or left unchanged between its two most recent N-PORT snapshots — net changes between point-in-time reports, not a trade log.
Similar funds
Funds whose portfolios most overlap this one, by weight| Fund | Overlap | Net exp. |
|---|---|---|
| iShares MSCI South Africa ETF · EZA | 29% | 0.59% |
| Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF · FLSA | 26% | 0.39% |
| iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF · KSA | 25% | 0.75% |
Advisers
| Firm | Role |
|---|---|
| T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. | Adviser |
Footnotes
- Expense ratio as of December 22, 2025, from the fund's prospectus.
- Net assets and holdings count as of January 31, 2026, from the fund's N-PORT filing.
- Total return for calendar year 2025, before tax and after fund expenses. Computed by compounding the twelve monthly total returns the fund reported in its SEC N-PORT filings for 2025 (the latest prospectus does not yet chart this year).
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