ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY - FORM N-30B - SEPTEMBER 30, 2012

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LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

 

 

We submit herewith the summary financial information of The Adams Express Company (the Fund) for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

 

Net assets of the Fund at September 30, 2012 were $13.08 per share on 91,106,376 shares outstanding, compared with $11.54 per share at December 31, 2011 on 91,073,899 shares outstanding. On March 1, 2012, a distribution of $0.05 per share was paid, consisting of $0.03 from 2011 investment income, $0.01 from 2011 short-term capital gain, and $0.01 from 2011 long-term capital gain, all taxable in 2012. A 2012 investment income dividend of $0.05 per share was paid June 1, 2012, and another $0.05 per share investment income dividend was paid September 1, 2012. These constitute the first three payments toward our 6% minimum distribution commitment for the year.

 

Net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 amounted to $11,882,313, compared with $9,486,010 for the same nine month period in 2011. These earnings are equal to $0.13 and $0.11 per share, respectively.

 

Net capital gain realized on investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 amounted to $32,438,399, or $0.36 per share.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the total return on the net asset value (with dividends and capital gains reinvested) of the Fund’s shares was 14.9%. The total return on the market value of the Fund’s shares for the period was 19.3%. These compare to a 16.4% total return for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index (“S&P 500”) and a 14.7% total return for the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Funds Average over the same time period.

 

For the twelve months ended September 30, 2012, the Fund’s total return on net asset value was 29.6% and on market value was 31.3%. Comparable figures for the S&P 500 and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average were 30.2% and 27.5%, respectively.

 

 

 

Investors can find the daily net asset value (NAV) per share, the market price, and the discount/premium to the NAV of the Fund on our website: www.adamsexpress.com. Also available there are a history of the Fund, historical financial information, links for electronic delivery of shareholder reports, and other useful content.

 

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Douglas G. Ober

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

 

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David D. Weaver

President

 

October 11, 2012

 

 

 

 


SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

       2012      2011  
At September 30:        

Net asset value per share

     $ 13.08       $ 10.76   

Market price per share

       11.34         9.21   

Shares outstanding

       91,106,376         88,924,926   

Total net assets

       1,191,713,637         957,010,424   

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

       172,325,689         (40,613,122

For the nine months ended September 30:

       

Net investment income

       11,882,313         9,486,010   

Net realized gain

       32,438,399         35,610,153   

Total return (based on market value)

       19.3%         (12.9)%   

Total return (based on net asset value)

       14.9%         (13.8)%   

Key ratios:

       

Net investment income to average net assets (annualized)

       1.40%      1.12%   

Expenses to average net assets (annualized)

       0.64%      0.52%   

Portfolio turnover (annualized)

       27.06%         22.80%   

Net cash & short-term investments to net assets

       2.0%         3.8%   

 

* The ratios of net investment income and expenses to average net assets were 1.43% and 0.61%, respectively, after adjusting for non-recurring pension expenses.

 

 

FIVE YEAR DISTRIBUTION HISTORY

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Year

   Income
Dividends
Per Share
     Short-Term
Capital Gains
Distributions
Per Share
     Long-Term
Capital Gains
Distributions
Per Share
     Total
Dividends and
Distributions
Per Share
     Annual
Distribution
Rate*
 

2007

   $ 0.32       $ 0.08       $ 0.63       $  1.03             7.1

2008

      0.26          0.01          0.37         0.64             5.7   

2009

     0.15         0.05         0.25         0.45             5.2   

2010

     0.14         0.09         0.28         0.51             5.1   

2011

     0.15         0.07         0.43         0.65             6.1   
              

 

 

 
                  Average:         5.8

 

* The annual distribution rate is the total dividends and capital gains distributions during the year divided by the average month-end market price of the Fund’s Common Stock for the calendar year in years prior to 2011 and for the twelve months ended October 31 beginning in 2011, which is consistent with the distribution commitment announced in September 2011.

 

2


CHANGES IN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

 

 

During the Three Months Ended September 30, 2012

(unaudited)

 

     Shares  
     Additions     Reductions     Held
September 30,  2012
 

ADTRAN, Inc.

     32,800          135,000   

American Campus Communities, Inc.

     90,000          90,000   

Apple Inc.

     5,000          88,000   

Boeing Co.

     150,000          150,000   

Catamaran Corp.

     60,000          60,000   

Coach, Inc.

     90,000          90,000   

Coca-Cola Co.

     150,000 (1)        300,000   

Digital Realty Trust Inc.

     15,000          45,000   

eBay Inc.

     150,000          150,000   

F5 Networks, Inc.

     20,000          30,000   

Fifth Third Bancorp

     450,000          450,000   

General Electric Co.

     50,000          730,000   

General Mills, Inc.

     180,000          180,000   

Hancock Holding Co.

     60,000          160,000   

HCP, Inc.

     115,000          115,000   

IDACORP, Inc.

     112,000          112,000   

International Business Machines Corp.

     90,000          90,000   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

     5,000          5,000   

Kinder Morgan Inc.

     140,000          140,000   

McKesson Corp.

     20,000          116,000   

NiSource Inc.

     77,500          210,000   

Terex Corp.

     25,000          285,000   

UnitedHealth Group Inc.

     20,000          247,500   

Express Scripts Holding Co.

       35,000        215,000   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

       35,000        215,000   

Goodrich Corp.

       67,000 (2)      —        

Intel Corp.

       220,000        570,000   

Kansas City Southern

       50,000        50,000   

Life Technologies Corp.

       75,000        125,000   

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

       36,000        274,600   

Morgan Stanley

       120,000        —        

Norfolk Southern Corp.

       25,000        75,000   

Northeast Utilities

       60,000        96,000   

Oracle Corp.

       260,000        500,000   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

       50,000        100,000   

Spectra Energy Corp.

       258,200        147,580   

Target Corp.

       200,000        120,000   

Unilever plc ADR

       115,000        325,000   

 

(1) By stock split.

(2) Received $127.50 cash for each share tendered.

 

3


PORTFOLIO REVIEW

 

 

 

September 30, 2012

(unaudited)

 

 

Ten Largest Equity Portfolio Holdings

        Market Value        % of Net Assets  

Apple Inc.

     $ 58,718,880           4.9

Petroleum & Resources Corp.*

       57,380,950           4.8   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

       24,288,000           2.0   

McDonald's Corp.

       22,020,000           1.9   

Wells Fargo & Co.

       21,063,300           1.8   

Microsoft Corp

       20,846,000           1.8   

AT&T Corp.

       20,735,000           1.7   

Pfizer Inc.

       19,880,000           1.7   

Procter & Gamble Co.

       19,420,800           1.6   

Walt Disney Co.

       18,820,800           1.6   
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 283,173,730           23.8

*Non-controlled affiliated closed-end fund

         

 

 

Sector Weightings

 

 

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4


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

September 30, 2012

(unaudited)

 

    Shares     Value (A)  

Common Stocks — 98.0%

   

Consumer Discretionary — 10.0%

   

BorgWarner, Inc. (C)(F)

    110,000      $ 7,602,100   

Coach, Inc.

    90,000        5,041,800   

Columbia Sportswear Co. (B)

    200,000        10,800,000   

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

    600,000        18,144,000   

Marriott International Inc. (Class A)

    300,000        11,730,000   

McDonald’s Corp. (F)

    240,000        22,020,000   

Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

    400,000        7,636,000   

Ryland Group, Inc.

    333,500        10,005,000   

Target Corp.

    120,000        7,616,400   

Walt Disney Co.

    360,000        18,820,800   
   

 

 

 
      119,416,100   
   

 

 

 

Consumer Staples — 10.3%

   

Avon Products, Inc.

    359,600        5,735,620   

Bunge Ltd.

    130,000        8,716,500   

Coca-Cola Co.

    300,000        11,379,000   

CVS/Caremark Corp.

    295,000        14,283,900   

Diageo plc ADR

    50,000        5,636,500   

General Mills, Inc.

    180,000        7,173,000   

PepsiCo, Inc. (G)

    250,000        17,692,500   

Philip Morris International Inc.

    150,000        13,491,000   

Procter & Gamble Co.

    280,000        19,420,800   

Safeway Inc. (B)

    340,000        5,470,600   

Senomyx, Inc. (B)(C)

    1,284,400        2,440,360   

Unilever plc ADR

    325,000        11,869,000   
   

 

 

 
         123,308,780   
   

 

 

 

Energy — 10.8%

   

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

    50,000        3,496,000   

Chevron Corp. (F)

    156,000        18,183,360   

CONSOL Energy Inc. (F)

    73,700        2,214,685   

Exxon Mobil Corp. (G)

    105,000        9,602,250   

Halliburton Co.

    150,000        5,053,500   

Kinder Morgan Inc.

    140,000        4,972,800   

National Oilwell Varco, Inc. (F)

    100,000        8,011,000   

Noble Corp. (C)

    120,000        4,293,600   

Peabody Energy Corp.

    38,560        859,502   

Petroleum & Resources Corp. (D)

    2,186,774        57,380,950   

Schlumberger Ltd.

    120,000        8,679,600   

Seadrill Ltd.

    40,000        1,568,800   

Spectra Energy Corp.

    147,580        4,332,949   
   

 

 

 
      128,648,996   
   

 

 

 

Financials — 13.7%

   

Banks — 4.0%

   

Fifth Third Bancorp

    450,000        6,979,500   

Hancock Holding Co.

    160,000        4,952,000   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

    235,000        14,828,500   

Wells Fargo & Co.

    610,000        21,063,300   
   

 

 

 
      47,823,300   
   

 

 

 

Diversified Financials — 5.7%

  

 

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. (C)

    40,000        4,920,000   

Bank of America Corp.

    930,000        8,211,900   

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

    403,775        9,133,390   

Capital One Financial Corp.

    225,000        12,827,250   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

    600,000        24,288,000   

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

    135,000        8,545,500   
   

 

 

 
      67,926,040   
   

 

 

 

Insurance — 3.0%

   

ACE Ltd. (C)

    165,000        12,474,000   

AXIS Capital Holdings, Ltd.

    220,000        7,682,400   

MetLife Inc.

       285,000        9,821,100   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

    100,000        5,451,000   
   

 

 

 
      35,428,500   
   

 

 

 

Real Estate — 1.0%

   

American Campus Communities, Inc.

    90,000        3,949,200   

Digital Realty Trust Inc.

    45,000        3,143,250   

HCP, Inc.

    115,000        5,115,200   
   

 

 

 
      12,207,650   
   

 

 

 

Health Care — 13.0%

   

Amerigroup Corp. (C)

    115,000        10,514,450   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

    159,061        5,368,309   

Catamaran Corp. (C)

    60,000        5,878,200   

Celgene Corp. (C)

    120,000        9,168,000   

Express Scripts Holding Co. (C)

    215,000        13,474,050   

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (C)

    215,000        14,260,950   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (C)

    5,000        2,478,150   

Johnson & Johnson

    170,000        11,714,700   

Life Technologies Corp. (C)

    125,000        6,110,000   

McKesson Corp.

    116,000        9,979,480   

Medtronic, Inc.

    350,000        15,092,000   

Pfizer Inc.

    800,000        19,880,000   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ADR

    220,000        9,110,200   

UnitedHealth Group Inc.

    247,500        13,713,975   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

    115,000        7,776,300   
   

 

 

 
      154,518,764   
   

 

 

 

Industrials — 10.7%

   

Boeing Co.

    150,000        10,443,000   

Caterpillar Inc. (F)

    120,000        10,324,800   

Eaton Corp.

    205,000        9,688,300   

Emerson Electric Co.

    170,000        8,205,900   

FedEx Corp.

    115,000        9,731,300   

General Electric Co.

    730,000        16,578,300   

Honeywell International Inc.

    255,000        15,236,250   

Kansas City Southern (F)

    50,000        3,789,000   

Masco Corp.

    725,000        10,911,250   

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    75,000        4,772,250   

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (Class A) (C)

    500,000        11,105,000   

Terex Corp. (C)(F)

    285,000        6,435,300   

United Technologies Corp.

    127,500        9,981,975   
   

 

 

 
         127,202,625   
   

 

 

 

Information Technology — 19.0%

  

 

Semiconductors — 1.4%

   

Broadcom Corp. (Class A) (C)

    100,000        3,458,000   

Intel Corp.

    570,000        12,927,600   
   

 

 

 
      16,385,600   
   

 

 

 

Software & Services — 8.6%

  

 

Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

    200,000        11,732,000   

Cognizant Technology Solutions Group (Class A) (C)

    160,000       
11,187,200
  

eBay Inc. (C)

    150,000        7,261,500   

Google Inc. (Class A) (C)

    22,400        16,900,800   

International Business Machines Corp.

    90,000        18,670,500   

Microsoft Corp.

    700,000        20,846,000   

Oracle Corp.

    500,000        15,745,000   
   

 

 

 
      102,343,000   
   

 

 

 

 

5


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

 

 

September 30, 2012

(unaudited)

 

    Shares     Value (A)  

Technology Hardware & Equipment — 9.0%

   

ADTRAN, Inc. (B)

    135,000      $ 2,332,800   

Apple Inc. (G)

    88,000        58,718,880   

Cisco Systems, Inc.

    850,000        16,226,500   

F5 Networks, Inc. (C)

    30,000        3,141,000   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

       250,000        4,265,000   

NetApp, Inc. (C)

    125,000        4,110,000   

QUALCOMM Inc.

    300,000        18,747,000   
   

 

 

 
      107,541,180   
   

 

 

 

Materials — 3.8%

   

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (F)

    30,000        2,481,000   

CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (F)

    38,531        8,563,129   

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (F)

    65,000        2,543,450   

Dow Chemical Co.

    360,000        10,425,600   

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

    165,700        6,558,406   

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. (F)

    130,100        5,648,942   

Praxair, Inc.

    67,500        7,011,900   

Teck Resources Ltd. (Class B) (F)

    76,000        2,238,200   
   

 

 

 
      45,470,627   
   

 

 

 

Telecom Services — 4.1%

   

AT&T Corp.

    550,000        20,735,000   

CenturyLink, Inc.

    360,000        14,544,000   

Verizon Communications Inc.

    300,000        13,671,000   
   

 

 

 
      48,950,000   
   

 

 

 

Utilities — 2.6%

   

IDACORP, Inc.

    112,000        4,846,240   

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

    274,600        6,052,184   

NiSource Inc.

    210,000        5,350,800   

Northeast Utilities

    96,000        3,670,080   

South Jersey Industries, Inc.

    100,000        5,293,000   

Wisconsin Energy Corp.

    150,000        5,650,500   
   

 

 

 
      30,862,804   
   

 

 

 

Total Common Stocks (Cost $996,006,124)

  

    1,168,033,966   
   

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments — 2.3%

  

 

Money Market Account — 0.6%

  

 

M&T Bank, 0.20%

  $ 7,460,793        7,460,793   
   

 

 

 

Money Market Funds — 1.7%

  

 

Fidelity Institutional Money Market – Money Market Portfolio (Institutional Class), 0.20% (E)

    19,700,152        19,700,152   

RBC U.S. Government Money Market (Institutional Class I), 0.01% (E)

    10,000        10,000   

Vanguard Federal Money Market,
0.01% (E)

    10,000        10,000   

Western Asset Institutional Government Reserves (Institutional Class), 0.06% (E)

    10,000        10,000   
   

 

 

 
      19,730,152   
   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $27,190,945)

      27,190,945   
   

 

 

 

Securities Lending Collateral — 1.5%
(Cost $17,905,387)

  

 

Money Market Funds — 1.5%

  

 

Invesco Short-Term Investment Trust — Liquid Assets Portfolio (Institutional Class), 0.17% (E)

    17,905,387        17,905,387   
   

 

 

 

Total Investments — 101.8%
(Cost $1,041,102,456)

      1,213,130,298   

Cash, receivables, prepaid expenses and
other assets, less liabilities — (1.8)%

   

    (21,416,661
   

 

 

 

Net Assets — 100.0%

    $ 1,191,713,637   
   

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(A) Securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ and are valued at the last reported sale price on the day of valuation.
(B) A portion of shares held are on loan.
(C) Presently non-dividend paying.
(D) Non-controlled affiliate, a closed-end sector fund, registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(E) Rate presented is as of period-end and represents the annualized yield earned over the previous seven days.
(F) All or a portion of this security is pledged to cover open written call option contracts. Aggregate market value of such pledged securities is $18,318,652.
(G) All or a portion of this security is pledged to collateralize open written put option contracts with an aggregate market value to deliver upon exercise of $21,982,000.

 

 

 

This report is transmitted to the shareholders of The Adams Express Company for their information. It is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Fund or of any securities mentioned in the report. The rates of return will vary and the principal value of an investment will fluctuate. Shares, if sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Past performance is no guarantee of future investment results.

 

6


OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

Dividend Payment Schedule

 

The Fund presently pays dividends four times a year, as follows: (a) three interim distributions on or about March 1, June 1, and September 1, and (b) a “year-end” distribution, payable in late December, consisting of the estimated balance of the net investment income for the year, the net realized capital gains earned through October 31 and, if applicable, a return of capital. Shareholders may elect to receive the year-end distribution in stock or cash. In connection with this distribution, all shareholders of record are sent a dividend announcement notice and an election card in mid-November. Shareholders holding shares in “street” or brokerage accounts may make their election by notifying their brokerage house representative.

 

Statement on Quarterly Filing of Complete Portfolio Schedule

 

In addition to publishing its complete schedule of portfolio holdings in the First and Third Quarter Reports to shareholders, the Fund also files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website: www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room, and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Fund also posts a link to its Forms N-Q on its website: www.adamsexpress.com under the headings “Investment Information”, “Financial Reports” and then “SEC Filings”.

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Record

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities owned by the Fund and the Fund’s proxy voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30, 2012 are available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund’s toll free number at (800) 638-2479; (ii) on the Fund’s website: www.adamsexpress.com under the headings “About Adams Express” and “Corporate Information”; and (iii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website: www.sec.gov.

 

Privacy Policy

 

In order to conduct its business, the Fund, through its transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, collects and maintains certain nonpublic personal information about our shareholders of record with respect to their transactions in shares of our securities. This information includes the shareholder’s address, tax identification or Social Security number, share balances, and dividend elections. We do not collect or maintain personal information about shareholders whose shares of our securities are held in “street name” by a financial institution such as a bank or broker.

 

We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you, our other shareholders or our former shareholders to third parties unless necessary to process a transaction, service an account or as otherwise permitted by law.

 

To protect your personal information internally, we restrict access to nonpublic personal information about our shareholders to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to our shareholders. We also maintain certain other safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.

 

 

 

The Adams Express Company

 

Seven St. Paul Street, Suite 1140, Baltimore, MD 21202

(410) 752-5900            (800) 638-2479

Website: www.adamsexpress.com

E-mail: contact@adamsexpress.com

 

 

 

Counsel: Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Custodian of Securities: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

Transfer Agent & Registrar: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

Stockholder Relations Department

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

(877) 260-8188

Website: www.amstock.com

E-mail: info@amstock.com

 

 


THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY

 

 

Board of Directors

 

Enrique R. Arzac 2,3

  Roger W. Gale 2,4

Phyllis O. Bonanno 1,3,5

 

Kathleen T. McGahran 2,3

Kenneth J. Dale 2,4

  Douglas G. Ober 1

Daniel E. Emerson 1,3,5

 

Craig R. Smith 1,3,5

Frederic A. Escherich 1,4,5

 
1. Member of Executive Committee
2. Member of Audit Committee
3. Member of Compensation Committee
4. Member of Retirement Benefits Committee
5. Member of Nominating and Governance Committee

 

Officers

 

Douglas G. Ober, CFA

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

David D. Weaver, CFA

 

President

Nancy J. F. Prue, CFA

 

Executive Vice President

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Richard A. Church

 

Vice President—Research

David R. Schiminger, CFA

 

Vice President—Research

D. Cotton Swindell, CFA

 

Vice President—Research

Brian S. Hook, CFA, CPA

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Christine M. Sloan, CPA

 

Assistant Treasurer

 

 

Stock Data

 

 

Market Price (9/30/12)

   $ 11.34   

Net Asset Value (9/30/12)

   $ 13.08   

Discount:

     13.3%   

 

New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol: ADX

 

NASDAQ Quotation Symbol for NAV: XADEX

 

 

Distributions in 2012

 

 

From Investment Income

   $ 0.13   

From Net Realized Gains

     0.02   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 0.15   
  

 

 

 

 

 

2012 Dividend Payment Dates

 

 

March 1, 2012

June 1, 2012

September 1, 2012

December 27, 2012*

 

*Anticipated

 

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