FIRST QUARTER REPORT DATED 03/31/2008

 

THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY

 

 

Board of Directors

 

Enrique R. Arzac 2,4

  

Roger W. Gale 1,3,5

Phyllis O. Bonanno 1,4,5

  

Thomas H. Lenagh 2,3

Kenneth J. Dale 3,4

  

Kathleen T. McGahran 1,4,5

Daniel E. Emerson 1,3,5

  

Douglas G. Ober 1

Frederic A. Escherich 2,3

  

Craig R. Smith 2,4

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

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph M. Truta

 

President

David D. Weaver

 

Executive Vice President

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Maureen A. Jones

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

David R. Schiminger

 

Vice President—Research

D. Cotton Swindell

 

Vice President—Research

Christine M. Sloan

 

Assistant Treasurer

Geraldine H. Paré

 

Assistant Secretary

 

 

Stock Data

 

 

Market Price (3/31/08)

   $12.51

Net Asset Value (3/31/08)

   $14.49

Discount:

   13.7%

 

New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol: ADX

NASDAQ Mutual Fund Quotation Symbol: XADEX

Newspaper stock listings are generally under the abbreviation: AdaEx

 

 

Distributions in 2008

 

 

From Investment Income (paid or declared)

   $ 0.08

From Net Realized Gains

     0.02
      

Total

   $ 0.10
      

 

 

2008 Dividend Payment Dates

 

 

March 1, 2008

June 1, 2008

September 1, 2008*

December 27, 2008*

 

*Anticipated

LOGO


LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

 

 

We submit herewith the financial statements of The Adams Express Company (the Company) for the three months ended March 31, 2008. Also provided are a schedule of investments and other financial information.

 

Net assets of the Company at March 31, 2008 were $14.49 per share on 87,133,182 shares outstanding, compared with $15.72 per share at December 31, 2007 on 87,668,847 shares outstanding. On March 1, 2008, a distribution of $0.05 per share was paid, consisting of $0.02 from 2007 investment income, $0.01 from 2007 short-term capital gain, $0.01 from 2007 long-term capital gain, and $0.01 from 2008 investment income, all taxable in 2008. On April 10, 2008 an investment income dividend of $0.05 per share was declared to stockholders of record May 15, 2008, payable June 1, 2008.

 

Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 amounted to $5,702,605, compared with $5,658,809 for the same three month period in 2007. These earnings are equal to $0.07 per share in each period.

 

Net capital gain realized on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 amounted to $8,819,191, or $0.10 per share.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the total return on the net asset value (with dividends and capital gains reinvested) of the Company’s shares was (7.5)%. The total return on the market value of the Company’s shares for the period was (11.1)%. These compare to a (9.4)% total return for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Index and a (10.2)% total return for the Lipper Large Cap Core Mutual Fund Average over the same time period.

 

For the twelve months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s total return on net asset value was (3.3)% and on market value was (4.1)%. Comparable figures for the S&P 500 and the Lipper Large Cap Core Mutual Fund Average were (5.1)% and (5.6)%, respectively.

 

The Annual Meeting was held on March 13, 2008 in Baltimore, Maryland. The results of the voting at the Annual Meeting are shown on page 14.

 

Effective April 1, 2008, the Board of Directors promoted David D. Weaver to the position of Executive Vice President. He becomes a member of the Investment Committee and an integral part of the portfolio management team. Mr. Weaver joined the Company in 2004 as a research analyst covering the industrials and consumer-discretionary sectors.

 

Current and potential stockholders can find information about the Company, including the daily net asset value (NAV) per share, the market price, and the discount/premium to the NAV, on our website at www.adamsexpress.com. Also available on the website are a history of the Company, historical financial information, and other useful content. Further information regarding stockholder services is located on page 15 of this report.

 

 

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Douglas G. Ober,

Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

LOGO

Joseph M. Truta,

President

 

April 11, 2008


STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

Assets

     

Investments* at value:

     

Common stocks and convertible securities
(cost $873,057,667)

   $ 1,118,983,342   

Non-controlled affiliate, Petroleum & Resources Corporation
(cost $34,735,404)

     79,664,177   

Short-term investments (cost $61,589,754)

     61,589,754   

Securities lending collateral (cost $55,479,892)

     55,479,892    $ 1,315,717,165  

Cash

        349,759  

Receivables:

     

Investment securities sold

        51,379  

Dividends and interest

        1,322,360  

Prepaid pension cost

        3,093,318  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

            2,472,331  

Total Assets

            1,323,006,312  

Liabilities

     

Investment securities purchased

        1,331,287  

Open written option contracts at value (proceeds $674,431)

        545,700  

Obligations to return securities lending collateral

        55,479,892  

Accrued expenses

            3,351,768  

Total Liabilities

            60,708,647  

Net Assets

          $ 1,262,297,665  

Net Assets

     

Common Stock at par value $0.001 per share, authorized 150,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 87,133,182 shares (includes 107,470 restricted shares, 7,500 restricted stock units, and 5,799 deferred stock units) (Note 6)

      $ 87,133  

Additional capital surplus

        958,722,175  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 5)

        (1,764,093 )

Undistributed net investment income

        6,113,620  

Undistributed net realized gain on investments

        8,155,651  

Unrealized appreciation on investments

            290,983,179  

Net Assets Applicable to Common Stock

          $ 1,262,297,665  

Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock

            $14.49  

 

* See Schedule of Investments on pages 9 and 10.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

2


STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

Investment Income

  

Income:

  

Dividends:

  

From unaffiliated issuers

   $ 6,341,916  

From non-controlled affiliate

     174,942  

Interest and other income

     690,980  

Total income

     7,207,838  

Expenses:

  

Investment research

     577,484  

Administration and operations

     328,154  

Insurance

     99,492  

Transfer agent, registrar and custodian expenses

     98,635  

Directors’ fees

     89,523  

Reports and stockholder communications

     70,448  

Investment research services

     52,419  

Occupancy and other office expenses

     45,701  

Auditing and accounting services

     34,588  

Travel, telephone and postage

     24,443  

Legal services

     18,016  

Other

     66,330  

Total expenses

     1,505,233  

Net Investment Income

     5,702,605  

Other Comprehensive Income (Note 5)

     216,070  

Realized Gain and Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

  

Net realized gain on security transactions

     8,709,852  

Net realized gain distributed by regulated investment company (non-controlled affiliate)

     109,339  

Change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     (119,471,791 )

Net Loss on Investments

     (110,652,600 )

Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ (104,733,925 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

3


STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

 

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008
    Year Ended
December 31, 2007
 
     (unaudited)        

From Operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 5,702,605     $ 25,884,799  

Net realized gain on investments

     8,819,191       60,426,376  

Change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     (119,471,791 )     (8,301,286 )

Other comprehensive income (Note 5)

     216,070       (156,058 )

Change in net assets resulting from operations

     (104,733,925 )     77,853,831  

Distributions to Stockholders from:

    

Net investment income

     (2,622,695 )     (27,409,018 )

Net realized gain from investment transactions

     (1,749,608 )     (60,607,292 )

Decrease in net assets from distributions

     (4,372,303 )     (88,016,310 )

From Capital Share Transactions:

    

Value of shares issued in payment of distributions

     2,471       33,223,573  

Cost of shares purchased (Note 4)

     (7,242,206 )     (22,516,525 )

Deferred compensation (Notes 4,6)

     164,101       516,648  

Change in net assets from capital share transactions

     (7,075,634 )     11,223,696  

Total Change in Net Assets

     (116,181,862 )     1,061,217  

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of period

     1,378,479,527       1,377,418,310  

End of period (including undistributed net investment
income of $6,113,620 and $3,033,710, respectively)

   $ 1,262,297,665     $ 1,378,479,527  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

 

4


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

 

 

1. Significant Accounting Policies

 

The Adams Express Company (the Company) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified investment company. The Company is an internally-managed fund whose investment objectives are preservation of capital, the attainment of reasonable income from investments, and an opportunity for capital appreciation.

 

Affiliated Companies — Investments in companies 5% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are held by the Company are defined as “Affiliated Companies” in Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

Security Transactions and Investment Income — Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Gain or loss on sales of securities and options is determined on the basis of identified cost. Dividend income and distributions to stockholders are recognized on the ex-dividend date, and interest income is recognized on the accrual basis.

 

Security Valuation — Investments in securities traded on a national security exchange are valued at the last reported sale price on the day of valuation. Over-the-counter and listed securities for which a sale price is not available are valued at the last quoted bid price. Short-term investments (excluding purchased options) are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value. Purchased and written options are valued at the last quoted asked price.

 

The Company adopted Financial Accounting Standard Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157”), effective January 1, 2008. There was no impact on the fair value of assets individually or in aggregate upon adoption. In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined as the price that the Company would receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer. FAS 157 established a three-tier hierarchy to establish classification of fair value measurements, summarized as follows:

 

   

Level 1 — fair value is determined based on market data obtained from independent sources; for example, quoted prices in active markets for identical investments,

   

Level 2 — fair value is determined using other assumptions obtained from independent sources; for example, quoted prices for similar investments,

   

Level 3 — fair value is determined using the Company’s own assumptions, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

The Company’s investments at March 31, 2008 as classified as follows:

 

     Investment in
securities
    Written options

Level 1

   $ 1,198,647,519       $545,700

Level 2

     117,069,646 *           —    

Level 3

                 —    

Total

   $ 1,315,717,165     $ 545,700

 

* Comprised of short-term investments and securities lending collateral.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes

 

The Company’s policy is to distribute all of its taxable income to its stockholders in compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. For federal income tax purposes, the identified cost of securities at March 31, 2008 was $1,024,375,466 and net unrealized appreciation aggregated $291,341,699, of which the related gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation were $409,885,717 and $118,544,018, respectively.

 

Distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, annual reclassifications are made within the Company’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution under income tax regulations. Any income tax-related interest or penalties would be classified as income tax expense.

 

3. Investment Transactions

 

The Company’s investment decisions are made by a committee of management, and recommendations to that committee are made by the research staff.

 

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities, other than options and short-term investments, during the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $37,780,177 and $12,680,053, respectively. Options may be written (sold) or purchased by the Company. The Company, as writer of an option, bears the risks of possible illiquidity of the option markets and from movements in security values. The risk associated with purchasing an option is limited to the premium originally paid. A schedule of outstanding option contracts as of March 31, 2008 can be found on page 12.

 

Transactions in written covered call and collateralized put options during the three months ended March 31, 2008 were as follows:

 

    Covered Calls     Collateralized Puts  
    Contracts     Premiums     Contracts     Premiums  

Options outstanding,
December 31, 2007

  1,757     $ 197,788     1,726     $ 194,530  

Options written

  3,600       427,488     2,150       268,867  

Options terminated in closing purchase transactions

                   

Options expired

  (1,957 )     (206,180 )   (1,150 )     (127,998 )

Options exercised

            (726 )     (80,064 )

Options outstanding,
March 31, 2008

  3,400     $ 419,096     2,000     $ 255,335  

 

4. Capital Stock

 

The Company has 10,000,000 authorized and unissued preferred shares, $0.001 par value.

 

On December 27, 2007, the Company issued 2,381,872 shares of its Common Stock at a price of $13.945 per share (the average market price on December 10, 2007) to stockholders of record on November 21, 2007 who elected to take stock in payment of the year-end distribution from 2007 capital gain and investment income. In addition, 597 shares were issued at a weighted average price of $14.00 per share as dividend equivalents to holders of deferred stock units and restricted stock units under the 2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

During 2008, the Company has issued 368 shares of its Common Stock at a weighted average price of $12.98 per share as dividend equivalents to holders of deferred stock units and restricted stock units under the 2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

The Company may purchase shares of its Common Stock from time to time at such prices and amounts as the Board of Directors may deem advisable.

 

5


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

 

 

Transactions in Common Stock for 2008 and 2007 were as follows:

 

    Shares     Amount  
    Three months
ended
March 31,
2008
    Year ended
December 31,
2007
    Three months
ended
March 31,
2008
    Year ended
December 31,

2007
 

Shares issued in payment of distributions

  368     2,382,469     $ 2,471     $ 33,223,573  

Shares purchased (at a weighted average discount from net asset value of 13.0% and 13.2%, respectively)

  (575,308 )   (1,585,773 )     (7,242,206 )     (22,516,525 )

Net activity under the Equity-Based Compensation Plans

  39,275     33,928       164,101       516,648  

Net change

  (535,665 )   830,624     $ (7,075,634 )   $ 11,223,696  

 

5. Retirement Plans

 

The Company’s non-contributory qualified defined benefit pension plan (“qualified plan”) covers all employees with at least one year of service. In addition, the Company has a non-contributory nonqualified defined benefit plan which provides eligible employees with retirement benefits to supplement the qualified plan. Benefits are based on length of service and compensation during the last five years of employment.

 

The funded status of the plans is recognized as an asset (overfunded plan) or a liability (underfunded plan) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Changes in the prior service costs and accumulated actuarial gains and losses are recognized as accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of net assets, in the year in which the changes occur.

 

The Company’s policy is to contribute annually to the plans those amounts that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes, plus additional amounts as the Company deems appropriate in order to provide assets sufficient to meet benefits to be paid to plan participants. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company did not contribute to the plans. The Company does not anticipate making any contribution to the overfunded qualified plan in 2008.

 

The following table aggregates the components of the plans’ net periodic pension cost:

 

     Three months
ended
March 31,
2008
    Year ended
December 31,
2007
 

Service cost

   $ 84,411     $ 487,315  

Interest cost

     112,280       568,495  

Expected return on plan assets

     (172,935 )     (855,553 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     23,965       94,508  

Amortization of net loss

     29,725       162,625  

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 77,446     $ 457,390  

 

The Company also sponsors a defined contribution plan that covers substantially all employees. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company expensed contributions of $42,103. The Company does not provide postretirement medical benefits.

 

6. Equity-Based Compensation

 

Although the Stock Option Plan of 1985 (“1985 Plan”) has been discontinued and no further grants will be made under this plan, unexercised grants of stock options and stock appreciation rights granted in 2004 and prior years remain outstanding. The exercise price of the unexercised options and related stock appreciation rights is the fair market value on date of grant, reduced by the per share amount of capital gains paid by the Company during subsequent years. All options and related stock appreciation rights terminate 10 years from date of grant, if not exercised.

 

A summary of option activity under the 1985 Plan as of March 31, 2008, and changes during the three month period then ended, is presented below:

 

     Options     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)

Outstanding at December 31, 2007

   146,804     $ 11.63    3.47

Exercised

   (9,246 )   $ 8.63   

Outstanding at March 31, 2008

   137,558     $ 11.82    3.41

Exercisable at March 31, 2008

   89,258     $ 11.59    3.18

 

The options outstanding as of March 31, 2008 are set forth below:

 

Exercise Price

   Options
Outstanding
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life (Years)

$7.00-$9.24

   18,222    $ 7.67    4.75

$9.25-$11.49

   68,188      10.12    3.86

$11.50-$13.74

        —     

$13.75-$16.00

   51,148      15.56    2.34

Outstanding at March 31, 2008

   137,558    $ 11.82    3.41

 

Compensation cost resulting from stock options and stock appreciation rights granted under the 1985 Plan is based on the intrinsic value of the award, recognized over the award’s vesting period, and remeasured at each reporting date through the date of settlement. The total compensation cost/(credit) recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $(111,960).

 

The 2005 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan (“2005 Plan”), adopted at the 2005 Annual Meeting, permits the grant of stock options, restricted stock awards and other stock incentives to key employees and all non-employee directors. The 2005 Plan provides for the issuance of up to 3,413,131 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, including both performance and nonperformance-based restricted stock. Performance-based restricted stock awards vest at the end of a specified three year period, with the ultimate number of shares earned contingent on achievement of certain performance targets. If performance targets are not achieved, all or a portion of the performance-based awards are forfeited and become available for future grants. Nonperformance-based restricted stock awards vest ratably over a three year period and nonperformance-based restricted stock units (granted to non-employee directors) vest over a one year period. It is the current intention that employee grants will be performance-based. The 2005 Plan provides for accelerated vesting in the event of death or retirement. Non-

 

6


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

 

 

employee directors also may elect to defer a portion of their cash compensation, with such deferred amount to be paid by delivery of deferred stock units. Outstanding awards are granted at fair market value on grant date. The number of shares of Common Stock which remains available for future grants under the 2005 Plan at March 31, 2008 is 3,259,202 shares.

 

A summary of the status of the Company’s awards granted under the 2005 Plan as of March 31, 2008, and changes during the three month period then ended, is presented below:

 

Awards

   Shares/
Units
     Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value

Balance at December 31, 2007

   87,471      $ 13.29

Granted:

     

Restricted stock

   31,306        13.18

Restricted stock units

   7,500        12.49

Deferred stock units

   492        13.79

Vested

   (6,000 )      14.07

Forfeited

         

Balance at March 31, 2008 (includes 4,116 performance-based awards and 116,653 nonperformance-based awards)

   120,769      $ 13.02

 

Compensation costs resulting from awards granted under the 2005 Plan are based on the fair value of the award on grant date (determined by the average of the high and low price on grant date) and recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For those awards with performance conditions, compensation costs are based on the most probable outcome and, if such goals are not met, compensation cost is not recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed. The total compensation costs for restricted stock granted to employees for the period ending March 31, 2008 were $126,799. The total compensation costs for restricted stock units granted to non- employee directors for the period ended March 31, 2008 were $30,556. As of March 31, 2008, there were total unrecognized compensation costs of $834,850, a component of additional capital surplus, related to nonvested equity-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2005 Plan. Those costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.03 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the period ended March 31, 2008 was $75,900.

 

7. Officer and Director Compensation

 

The aggregate remuneration paid during the three months ended March 31, 2008 to officers and directors amounted to $1,204,917, of which $105,281 was paid as fees and compensation to directors who were not officers. These amounts represent the taxable income to the Company’s officers and directors and therefore differ from the amounts reported in the accompanying Statement of Operations that are recorded and expensed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

8. Portfolio Securities Loaned

 

The Company makes loans of securities to brokers, secured by cash deposits, U.S. Government securities, or bank letters of credit. The Company accounts for securities lending transactions as secured financing and receives compensation in the form of fees or retains a portion of interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The Company also continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. The loans are secured at all times by collateral of at least 102% of the fair value of the securities loaned plus accrued interest. Gain or loss in the fair value of the securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Company. At March 31, 2008, the Company had securities on loan of $54,040,100 and held collateral of $55,479,892, consisting of an investment trust fund which may invest in money market instruments, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, U.S. Treasury Bills, and U.S. agency obligations.

 

 

 

 

This report, including the financial statements herein, is transmitted to the stockholders 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 Company 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 not indicative of future
investment results.

 

7


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

    Three Months Ended                        
    (unaudited)     Year Ended December 31
    March 31,
2008
    March 31,
2007
    2007   2006   2005     2004   2003
   

Per Share Operating Performance

               
   

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $15.72        $15.86        $15.86      $14.71      $15.04        $14.36      $12.12   
   

Net investment income

  0.07     0.07     0.30*   0.23   0.22     0.23**   0.19
   

Net realized gains and increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation

  (1.26)     0.20     0.61   1.86   0.32     1.39   2.85
   

Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (note 5)

  0.00     0.00     0.00   (0.02)   —          —        —     
   

Total from investment operations

  (1.19)     0.27     0.91   2.07   0.54     1.62   3.04
   

Less distributions

               
   

Dividends from net investment
income

  (0.03)     (0.04)     (0.32)   (0.23)   (0.22)     (0.24)   (0.17)
   

Distributions from net realized
gains

  (0.02)     (0.01)     (0.71)   (0.67)   (0.64)     (0.66)   (0.61)
   

Total distributions

  (0.05)     (0.05)     (1.03)   (0.90)   (0.86)     (0.90)   (0.78)
   

Capital share repurchases

  0.01     0.02     0.04   0.04   0.05     0.02   0.04
   

Reinvestment of distributions

  —          —          (0.06)   (0.06)   (0.06)     (0.06)   (0.06)
   

Total capital share transactions

  0.01     0.02     0.02   (0.02)   (0.01)     (0.04)   (0.02)
   

Net asset value, end of period

  $14.49     $16.10     $15.72   $15.86   $14.71     $15.04   $14.36
   

Per share market price, end
of period

  $12.51     $14.02     $14.12   $13.87   $12.55     $13.12   $12.41
   

Total Investment Return

               
   

Based on market price

  (11.1)%     1.5%     9.4%   17.9%   2.2%     13.2%   25.2%
   

Based on net asset value

  (7.5)%     1.9%     6.5%   15.0%   4.5%     12.1%   26.3%
   

Ratios/Supplemental Data

               
   

Net assets, end of period
(in 000’s)

  $1,262,298       $1,386,292       $1,378,480     $1,377,418     $1,266,729       $1,295,549     $1,218,862  
   

Ratio of expenses to average
net assets

  0.46%   0.49%   0.44%   0.50%   0.45%     0.43%   0.47%
   

Ratio of net investment income
to average net assets

  1.75%   1.64%   1.82%   1.50%   1.44%     1.54%   1.45%
   

Portfolio turnover

  4.14%   10.04%   10.46%   10.87%   12.96%     13.43%   12.74%
   

Number of shares outstanding at
end of period (in 000’s)

  87,133     86,079     87,669   86,838   86,100     86,135   84,886

 

  * In 2007 the Company received $5,100,000, or $0.06 per share, in a special cash dividend from Dean Foods Co., of which $2,295,000, or $0.03 per share, was considered a taxable dividend.
** In 2004 the Company received $2,400,000, or $0.03 per share, in an extraordinary dividend from Microsoft Corp.
  † Ratios presented on an annualized basis.

 

8


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

 

     Shares   Value (A)

Stocks and Convertible Securities — 94.9%

 

Consumer — 18.0%

 

Consumer Discretionary — 5.3%

 

Comcast Corp.

  525,000   $ 10,153,500

Gannett Co., Inc. (B)

  112,500     3,268,125

Harley-Davidson, Inc.

  130,000     4,875,000

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

  600,000     13,764,000

Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

  400,000     9,148,000

Ryland Group Inc. (B)

  343,500     11,297,715

Target Corp.

  290,000     14,697,200
       
      67,203,540
       

Consumer Staples — 12.7%

   

Avon Products, Inc. 

  402,400     15,910,896

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (C)

  400,000     14,276,000

Bunge Ltd.

  100,000     8,688,000

Coca-Cola Co. 

  200,000     12,174,000

CVS/Caremark Corp.

  250,000     10,127,500

Dean Foods Co.

  340,000     6,830,600

Del Monte Foods Co.

  1,300,000     12,389,000

PepsiCo, Inc.

  360,000     25,992,000

Procter & Gamble Co.

  340,000     23,823,800

Safeway Inc.

  390,000     11,446,500

Unilever plc ADR

  550,000     18,546,000
       
      160,204,296
       

Energy — 14.3%

   

ConocoPhillips

  295,000     22,481,950

ENSCO International, Inc.

  209,150     13,096,973

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  215,000     18,184,700

Marathon Oil Co.

  240,000     10,944,000

Petroleum & Resources
Corporation (D)

  2,186,774     79,664,177

Schlumberger Ltd.

  380,000     33,060,000

Transocean Inc. (C)

  20,000     2,704,000
       
      180,135,800
       

Financials — 14.4%

   

Banking — 11.7%

   

Bank of America Corp.

  730,000     27,674,300

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

  403,775     16,849,531

Fifth Third Bancorp

  280,000     5,857,600

Morgan Stanley

  200,000     9,140,000

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The)

  200,000     13,114,000

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.

  250,000     7,165,000

State Street Corp.

  260,000     20,540,000

Visa Inc. (C)

  20,000     1,247,200

Wachovia Corp. (B)

  570,000     15,390,000

Wells Fargo & Co.

  665,000     19,351,500

Wilmington Trust Corp.

  363,000     11,289,300
       
      147,618,431
       
     Shares   Value (A)

Insurance — 2.7%

   

American International Group, Inc.

  500,000   $ 21,625,000

Prudential Financial, Inc.

  170,000     13,302,500
       
      34,927,500
       

Health Care — 11.5%

   

Abbott Laboratories

  320,000     17,648,000

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

  345,000     7,348,500

Genentech, Inc. (C)

  220,000     17,859,600

Johnson & Johnson

  255,000     16,541,850

Medtronic, Inc.

  310,000     14,994,700

Pfizer Inc.

  1,120,000     23,441,600

Senomyx, Inc. (B)(C)

  984,400     5,807,960

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. ADR

  370,000     17,090,300

Wyeth Co.

  325,000     13,572,000

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (C)

  140,000     10,900,400
       
      145,204,910
       

Industrials — 15.4%

   

Cintas Corp.

  300,000     8,562,000

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

  360,000     14,932,800

Emerson Electric Co.

  400,000     20,584,000

General Electric Co.

  1,388,000     51,369,880

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

  250,000     12,057,500

Masco Corp. (B)

  450,000     8,923,500

Oshkosh Corp. (B)

  295,000     10,702,600

3M Co.

  160,000     12,664,000

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (C)

  525,000     11,644,500

Tata Motors Ltd. ADR

  750,000     11,715,000

United Parcel Service, Inc.

  155,000     11,318,100

United Technologies Corp.

  300,000     20,646,000
       
      195,119,880
       

Information Technology — 10.6%

 

Communication Equipment — 1.0%

 

Corning Inc.

  500,000     12,020,000
       

Computer Related — 7.9%

   

Automatic Data Processing Inc.

  300,000     12,717,000

Cisco Systems, Inc. (C)

  850,000     20,476,500

Dell Inc. (C)

  585,000     11,653,200

Microsoft Corp.

  1,180,000     33,488,400

Oracle Corp. (C)

  1,100,000     21,516,000
       
      99,851,100
       

Electronics — 1.7%

   

Broadcom Corp. (C)

  400,000     7,708,000

Intel Corp.

  640,000     13,555,200
       
      21,263,200
       

 

9


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

     Shares/
Prin. Amt
  Value (A)

Materials — 5.3%

   

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    230,000   $ 21,160,000

du Pont (E.I.) de Nemours and Co.

    360,000     16,833,600

Lubrizol Corp

    220,000     12,212,200

Rohm & Haas Co.

    300,000     16,224,000
       
      66,429,800
       

Telecom Services — 1.5%

 

AT&T Corp.

    400,000     15,320,000

Windstream Corp.

    310,178     3,706,627
       
      19,026,627
       

Utilities — 3.9%

   

Aqua America, Inc. (B)

    499,000     9,371,220

Duke Energy Corp.

    611,560     10,916,346

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

    562,500     13,809,375

Northeast Utilities

    350,000     8,589,000

Spectra Energy Corp.

    305,780     6,956,494
       
      49,642,435
       

Total Stocks and Convertible Securities
(Cost $907,793,071) (E)

    1,198,647,519
       

Short-Term Investments — 4.9%

 

U.S. Government Obligations — 1.6%

 

U.S. Treasury Bills, 2.18%, due 5/15/08

  $ 20,000,000     19,946,711
       

Time Deposit — 0.0%

   

Wachovia Bank,
1.70%, due 4/1/08

      565,897
       

Commercial Paper — 3.3%

   

AIG Funding, Inc.,
2.85%, due 4/22/08

    $3,600,000     3,594,015

 

     Prin. Amt.   Value (A)  
   

Chevron Funding Corp.,
2.25%, due 4/3/08

  $ 7,500,000   $ 7,499,063  

General Electric Capital Corp.,
2.27-2.30%,
due 4/8/08-4/10/08

    15,000,000     14,992,604  

Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 1.84-2.44%,
due 4/1/08-4/17/08

    15,000,000     14,991,464  
         
      41,077,146  
         

Total Short-Term Investments
(Cost $61,589,754)

    61,589,754  
         

Total Securities Lending Collateral — 4.4%
(Cost $55,479,892)

 

Brown Brothers Investment
Trust, 3.02%, due 4/1/08

      55,479,892  
         

Total Investments — 104.2%
(Cost $1,024,862,717)

    1,315,717,165  

Cash, receivables, prepaid pension cost, prepaid expenses and other assets, less liabilities — (4.2)%

    (53,419,500 )
         

Net Assets — 100%

    $ 1,262,297,665  
         

 

Notes:

(A) See note 1 to financial statements. Securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ.
(B) Some of the shares of this company are on loan. See note 8 to financial statements.
(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) The aggregate market value of stocks held in escrow at March 31, 2008 covering open call option contracts written was $17,931,100. In addition, the aggregate market value of securities segregated by the Company’s custodian required to collateralize open put option contracts written was $13,112,500.

 

10


PORTFOLIO SUMMARY

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

 

Ten Largest Portfolio Holdings

 

      Market Value      % of Net Assets  

Petroleum & Resources Corporation*

   $ 79,664,177      6.3  

General Electric Co.

     51,369,880      4.1  

Microsoft Corp.

     33,488,400      2.6  

Schlumberger Ltd.

     33,060,000      2.6  

Bank of America Corp.

     27,674,300      2.2  

PepsiCo, Inc.

     25,992,000      2.0  

Procter & Gamble Co.

     23,823,800      1.9  

Pfizer Inc.

     23,441,600      1.9  

ConocoPhillips

     22,481,950      1.8  

American International Group, Inc.

     21,625,000      1.7  
               

Total

   $ 342,621,107      27.1 %

*Non-controlled affiliate

 

 

Sector Weightings

 

LOGO

 

11


SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING OPTION CONTRACTS

 

 

 

March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

Contracts
(100 shares
each)
   Security    Strike
Price
   Contract
Expiration
Date
   Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
COVERED CALLS  
200   

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

   $    115          Sep   08    $ (3,600 )
200   

American International Group, Inc.

   60    Aug   08      13,499  
150   

Avon Products, Inc.

   45    Jul   08      3,675  
250   

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.

   40    Jun   08      (4,410 )
200   

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.

   45    Sep   08      (1,700 )
100   

ENSCO International, Inc.

   65    Apr   08      (5,290 )
100   

Genentech, Inc.

   100    Sep   08      1,200  
100   

Marathon Oil Co.

   55    Apr   08      19,780  
100   

Marathon Oil Co.

   60    Apr   08      9,200  
250   

PepsiCo, Inc.

   75    Jul   08      (17,625 )
200   

Rohm & Haas Co.

   55    Apr   08      (3,600 )
200   

Rohm & Haas Co.

   60    Apr   08      24,399  
250   

Ryland Group Inc.

   50    Jul   08      8,220  
200   

Ryland Group Inc.

   50    Oct   08      (3,600 )
100   

State Street Corp.

   90    Apr   08      5,700  
100   

State Street Corp.

   95    Apr   08      11,450  
150   

State Street Corp.

   105    Aug   08      (2,700 )
200   

Target Corp.

   65    Jul   08      12,199  
200   

Target Corp.

   67.50    Jul   08      11,200  
150   

Wells Fargo & Co.

   35    Apr   08      13,049  
                     
3,400                 91,046  
                     
COLLATERALIZED PUTS  
50   

Bunge Ltd.

   75    Apr   08      (1,900 )
100   

Bunge Ltd.

   80    Apr   08      (12,800 )
100   

Bunge Ltd.

   65    May   08      (6,300 )
100   

Oshkosh Corp.

   35    Apr   08      2,344  
100   

Oshkosh Corp.

   40    Apr   08      (21,300 )
150   

Procter & Gamble Co.

   57.50    Jul   08      8,550  
100   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

   60    Apr   08      7,700  
100   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

   65    Apr   08      7,700  
250   

Prudential Financial, Inc.

   55    Jun   08      5,499  
250   

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc.

   20    Jul   08      (3,250 )
200   

Target Corp.

   40    Apr   08      14,374  
100   

Transocean Inc.

   115    Apr   08      8,269  
200   

Transocean Inc.

   120    Apr   08      19,399  
100   

Transocean Inc.

   105    May   08      6,700  
100   

Transocean Inc.

   115    May   08      2,700  
                     
2,000                 37,685  
                     
              $ 128,731  
                   

 

 

 

Common Stock

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange

 

The Adams Express Company

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

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

Website: www.adamsexpress.com

E-mail: contact@adamsexpress.com

Counsel: Chadbourne & Parke L.L.P.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Transfer Agent & Registrar: American Stock Transfer & Trust Co.

Custodian of Securities: Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

 

12


CHANGES IN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES

 

 

 

During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008

(unaudited)

 

     Shares
     Additions    Reductions    Held
March 31, 2008

CVS/Caremark Corp. 

   41,250       250,000

Morgan Stanley

   10,000       200,000

Northeast Utilities

   151,000       350,000

Oshkosh Corp. 

   15,000       295,000

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.

   50,000       250,000

Prudential Financial Inc. 

   170,000       170,000

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. 

   100,000       525,000

Tata Motors Ltd. ADR

   465,000       750,000

Transocean Inc. 

   20,000       20,000

Visa Inc. 

   20,000       20,000

Wachovia Corp. 

   25,000       570,000

Wells Fargo & Co. 

   15,000       665,000

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. 

   7,600       140,000

PepsiCo, Inc. 

      40,000    360,000

Rohm & Haas Co. 

      90,000    300,000

State Street Corp. 

      63,895    260,000

 

 

HISTORICAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS

 

(unaudited)

Dec. 31

 

Value Of
Net Assets

  Shares
Outstanding*
  Net Asset
Value Per
Share*
  Market
Value
Per Share*
  Dividends
From
Investment
Income
Per Share*
    Distributions
From Net
Realized
Gains
Per Share*
    Total
Dividends
and
Distributions
Per Share*
   

Annual
Rate of
Distribution**
 

1998

  $ 1,688,080,336   $ 77,814,977   $ 21.69   $ 17.75   $ .30     $ 1.10     $ 1.40     8.17 %

1999

    2,170,801,875     80,842,241     26.85     22.38     .26       1.37       1.63     8.53  

2000

    1,951,562,978     82,292,262     23.72     21.00     .22       1.63       1.85     7.76  

2001

    1,368,366,316     85,233,262     16.05     14.22     .26       1.39       1.65     9.44  

2002

    1,024,810,092     84,536,250     12.12     10.57     .19       .57       .76     6.14  

2003

    1,218,862,456     84,886,412     14.36     12.41     .17       .61       .78     6.80  

2004

    1,295,548,900     86,135,292     15.04     13.12     .24       .66       .90     7.05  

2005

    1,266,728,652     86,099,607     14.71     12.55     .22       .64       .86     6.65  

2006

    1,377,418,310     86,838,223     15.86     13.87     .23       .67       .90     6.80  

2007

    1,378,479,527     87,668,847     15.72     14.12     .32       .71       1.03     7.15  

March 31, 2008

    1,262,297,665     87,133,182     14.49     12.51     .08     .02     .10    

 

  * Adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split effected in October 2000.
** The annual rate of distribution is the total dividends and capital gain distributions during the year divided by the average daily market price of the Company’s Common Stock.
Paid or declared.

 

13


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on March 13, 2008. The following votes were cast for directors:

 

     votes for    votes withheld

Enrique R. Arzac:

   69,994,781    3,504,910

Phyllis O. Bonanno:

   70,891,835    2,607,856

Kenneth J. Dale:

   70,777,371    2,722,320

Daniel E. Emerson:

   69,604,018    3,895,673

Frederic A. Escherich:

   71,002,571    2,497,120

Roger W. Gale:

   70,952,935    2,546,756

Thomas H. Lenagh:

   69,517,337    3,982,353

Kathleen T. McGahran:

   70,970,650    2,529,040

Douglas G. Ober:

   70,013,482    3,486,208

Craig R. Smith:

   70,946,912    2,552,779

 

A proposal to approve and ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for 2008 was approved with 71,380,166 votes for, 1,619,817 votes against, and 499,327 shares abstaining.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

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 stockholders, the Company 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 Company’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Company’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 (800) SEC-0330. The Company also posts its Forms N-Q on its website at www.adamsexpress.com under the heading “Financial Reports”.

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Record

 

A description of the policies and procedures that the Company uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities owned by the Company and information as to how the Company voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12 month period ended June 30, 2007 are available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling the Company’s toll free number at (800) 638-2479; (ii) on the Company’s website by clicking on “Corporate Information” heading on the website; and (iii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http//www.sec.gov.

 

Privacy Policy

 

In order to conduct its business, The Adams Express Company, through its transfer agent, currently American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, collects and maintains certain nonpublic personal information about our stockholders of record with respect to their transactions in shares of our securities. This information includes the stockholder’s address, tax identification or Social Security number, share balances, and dividend elections. We do not collect or maintain personal information about stockholders 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 stockholders or our former stockholders 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 stockholders to those employees who need to know that information to provide services to our stockholders. We also maintain certain other safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal information.

 

14


STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION AND SERVICES

 

 

 

 

DIVIDEND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

 

The Company 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 and the net realized capital gain earned through October 31. Stockholders may elect to receive the year-end distribution in stock or cash. In connection with this distribution, all stockholders of record are sent a dividend announcement notice and an election card in mid-November.

 

Stockholders holding shares in “street” or brokerage accounts may make their election by notifying their brokerage house representative.

 

INVESTORS CHOICE

 

INVESTORS CHOICE is a direct stock purchase and sale plan, as well as a dividend reinvestment plan, sponsored and administered by our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (AST). The Plan provides registered stockholders and interested first time investors an affordable alternative for buying, selling, and reinvesting in Adams Express shares.

 

The costs to participants in administrative service fees and brokerage commissions for each type of transaction are listed below.

 

Initial Enrollment and Optional Cash Investments

 

Service Fee

  $2.50 per investment

Brokerage Commission

  $0.05 per share

Reinvestment of Dividends*

 

Service Fee

  2% of amount invested

(maximum of $2.50 per investment)

Brokerage Commission

  $0.05 per share

Sale of Shares

 

Service Fee

  $10.00

Brokerage Commission

  $0.05 per share

Deposit of Certificates for safekeeping $7.50

Book to Book Transfers

  Included

To transfer shares to another participant or to a new participant

 

Fees are subject to change at any time.

Minimum and Maximum Cash Investments

Initial minimum investment (non-holders)

  $500.00

Minimum optional investment (existing holders)

  $50.00

Electronic Funds Transfer
(monthly minimum)

  $50.00

Maximum per transaction

  $25,000.00

Maximum per year

  NONE

 

A brochure which further details the benefits and features of INVESTORS CHOICE as well as an enrollment form may be obtained by contacting AST.

 

For Non-Registered Stockholders

 

For stockholders whose stock is held by a broker in “street” name, the AST INVESTORS CHOICE Direct Stock Purchase and Sale Plan remains available through many registered investment security dealers. If your shares are currently held in a “street” name or brokerage account, please contact your broker for details about how you can participate in AST’s Plan or contact AST.

 

 

 

The Company

The Adams Express Company

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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

(800) 638-2479

Website: www.adamsexpress.com

E-mail: contact@adamsexpress.com

 

The Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

Address Stockholder Inquiries to:

Stockholder Relations Department

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

(877) 260-8188

Website: www.amstock.com

E-mail: info@amstock.com

 

Investors Choice Mailing Address:

Attention: Dividend Reinvestment

P.O. Box 922

Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269-0560

Website: www.amstock.com

E-mail: info@amstock.com

 

*The year-end dividend and capital gain distribution will usually be made in newly issued shares of common stock. There are no fees or commissions in connection with this dividend and capital gain distribution when made in newly issued shares.

 

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