Is it permissible to invest in a non-Jewish company that conducts business on Shabbat?
Rabbi Moshe Halevi, in his work Menuchat Ahava (vol. 1, p. 394), rules that Halacha would allow giving money to a gentile during the week as an investment, even if it is clear that the gentile will conduct his business on Shabbat. Since the gentile does his work on Shabbat for his own convenience, and the Jew did not specifically instruct or request that the work be performed on Shabbat, no prohibition is involved. Even though the work performed by the gentile on Shabbat directly affects the Jewish investor, who receives a percentage of the profits, the investment is permissible because the Jew did not specifically request that work be performed on Shabbat. Rabbi Moshe Halevi adds that the issue of Mar'it Ha'ayin – giving the mistaken appearance of violating Halacha – does not arise in such a case, because when the gentile conducts his business on Shabbat it is not evident that this work involves a Jewish investor.
By extension, then, it is entirely permissible to own stock in a company that conducts business, opens its stores, and earns profits on Shabbat. Even though a Jew receives a share of the company's profits, nevertheless, since the employees do not work on Shabbat at the behest of the Jew, and do not give the appearance of doing so, no prohibition is involved.
Thus, one may invest during the week in a non-Jewish company that operates and conducts business on Shabbat.
