Is Associated British Foods (ABF) Halal?

LSE Consumer Defensive United Kingdom $12.9B
✓ HALAL
Confidence: 95/100
Associated British Foods (ABF) is Halal under all 5 major Shariah screening standards. With a debt ratio of just 27.9% against the AAOIFI threshold of 30%, Associated British Foods comfortably passes the key financial ratio tests. The company operates in the Consumer Defensive sector (Packaged Foods), which is not a prohibited industry under Islamic finance principles.

Shariah Screening — 5 Standards

Based on financial data from August 2025

Standard Debt Ratio Cash Ratio Receivables Income Status
AAOIFI 27.9%
/ 30%
8.0%
/ 30%
9.1%
/ 30%
1.22%
/ 5%
✓ HALAL
DJIM 27.9%
/ 33%
8.0%
/ 33%
9.1%
/ 33%
1.22%
/ 5%
✓ HALAL
MSCI 19.1%
/ 33%
5.5%
/ 33%
6.3%
/ 33%
1.22%
/ 5%
✓ HALAL
S&P 27.9%
/ 33%
8.0%
/ 33%
9.1%
/ 33%
1.22%
/ 5%
✓ HALAL
FTSE 19.1%
/ 33%
5.5%
/ 33%
6.3%
/ 50%
1.22%
/ 5%
✓ HALAL

Financial Highlights

P/E Ratio
13.0
Forward: 10.2
EPS
$1.42
Dividend Yield
343.0%
Payout: 44.5%
P/B Ratio
118.4
EV/EBITDA
6.8
EV: $15.8B
Revenue
$19.5B
Growth: -3.8%
Beta
0.9
Average volatility
Current Ratio
1.5

Profitability

Gross Margin 8.1%
Operating Margin 8.8%
Net Margin 5.3%
Return on Equity (ROE) 9.3%
Return on Assets (ROA) 5.4%

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet

Operating Cash Flow$2.2B
Free Cash Flow$997M
Total Debt$3.7B
Debt-to-Equity33.0
Current Ratio1.5
Total Assets$19.3B

Price & Trading

Last CloseGBp 1,831.50
50-Day MAGBp 1,896.49
200-Day MAGBp 2,075.94
Avg Volume1.0M
Beta0.9
52-Week Range
GBp 1,729.45
GBp 2,359.00

About Associated British Foods (ABF)

CEO
Mr. George Garfield Weston
Employees
138,000
Sector
Consumer Defensive
Industry
Packaged Foods
Country
United Kingdom
Exchange
LSE
Market Cap
$12.9B
Currency
GBp

Associated British Foods plc engages in the food, ingredients, and retail businesses worldwide. It operates through five segments: Retail, Grocery, Ingredients, Sugar, and Agriculture. The Retail segment is involved in buying and merchandising clothing and accessories through the Primark and Penneys retail chains, which offer women's, men's, and kidswear, as well as beauty, homeware, and accessories. The Grocery segment manufactures grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic food and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses. The Ingredients segment manufactures yeast and bakery ingredients, specialty ingredients focused on enzymes, procession extracts, health and nutrition, and pharmaceutical delivery systems. The Sugar segment is involved in growing and processing sugar beet and sugar cane. The Agriculture segment manufactures specialty feed ingredients, premix, and compound animal feed; and other products and services for the agriculture sector. The company was incorporated in 1934 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Associated British Foods plc operates as a subsidiary of Wittington Investments Limited.

Purification Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Associated British Foods (ABF) halal to invest in?

Based on our screening using AAOIFI Standard 21 (the strictest methodology), Associated British Foods is Halal. The company passes all financial ratio thresholds for debt, cash, receivables, and impermissible income. We screen against all 5 major standards: AAOIFI, DJIM, MSCI, S&P, and FTSE.

What is Associated British Foods's debt ratio?

Associated British Foods's debt ratio is 27.9% under the AAOIFI standard (which uses market capitalization as the denominator). The AAOIFI threshold is 30%. Under MSCI and FTSE (which use total assets as the denominator), the debt ratio is 19.1%.

Does Associated British Foods require dividend purification?

Yes, Associated British Foods has an impermissible income ratio of 1.22%, which means 1.22% of any dividends received should be donated to charity as purification. This is because a small portion of the company's revenue comes from non-Shariah-compliant sources.

What are Associated British Foods's key financial metrics?

Associated British Foods has a market capitalization of $12.9B, trailing P/E ratio of 13.0, and revenue of $19.5B. The company maintains a gross margin of 8.1% and a net margin of 5.3%. Return on equity stands at 9.3%.

How often is the screening data updated?

Our screening data is updated regularly using the latest available financial statements and market data. Stock prices and market caps are refreshed frequently, while financial statements are updated quarterly when companies report earnings.

Disclaimer: HalalStockGuide.com provides Shariah compliance screening for educational and informational purposes only. This is not a fatwa, financial advice, or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Screening results are based on publicly available financial data and established methodologies. Always consult a qualified Islamic scholar and a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.