UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-07390

 

 

Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

2344 Spruce Street, Suite A, Boulder, CO

 

80302

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Stephen C. Miller, Esq.
2344 Spruce Street, Suite A
Boulder, CO 80302

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(303) 444-5483

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

November 30, 2008

 

 

 

 

Date of reporting period:

August 31, 2008

 

 



 

Item 1 – Schedule of Investments.

 



 

The Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

Portfolio of Investments as of August 31, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Shares

 

Description

 

(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS (97.1%)

 

 

 

DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS (84.2%)

 

 

 

Beverages (2.9%)

 

 

 

127,100

 

Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.

 

$

8,625,006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings - Residential/Commercial (0.6%)

 

 

 

34,100

 

DR Horton, Inc.

 

424,886

 

10,000

 

KB Home

 

208,000

 

22,700

 

Ryland Group, Inc.

 

526,186

 

18,900

 

Toll Brothers, Inc.*

 

470,232

 

 

 

 

 

1,629,304

 

Construction Machinery (1.4%)

 

 

 

60,000

 

Caterpillar, Inc.

 

4,243,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified (39.1%)

 

 

 

690

 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class A*

 

80,454,001

 

9,200

 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B*

 

35,898,400

 

 

 

 

 

116,352,401

 

Diversified Financial Services (1.6%)

 

 

 

106,328

 

Legg Mason, Inc.

 

4,734,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services (0.8%)

 

 

 

125,000

 

Citigroup, Inc.

 

2,373,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Products & Services (1.2%)

 

 

 

52,000

 

Johnson & Johnson

 

3,662,360

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance (2.0%)

 

 

 

131,000

 

American International Group, Inc.

 

2,815,190

 

120,000

 

First American Corp.

 

3,032,400

 

 

 

 

 

5,847,590

 

Manufacturing (3.7%)

 

 

 

150,500

 

Eaton Corp.

 

11,013,590

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (0.6%)

 

 

 

100,000

 

Pfizer, Inc.

 

1,911,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) (0.5%)

 

 

 

75,000

 

Redwood Trust, Inc.

 

1,406,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Registered Investment Company (RIC) (2.5%)

 

 

 

549,200

 

Flaherty & Crumrine/Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund, Inc.

 

7,370,264

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail (24.3%)

 

 

 

72,500

 

The Home Depot, Inc.

 

1,966,200

 

177,000

 

Walgreen Co.

 

6,448,110

 

370,000

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

21,855,900

 

1,180,000

 

Yum! Brands, Inc.

 

42,102,400

 

 

 

 

 

72,372,610

 

Savings & Loan Companies (0.4%)

 

 

 

317,549

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.

 

1,286,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transport - Trucking (2.6%)

 

 

 

60,000

 

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.

 

6,444,000

 

63,100

 

YRC Worldwide, Inc.*

 

1,142,110

 

 

 

 

 

7,586,110

 

TOTAL DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

(Cost $160,392,898)

 

250,414,894

 

 



 

FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS (8.8%)

 

 

 

Canada (0.4%)

 

 

 

123,000

 

Canfor Pulp Income Fund

 

1,144,509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hong Kong (3.8%)

 

 

 

515,000

 

Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

 

7,403,711

 

500,000

 

Henderson Investment Ltd., REIT

 

33,314

 

104,500

 

Henderson Land Development Co., Ltd.

 

636,003

 

6,156,000

 

Midland Holdings, Ltd.

 

3,155,062

 

 

 

 

 

11,228,090

 

Japan (0.1%)

 

 

 

340

 

New City Residence Investment Corp., REIT

 

492,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netherlands (1.5%)

 

 

 

95,117

 

Heineken NV

 

4,470,906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand (1.1%)

 

 

 

4,150,136

 

Kiwi Income Property Trust, REIT

 

3,224,434

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey (0.0%)(1)

 

 

 

57,183

 

Dogus Ge Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi A.S., REIT*

 

37,652

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom (1.9%)

 

 

 

75,000

 

Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR

 

5,580,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

(Cost $23,067,017)

 

26,177,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED SECURITIES (4.1%)

 

 

 

120

 

Cohen & Steers Quality Income & Realty Fund, Series M7

 

3,000,000

 

200

 

Cohen & Steers REIT & Utility Income Fund, Inc., Series T7

 

5,000,000

 

120

 

Duff & Phelps Utility & Corporate Fund

 

3,000,000

 

50

 

Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund, Series B

 

1,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

12,250,000

 

TOTAL AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED SECURITIES

 

 

 

(Cost $12,250,130)

 

12,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LONG TERM INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

(Cost $195,710,045)

 

288,842,559

 

 

Par

 

 

 

Value

 

Value

 

Description

 

(Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (3.0%)

 

 

 

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS (2.6%)

 

 

 

New Zealand (0.8%)

 

 

 

3,550,000

 

New Zealand Treasury Bill, 7.120% due 10/15/2008 NZD

 

2,463,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom (1.8%)

 

 

 

2,900,000

 

United Kingdom Treasury Bill, 5.050% due 12/1/2008 GBP

 

5,219,209

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS

 

 

 

(Cost $8,267,723)

 

7,683,046

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MONEY MARKET FUNDS (0.4%)

 

 

 

1,123,746

 

Dreyfus Treasury, 7 day yield 1.716%

 

1,123,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS

 

 

 

(Cost $1,123,746)

 

1,123,746

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

(Cost $9,391,469)

 

8,806,792

 

 



 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.1%)

 

 

 

(Cost $205,101,514)

 

297,649,351

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES LESS OTHER ASSETS (-0.1%)

 

(307,397

)

TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK (100.0%)

 

297,341,954

 

AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED STOCK (AMPs) REDEMPTION VALUE

 

(77,500,000

)

TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK

 

$

219,841,954

 

 


* Non-income producing security.

(1) Less than 0.05% of Total Net Assets.

 

Common Abbreviations:

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

A.S. - Anonim Sirketi (Turkish: Joint Stock Company)

GBP - British Pound

LP - Limited Partnership

Ltd. - Limited

NV - Naamloze Vennootchap is the Dutch term for a public limited liability corporation

NZD - New Zealand Dollar

PLC - Public Limited Company

 

See accompanying Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.

 



 

Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

August 31, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

Note 1.  Valuation and Investment Practices

 

Portfolio Valuation: The net asset value of the Fund’s Common Stock is determined by the Fund’s administrator no less frequently than on the last business day of each week and month. It is determined by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets attributable to common shares by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. The value of the Fund’s net assets attributable to Common Stock is deemed to equal the value of the Fund’s total assets less (i) the Fund’s liabilities and (ii) the aggregate liquidation value of the outstanding Taxable Auction Market Preferred Stock. Securities listed on a national securities exchange are valued on the basis of the last sale on such exchange or the NASDAQ Official Close Price on the day of valuation. In the absence of sales of listed securities and with respect to securities for which the most recent sale prices are not deemed to represent fair market value, and unlisted securities (other than money market instruments), securities are valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices, or based on a matrix system which utilizes information (such as credit ratings, yields and maturities) from independent sources. Investments for which market quotations are not readily available or do not otherwise accurately reflect the fair value of the investment are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Fund, including reference to valuations of other securities which are considered comparable in quality, maturity and type. Investments in money market instruments, which mature in 60 days or less at the time of purchase, are valued at amortized cost.

 

The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”), effective December 1, 2007. In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. FAS 157 established a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including such a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below.

 

·  Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

·  Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

 

·  Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

The valuation techniques used by the Fund to measure fair value during the nine months ended August 31, 2008 maximized the use of observable inputs and minimized the use of unobservable inputs. The Fund utilized the following fair value techniques: multi-dimensional relational pricing model, option adjusted spread pricing and estimated the price that would have prevailed in a liquid market for an international equity given information available at the time of evaluation.

 



 

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of August 31, 2008 in valuing the Fund’s investments carried at value:

 

Valuation Inputs

 

Investments in
 Securities

 

Level 1—Quoted Prices

 

$

277,716,305

 

Level 2—Other Significant Observable Inputs

 

19,933,046

 

Level 3—Significant Unobservable Inputs

 

 

Total

 

$

297,649,351

 

 


* Other financial instruments include futures, forwards and swap contracts.

 

 Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from securities sold are recorded on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on ex-dividend dates. Interest income is recorded using the interest method.

 

The actual amounts of dividend income and return of capital received from investments in real estate investment trusts (“REITS”) and registered investment companies (“RICS”) at calendar year-end are determined after the end of the fiscal year. The Fund therefore estimates these amounts for accounting purposes until the actual characterization of REIT and RIC distributions is known. Distributions received in excess of the estimate are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments.

 

Foreign Currency Translation: The books and records of the Fund are maintained in US dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated in US dollars at the exchange rate prevailing at the end of the period, and purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses transacted in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate on the dates of such transactions.

 

Foreign currency gains and losses result from fluctuations in exchange rates between trade date and settlement date on securities transactions, foreign currency transactions and the difference between amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received. The portion of foreign currency gains and losses related to fluctuation in exchange rates between the initial purchase trade date and the subsequent sale trade date is included in gains and losses on investment securities sold.

 

Repurchase Agreements: The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions. The Fund’s Management reviews and approves periodically the eligibility of the banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreement transactions. The value of the collateral underlying such transactions is at least equal at all times to the total amount of the repurchase obligations, including interest. The Fund maintains possession of the collateral and, in the event of counterparty default, the Fund has the right to use the collateral to offset losses incurred. There is the possibility of loss to the Fund in the event the Fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its rights to dispose of the collateral securities.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities: The Fund used State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) as its lending agent during the period to loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lenders’ fees. The Fund received cash collateral, which was invested by the lending agent in short-term money market instruments, in an amount at least equal to the current market value of the loaned securities. The cash collateral was invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Prime Portfolio. To the extent that advisory or other fees paid by State Street Navigator Securities Lending Portfolio were for the same or similar services as fees paid by the Fund, there was a layering of fees, which may have increased expenses and decreased returns. Information regarding the value of the securities loaned and the value of the collateral at period end is included at the end of the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Portfolio of Investments in the semi-annual reports to stockholders. Although risk is mitigated by the collateral, the Fund could have experienced a delay in recovering its securities and a possible loss of income or value if the borrower failed to return the securities when due.

 

As of August 31, 2008, the Fund was not participating in a securities lending program.

 



 

Note 2.  Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)

 

At August 31, 2008, based on cost of $205,101,514 for federal income tax purposes, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess value of over tax cost was $112,708,334 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $20,160,497.

 



 

Item 2 - Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)           The Registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 17 CFR 270.300-3(c)) were effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report (the “Evaluation Date”), based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the Evaluation Date.

 

(b)           There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the Registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 3 – Exhibits.

 

(a)                                  Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the Registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is attached hereto as Exhibit 99CERT.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Registrant

  Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Stephen C. Miller

 

 

  Stephen C. Miller, President

 

 

  (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:

  October 28, 2008

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

  /s/ Stephen C. Miller

 

 

  Stephen C. Miller, President

 

 

  (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:

  October 28, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

  /s/ Carl D. Johns

 

 

  Carl D. Johns, Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

  (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

Date:

  October 28, 2008