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, 2007

 

 

 

 

Date of reporting period:

August 31, 2007

 

 



 

Item 1. Schedule of Investments. – The schedule of investments for the period ended August 31, 2007 is filed herewith.

 



 

Portfolio of Investments as of August 31, 2007

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

 

Shares

 

Description

 

Value (Note 1)

 

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS—91.9%

 

 

 

DOMESTIC COMMON STOCKS—77.2%

 

 

 

Beverages—3.0%

 

 

 

220,000

 

Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.

 

10,868,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings - Residential/Commercial—0.5%

 

 

 

18,700

 

Lennar Corp., Class A

 

528,649

 

15,000

 

MDC Holdings, Inc.

 

667,350

 

25,000

 

Pulte Homes, Inc.

 

416,000

 

31,000

 

Standard Pacific Corp.

 

310,930

 

 

 

 

 

1,922,929

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction Machinery—1.2%

 

 

 

60,000

 

Caterpillar, Inc.

 

4,546,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified—32.1%

 

 

 

690

 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class A †

 

81,689,100

 

9,200

 

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., Class B †

 

35,788,000

 

 

 

 

 

117,477,100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services—2.4%

 

 

 

100,000

 

Legg Mason, Inc.

 

8,682,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services—3.7%

 

 

 

293,360

 

Citigroup, Inc.

 

13,752,717

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Care Products & Services—0.9%

 

 

 

52,000

 

Johnson & Johnson

 

3,213,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Insurance—3.3%

 

 

 

53,000

 

American International Group, Inc.

 

3,498,000

 

73,363

 

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

 

1,334,473

 

120,000

 

First American Corporation

 

5,019,600

 

83,000

 

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

 

2,211,950

 

 

 

 

 

12,064,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manufacturing—3.9%

 

 

 

150,500

 

Eaton Corporation

 

14,180,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals—0.7%

 

 

 

100,000

 

Pfizer, Inc.

 

2,484,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REITS—0.8%

 

 

 

75,000

 

Redwood Trust, Inc.

 

2,799,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail—16.0%

 

 

 

100,000

 

The Home Depot, Inc.

 

3,831,000

 

370,000

 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

 

16,143,100

 

1,180,000

 

Yum! Brands, Inc.

 

38,609,600

 

 

 

 

 

58,583,700

 

 

1



 

RICS—2.7%

 

 

 

482,700

 

Flaherty & Crumrine Claymore Preferred Securities Income Fund, Inc.

 

8,973,393

 

52,500

 

Flaherty & Crumrine Claymore Total Return Fund, Inc.

 

981,225

 

 

 

 

 

9,954,618

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Savings & Loan Companies—3.9%

 

 

 

392,549

 

Washington Mutual, Inc.

 

14,414,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transport - Rail—1.3%

 

 

 

60,000

 

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation

 

4,869,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transport - Trucking—0.8%

 

 

 

90,000

 

YRC Worldwide, Inc. †

 

2,772,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Domestic Common Stocks (cost $169,987,001)

 

282,584,526

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOREIGN COMMON STOCKS—11.5%

 

 

 

Canada—0.4%

 

 

 

123,000

 

Canfor Pulp Income Fund

 

1,548,764

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hong Kong—3.5%

 

 

 

500,000

 

Henderson Investment, Ltd., REIT

 

809,312

 

515,000

 

Cheung Kong Holdings, Ltd.

 

7,576,298

 

6,156,000

 

Midland Holdings, Ltd.

 

4,342,579

 

 

 

 

 

12,728,189

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japan—1.0%

 

 

 

772

 

New City Residence Investment Corporation, REIT

 

3,789,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netherlands—1.6%

 

 

 

95,117

 

Heineken NV

 

6,026,980

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand—1.1%

 

 

 

4,150,136

 

Kiwi Income Property Trust, REIT

 

4,222,317

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey—0.0% *

 

 

 

45,000

 

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

 

73,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom—3.9%

 

 

 

75,000

 

Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR

 

6,406,500

 

705,000

 

Lloyds TSB Group PLC

 

7,750,010

 

 

 

 

 

14,156,510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Foreign Common Stocks (cost $31,112,241)

 

42,545,863

 

 

2



 

AUCTION MARKET PREFERRED SECURITIES—3.2%

 

 

 

160

 

BlackRock Preferred Income Strategies Fund, Inc., Series TH28

 

4,000,000

 

220

 

Clough Global Opportunities Fund, Series TH28

 

5,500,000

 

84

 

Cohen & Steers REIT & Utility Income Fund, Inc., Series T28

 

2,100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Auction Market Preferred Securities (cost $11,600,000)

 

11,600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Long Term Investments (cost $212,699,242)

 

336,730,389

 

 

SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS—8.3%

 

Par

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Description

 

Value (Note 1)

 

BANK DEPOSIT—3.7%

 

 

 

13,564,000

 

State Street Bank & Trust Money Market Deposit Account, 4.200% due 9/04/07
(cost $13,564,000)

 

13,564,000

 

 

Par

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Description

 

Value (Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS—2.1%

 

 

 

New Zealand—0.6%

 

 

 

3,300,000

 

New Zealand Treasury Bill, due 10/03/07 (a)

 

2,301,784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom—1.5%

 

 

 

2,741,000

 

United Kingdom Treasury Bill, 7.250% due 12/07/07

 

5,549,102

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government Bonds (cost $8,181,248)

 

7,850,886

 

 

Par

 

 

 

 

 

Value

 

Description

 

Value (Note 1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. TREASURY BILLS—2.5%

 

 

 

9,000,000

 

4.310% due 10/04/07

 

8,964,442

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Short Term Investments (cost $30,709,691)

 

30,379,328

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Investments — 100.2% (cost $243,408,933)

 

$

367,109,717

 

 

 

Other Assets and Liabilities — (0.2%)

 

(637,619

)

 

 

Total Net Assets Available to Common Stock and Preferred Stock — 100%

 

366,472,098

 

 

 

Auction Market Preferred Stock (AMPs) Redemption Value

 

(77,500,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Net Assets Available to Common Stock

 

288,972,098

 

 


 

Non-income producing security.

 

 

 

 

3



 

(a)

 

Zero coupon bond.

 

*

 

Amount represents less than 0.1% of Net Assets

 

ADR   -

 

American Depository Receipt

 

REIT   -

 

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

 

See accompanying notes to financial statements.

 

4



 

Boulder Total Return Fund, Inc.

August 31, 2007  (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 shares 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 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.

 

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.

 

Note 2.  Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation)

 

On August 31, 2007, the net unrealized appreciation on investments based on cost of $243,398,069 for federal income tax purposes was $123,711,648 consisting of $128,734,890  aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost and $(5,023,242) aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value.

 



 

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) were effective as of a date within 90 days prior to 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 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.

 

Certifications of the 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)) are 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.

 

 

BOULDER TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

 

 

 

 

By

 

/s/ Stephen C. Miller

 

 

 

 Stephen C. Miller, President
 (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

Date

 

 10/18/07

 

 

 

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

 

 10/18/07

 

 

 

By

 

/s/ Carl D. Johns

 

 

 

 Carl D. Johns, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer

 (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

Date

 

 10/18/07