Petroleum & Resources First Quarter Report

PETROLEUM & RESOURCES CORPORATION


Board of Directors

 

 

Enrique R. Arzac 1,2

  W. Perry Neff 2,4

Phyllis O. Bonanno 1,3

  Douglas G. Ober 1

Daniel E. Emerson 1,3

  Landon Peters 2,3

Thomas H. Lenagh 1,4

  John J. Roberts 1

W.D. MacCallan 3,4

  Susan C. Schwab 2,4

Kathleen T. McGahran 2,4

  Robert J.M. Wilson 1,3
1.   Member of Executive Committee
2.   Member of Audit Committee
3.   Member of Compensation Committee
4.   Member of Retirement Benefits Committee

 

Officers

 

Douglas G. Ober

 

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Joseph M. Truta

 

Executive Vice President

Nancy J.F. Prue

 

Vice President—Research

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Maureen A. Jones

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Christine M. Sloan

 

Assistant Treasurer

Geraldine H. Paré

 

Assistant Secretary

 


Stock Data


 

Market Price (3/31/04)

   $ 23.57

Net Asset Value (3/31/04)

   $ 24.71

Discount:

     4.6%

 

New York Stock Exchange and Pacific Exchange ticker symbol: PEO

 

NASDAQ Mutual Fund Quotation Symbol: XPEOX

 

Newspaper stock listings are generally under the abbreviation: PetRs

 


Distributions in 2004


 

From Investment Income (paid or declared)

   $ 0.17 

From Net Realized Gains

     0.09 
    

Total

   $ 0.26 
    

 


2004 Dividend Payment Dates


 

March 1, 2004

June 1, 2004

September 1, 2004*

December 27, 2004*

 

*Anticipated

 

LOGO

 


LETTER TO STOCKHOLDERS


 

We submit herewith the financial statements of the Corporation for the three months ended March 31, 2004. In addition, there is a schedule of investments, along with other financial information.

 

Net assets of the Corporation at March 31, 2004 were $24.71 per share, compared with $24.06 per share at December 31, 2003 on the 21,736,777 shares outstanding at each date. On March 1, 2004, a distribution of $0.13 per share was paid, consisting of $0.07 from 2003 long-term capital gain, $0.02 from 2003 short-term capital gain, $0.03 from 2003 investment income and $0.01 from 2004 investment income, all taxable in 2004. A 2004 investment income dividend of $0.13 per share has been declared to shareholders of record May 17, 2004, payable on June 1, 2004.

 

Net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2004 amounted to $1,873,966, compared with $1,627,272 for the same period in 2003. These earnings are equal to $0.09 and $0.08 per share on the average number of shares outstanding during each period.

 

Net capital gain realized on investments for the three months ended March 31, 2004 amounted to $7,098,540, the equivalent of $0.33 per share.

 

The Annual Meeting, held on March 30, 2004 in Baltimore, was well attended. The Corporation marked its 75th year anniversary at the meeting, having commenced operations as an investment company in January 1929. The results of the voting at the Annual Meeting are shown on page 12.

 

Current and potential shareholders can find information about the Corporation, including the daily net asset value (NAV) per share, the market price, and the discount/premium to the NAV, at its site on the Internet. The address for the website is www.peteres.com. Also available at the website are a brief history of the Corporation, historical financial information, and more general industry material. Further information regarding shareholder services is located on page 13 of this report.

 

Effective March 10, 2004, Edward J. Kelly, III, resigned from the Board of Directors due to time constraints from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile Bankshares Corporaion. Mr. Kelly served on our Board from 2001 to 2004 and his many contributions to the Board will be greatly missed.

 

The Corporation is an internally-managed equity fund emphasizing petroleum and other natural resource investments. The investment policy of the Corporation is based on the primary objectives of preservation of capital, the attainment of reasonable income from investments, and an opportunity for capital appreciation.

 

By order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Douglas G. Ober,

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

 

April 16, 2004

 


 

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES


 

March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

Assets

             

Investments* at value:

             

Common stocks and convertible securities

             

(cost $285,883,538)

   $ 479,135,445       

Short-term investments (cost $57,529,650)

     57,529,650       

Securities lending collateral (cost $42,637,274)

     42,637,274    $ 579,302,369
               

Cash

            242,394

Receivables:

             

Investment securities sold

            320,999

Dividends and interest

            763,226

Prepaid expenses and other assets

            981,118
               

Total Assets

            581,610,106
               

Liabilities

             

Open written option contracts at value (proceeds $270,176)

            316,635

Obligations to return securities lending collateral

            42,637,274

Accrued expenses

            1,435,292
               

Total Liabilities

            44,389,201
               

Net Assets

            537,220,905
               

Net Assets

             

Common Stock at par value $1.00 per share, authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 21,736,777 shares

          $ 21,736,777

Additional capital surplus

            312,813,521

Undistributed net investment income

            2,505,248

Undistributed net realized gain on investments

            6,959,911

Unrealized appreciation on investments

            193,205,448
               

Net Assets Applicable to Common Stock

          $ 537,220,905
               

Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock

            $24.71
               

 

* See Schedule of Investments on pages 8 and 9.

 

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

 

2


STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS


 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

Investment Income

      

Income:

      

Dividends

   $ 2,540,679

Interest and other income

     168,062

Total income

     2,708,741

Expenses:

      

Investment research

     235,063

Administration and operations

     226,489

Directors’ fees

     82,500

Reports and stockholder communications

     98,324

Transfer agent, registrar and custodian expenses

     48,008

Auditing and accounting services

     20,967

Legal services

     6,237

Occupancy and other office expenses

     69,818

Travel, telephone and postage

     10,249

Other

     37,120

Total expenses

     834,775

Net Investment Income

     1,873,966

Realized Gain and Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments

      

Net realized gain on security transactions

     7,098,540

Change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     8,132,898

Net Gain on Investments

     15,231,438

Change in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

   $ 17,105,404

 

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

 

3


STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS


 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2004


    Year Ended
December 31, 2003


 
     (unaudited)        
              

From Operations:

                

Net investment income

   $ 1,873,966     $ 8,134,186  

Net realized gain on investments

     7,098,540       17,219,079  

Change in unrealized appreciation on investments

     8,132,898       66,291,943  
                  

 

Change in net assets resulting from operations

     17,105,404       91,645,208  
                  

 
Distributions to Stockholders from:                 

Net investment income

     (869,470 )     (8,108,325 )

Net realized gain from investment transactions

     (1,956,308 )     (17,260,893 )
                  

 

Decrease in net assets from distributions

     (2,825,778 )     (25,369,218 )
                  

 

From Capital Share Transactions:

                

Value of shares issued in payment of distributions

     —              9,783,141  

Cost of shares purchased (Note 4)

     —              (4,393,315 )
                  

 

Change in net assets from capital share transactions

     —              5,389,826  
                  

 

Total Increase in Net Assets

     14,279,626       71,665,816  

Net Assets:

                

Beginning of period

     522,941,279       451,275,463  
                  

 

End of period (including undistributed net investment
income of $2,505,248 and $1,500,752, respectively)

   $ 537,220,905     $ 522,941,279  
                  

 

 

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

 

4


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


 

1.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Petroleum & Resources Corporation (the Corporation) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a non-diversified investment company. The Corporation’s investment objectives as well as the nature and risk of its investment transactions are set forth in the Corporation’s registration statement.

 

Security Valuation—Investments in securities traded on national security exchanges 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. Purchased and written options are valued at the last quoted asked price.

 

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 shareholders are recognized on the ex-dividend date, and interest income is recognized on the accrual basis.

 

2.    FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The Corporation’s policy is to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders 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, including options, at March 31, 2004 was $386,337,274, and net unrealized appreciation aggregated $193,235,271, of which the related gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation were $208,618,221 and $15,382,950, 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 Corporation’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution under income tax regulations.

 

3.    INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

 

The Corporation’s investment decisions are made by a committee, and no one person is primarily responsible for making recommendations to that committee.

 

Purchases and sales of portfolio securities, other than options and short-term investments, during the three months ended March 31, 2004 were $19,774,316 and $15,433,964, respectively. Options may be written (sold) or purchased by the Corporation. The Corporation, as writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option. The risk associated with purchasing an option is limited to the premium originally paid. A schedule of outstanding option contracts as of March 31, 2004 can be found on page 10.

 

Transactions in written covered call and collateralized put options during the three months ended March 31, 2004 were as follows:

 

     Covered Calls

    Collateralized Puts

 
     Contracts

    Premiums

    Contracts

    Premiums

 

Options outstanding, December 31, 2003

   550     $ 62,932     350     $ 36,992  

Options written

   1,315       173,380     872       92,330  

Options expired

   (50 )     (6,733 )   (200 )     (20,999 )

Options exercised

   (450 )     (51,733 )   (150 )     (15,993 )

 

Options outstanding, March 31, 2004

   1,365     $ 177,846     872     $ 92,330  

 

 

4.    CAPITAL STOCK

 

The Corporation has 5,000,000 authorized and unissued preferred shares without par value.

 

On December 27, 2003, the Corporation issued 450,110 shares of its Common Stock at a price of $21.735 per share (the average market price on December 8, 2003) to stockholders of record on November 24, 2003 who elected to take stock in payment of the distribution from 2003 capital gain and investment income.

 

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

 

Transactions in Common Stock for 2004 and 2003 were as follows:

 

    Shares

    Amount

 
    Three months
ended
March 31,
2004


  Year ended
December 31,
2003


    Three months
ended
March 31,
2004


  Year ended
December 31,
2003


 

Shares issued in payment of dividends

   —     450,110       $      —     $ 9,783,141  

Shares purchased
(at a weighted average discount from net asset value of 8.2% in 2003)

   —     (223,400 )             —       (4,393,315 )

 

Net change

   —     226,710     $       —     $ 5,389,826  

 

 

There were no shares held by the Corporation at March 31, 2004 or December 31, 2003.

 

The Corporation has an employee incentive stock option and stock appreciation rights plan which provides for the

 

5


NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)


 

issuance of options and stock appreciation rights for the purchase of up to 895,522 shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock at 100% of the fair market value at date of grant. Options are exercisable beginning not less than one year after the date of grant and extend and vest over ten years from the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights are exercisable beginning not less than two years after the date of grant and extend over the period during which the option is exercisable. The stock appreciation rights allow the holders to surrender their rights to exercise their options and receive cash or shares in an amount equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of surrender.

 

Under the plan, the exercise price of the options and related stock appreciation rights is reduced by the per share amount of capital gain paid by the Corporation during subsequent years. At the beginning of 2004, there were 129,447 options outstanding at a weighted average exercise price of $18.35 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Corporation granted options including stock appreciation rights for 14,767 shares of Common Stock with an original exercise price of $23.02. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, stock appreciation rights relating to 500 stock option shares were exercised at a market price of $23.84 per share and the stock options relating to these rights with an exercise price of $8.31 per share were cancelled. At March 31, 2004, there were outstanding exercisable options to purchase 61,705 common shares at $10.83-$24.44 per share (weighted average price of $17.24) and unexercisable options to purchase 82,009 common shares at $15.05-$24.44 per share (weighted average price of $19.74). The weighted average remaining contractual life of outstanding exercisable and unexercisable options was 5.13 years and 6.77 years, respectively. The total compensation expense for stock options and stock appreciation rights recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2004 was $75,237. At March 31, 2004, there were 264,847 shares available for future option grants.

 

5.    RETIREMENT PLANS

 

The Corporation’s non-contributory qualified defined benefit pension plan covers substantially all full-time employees with at least one year of service. Benefits are based on length of service and compensation during the last five years of employment. The Corporation’s policy is to contribute annually to the plan only those amounts that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes, plus additional amounts as the Corporation deems appropriate in order to provide assets sufficient to meet benefits to be paid to plan participants. As of March 31, 2004, no contributions to the plan have been made. The Corporation anticipates making a contribution to the plan in 2004. The amount of the contribution is contingent on the outcome of pending legislation and, therefore, cannot yet be determined.

 

In addition, the Corporation has a nonqualified defined benefit plan which provides eligible employees with retirement benefits to supplement the qualified plan.

 

The following table aggregates the components of the plans’ net periodic pension cost for the three months ended March 31:

 

     March 31, 2004

 

Service Cost

   $ 34,270  

Interest Cost

     61,356  

Expected return on plan assets

     (54,199 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     14,463  

Amortization of net loss

     33,182  

 

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 89,072  

 

 

The Corporation also sponsors a defined contribution plan that covers substantially all employees. For the three months ended March 31, 2004, the Corporation expensed matching contributions of $13,747. The Corporation does not provide postretirement medical benefits.

 

6.    EXPENSES

 

The cumulative amount of accrued expenses at March 31, 2004 for employees and former employees of the Corporation was $1,261,821. Aggregate remuneration paid or accrued during the three months ended March 31, 2004 to directors and key employees amounted to $283,873.

 

7.    PORTFOLIO SECURITIES LOANED

 

The Corporation makes loans of securities to brokers, secured by cash deposits, U.S. Government securities, or bank letters of credit. The Corporation 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 Corporation 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 securities loaned that may occur during the term of the loan will be for the account of the Corporation. At March 31, 2004, the Corporation had securities on loan of $41,877,600 and held collateral of $42,637,274, consisting of repurchase agreements, time deposits and commercial paper.

 

6


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


 

   
                     
    Three Months Ended

                        
    (unaudited)                         
    March 31,
2004


    March 31,
2003


   Year Ended December 31

         2003

   2002

   2001

   2000

   1999

Per Share Operating Performance*

                                  

Net asset value, beginning of period

  $24.06       $20.98      $20.98      $24.90      $32.69      $26.32      $22.87  
                                    

Net investment income

  0.09     0.08    0.38    0.42      0.49      0.37    0.48

Net realized gains and change in unrealized appreciation

  0.69     (0.48)    3.89    (3.20)    (6.81)      7.67    4.67
                                    

Total from investment operations

  0.78     (0.40)    4.27    (2.78)    (6.32)      8.04    5.15
                                    

Less distributions

                                  

Dividends from net investment income

  (0.04)     (0.04)    (0.38)    (0.43)    (0.43)    (0.39)    (0.48)

Distributions from net realized gains

  (0.09)     (0.09)    (0.81)    (0.68)    (1.07)    (1.35)    (1.07)
                                    

Total distributions

  (0.13)     (0.13)    (1.19)    (1.11)    (1.50)    (1.74)    (1.55)
                                    

Capital share repurchases

           0.02      0.01    0.06    0.28    0.01

Reinvestment of distributions

         (0.02)    (0.04)    (0.03)    (0.21)    (0.16)
                                    

Total capital share transactions

         0.00    (0.03)    0.03    0.07    (0.15)
                                    

Net asset value, end of period

  $24.71       $20.45      $24.06      $20.98      $24.90      $32.69      $26.32  
                                    

Per share market price, end of period

  $23.57       $19.19      $23.74      $19.18      $23.46      $27.31      $21.50  

Total Investment Return

                                  

Based on market price

  (0.2)%     0.7%    30.8%    (13.7)%    (8.7)%    36.1%    13.3%

Based on net asset value

  3.3%     (1.9)%    21.2%    (11.1)%    (19.0)%    33.1%    23.8%

Ratios/Supplemental Data

                                  

Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)

  $537,221      $438,962       $522,941     $451,275     $526,492     $688,173     $565,075 

Ratio of expenses to average net assets

  0.63%   0.68%†    0.74%      0.49%    0.35%    0.59%    0.43%

Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets

  1.42%   1.47%†    1.75%    1.84%    1.67%    1.24%    1.86%

Portfolio turnover

  13.27%   3.89%†    10.20%    9.69%    6.74%    7.68%    11.89%

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

  21,737      21,461       21,737     21,510      21,148     21,054     21,471 
   
                   

*Prior years have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split effected in October 2000. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

Ratios presented on an annualized basis.

 

7


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS


 

March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

   

Prin. Amt.

or Shares


  Value (A)

Stocks And Convertible Securities — 89.2%

     

Energy — 75.4%

         

Internationals — 25.5%

         

BP plc ADR (B)

  590,000   $ 30,208,000

ChevronTexaco Corp.

  290,000     25,456,200

Exxon Mobil Corp.

  1,050,000     43,669,500

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. ADR

  410,000     19,507,800

“Shell” Transport and Trading Co., plc ADR

  135,000     5,387,850

Total S.A. ADR (B)

  140,000     12,880,000
       

          137,109,350
       

Domestics — 8.4%

         

Amerada Hess Corp.

  125,000     8,160,000

ConocoPhillips

  285,000     19,895,850

Kerr McGee Corp.

  177,153     9,123,380

Murphy Oil Corp.

  65,000     4,093,050

Unocal Capital Trust $3.125 Conv. Pfd.

  72,540     3,767,546
       

          45,039,826
       

Producers — 13.7%

         

Apache Corp.

  190,000     8,202,300

Burlington Resources Inc.

  133,400     8,488,242

Devon Energy Corp.

  198,720     11,555,568

EOG Resources, Inc.

  200,000     9,178,000

Noble Energy, Inc.

  141,000     6,641,100

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

  200,000     9,210,000

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (C)

  296,000     9,560,800

Stone Energy Corp. (C)

  104,300     5,158,678

XTO Energy Inc.

  218,900     5,525,036
       

          73,519,724
       

Distributors — 15.1%

         

AGL Resources Inc.

  250,000     7,255,000

Duke Energy Corp. 8.25% Conv. Pfd. due 2004

  160,000     2,368,000

Duke Energy Corp.

  115,000     2,599,000

Energen Corp.

  200,000     8,250,000

Equitable Resources Inc.

  250,000     11,105,000

Keyspan Corp.

  220,000     8,408,400

Kinder Morgan, Inc.

  77,300     4,871,446

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

  300,000     7,047,000

National Fuel Gas Co.

  200,000     4,920,000

New Jersey Resources Corp.

  277,500     10,489,500

Questar Corp.

  200,000     7,288,000

TECO Energy, Inc. (B)

  200,000     2,926,000

Williams Companies, Inc. 9.0%
FELINE PACS due 2005 (B)

  120,000     1,528,800

Williams Companies, Inc.

  200,000     1,914,000
       

          80,970,146
       

Services — 12.7%

         

Baker Hughes, Inc.

  130,000     4,742,400

BJ Services Co. (C)

  370,000     16,009,900

 

   

Prin. Amt.

or Shares


  Value (A)

GlobalSantaFe Corp.

    200,000   $ 5,554,000

Grant Prideco Inc. (C)

    308,000     4,774,000

Nabors Industries Ltd. (C)

    125,000     5,718,750

Noble Corp. (C)

    135,000     5,186,700

Schlumberger Ltd.

    280,000     17,878,000

Weatherford International,
Ltd. (C)

    205,000     8,616,150
         

            68,479,900
         

Basic Industries — 13.8%

           

Basic Materials & Other — 10.1%

           

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

    125,000     6,265,000

Albemarle Corp.

    200,000     5,800,000

Aqua America, Inc.

    330,000     7,154,400

Arch Coal Inc.

    250,000     7,847,500

General Electric Co.

    454,800     13,880,496

Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd.

    78,000     5,276,700

Rohm & Haas Co.

    200,000     7,968,000
         

            54,192,096
         

Paper and Forest Products — 3.7%

     

Boise Cascade Corp. 7.5% ACES due 2004

    51,000     2,593,350

Boise Cascade Corp.

    205,000     7,103,250

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. (C)

    197,675     3,477,103

Temple-Inland Inc.

    105,000     6,650,700
         

            19,824,403
         

Total Stocks And Convertible Securities

     

(Cost $285,883,538) (D)

          479,135,445
         

Short-Term Investments — 10.7%

     

U.S. Government Obligations — 1.3%

     

U.S. Treasury Bills,
0.85%, due 5/20/04

  $ 7,000,000     6,991,901
         

Certificates of Deposit — 1.0%

     

Mercantile-Safe Deposit &
Trust Co., 0.85%,
due 6/7/04

  $ 5,550,000     5,550,000
         

Commercial Paper — 8.4%

     

AIG Funding Inc., 1.00%, due 4/8/04-4/22/04

  $ 2,200,000     2,198,872

American General Finance Corp., 1.00-1.01%, due 4/8/04-4/20/04

  $ 4,800,000     4,798,321

Cargill Global Funding plc,
0.98%, due 4/29/04

  $ 4,470,000     4,467,036

Caterpillar Financial Services Corp., 0.96%, due 4/22/04

  $ 1,880,000     1,878,947

ChevronTexaco Funding Corp., 0.99%, due 4/1/04

  $ 3,930,000     3,930,000

 

8


SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


 

March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

    Prin. Amt.

  Value (A)

Exxon Project Investment Corp., 0.94%, due 4/1/04

  $ 1,000,000   $ 1,000,000

General Electric Capital Corp., 0.95-1.00%,

    due 4/8/04-4/15/04

    3,100,000     3,099,182

General Electric Capital Services Corp., 1.01%, due 4/20/04

    3,800,000     3,797,974

GMAC MINT, 1.02%,
due 4/13/04-4/20/04

    7,000,000     6,997,223

Pfizer Inc., 0.97%,

    due 4/12/04

    5,250,000     5,248,445

Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 0.94-1.00%, due 4/6/04-4/27/04

    6,575,000     6,572,072

Unilever Capital Corp., 0.97%, due 4/13/04

    1,000,000     999,677
         

            44,987,749
         

Total Short-Term Investments

     

(Cost $57,529,650)

          57,529,650
         

Securities Lending Collateral — 7.9%

Repurchase Agreements

           

Daiwa Securities America Inc., 1.11%, due 4/1/04

          33,636,921

Time Deposits

           

Caisse Des Depots et Consign Paris, 1.07%, due 4/9/04

          501,233

Dexia Bank Brussels,
1.03%, due 4/5/04

          750,601

Fortis Bank Brussels, 1.05%,

    due 4/27/04

          500,943

Societe Generale Singapore, 1.04%, due 4/2/04

          500,506

 

        Value (A)

 

Svenska Handelsbanken Stockholm, 1.07%, due 4/8/04

      $ 501,233  

Commercial Paper

           

Amstel Funding Corp.,
1.06%, due 5/17/04

        499,299  

Citi Corp., 1.04%,

    due 4/19/04

        499,720  

Erasmus Capital Corp.,
1.03%, due 4/7/04

        749,871  

Fairway Finance Corp.,
1.05%, due 6/4/04

        748,540  

Giro Multifunding,
1.06%, due 4/15/04

        499,767  

Hannover Funding,
1.05%, due 4/12/04

        499,811  

Mane Funding Corp.,
1.05%, due 4/20/04

        499,706  

Scaldis Capital LLC,
1.05%, due 4/15/04

        999,533  

Sheffield Receivables Corp.,
1.03%, due 4/13/04

        749,694  

Surrey Funding Corp.,
1.07%, due 4/8/04

        499,896  
       


Total Securities Lending Collateral
(Cost $42,637,274)

        42,637,274  
       


Total Investments — 107.8%

       

(Cost $386,050,462)

        579,302,369  

Cash, receivables and other assets, less liabilities — (7.8)%

        (42,081,464 )
       


Net Assets — 100.0%

      $ 537,220,905  
       


 


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 or all of these securities are on loan. See note 7 to financial statements.
(C)   Presently non-dividend paying.
(D)   The aggregate market value of stocks held in escrow at March 31, 2004 covering open call option contracts written was $8,221,650. In addition, the aggregate market value of securities segregated by the custodian required to collateralize open put option contracts written was $4,035,000.

 

9


SCHEDULE OF OUTSTANDING OPTION CONTRACTS


 

March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

Contracts

(100 shares

each)


  

Security


  

Strike

Price


  

Contract

Expiration

Date


  

Appreciation/

(Depreciation)


 
     COVERED CALLS  
150    Amerada Hess Corp.    $  65    Aug   04    $ (41,176 )
200    ChevronTexaco Corp.    90    Jun   04      (12,601 )
200    EOG Resources, Inc.    50    Jul   04      14,398  
100    Kinder Morgan, Inc.    60    May   04      (25,801 )
100    Kinder Morgan, Inc.    65    Aug   04      (8,750 )
65    Pioneer Natural Resources Co.    35    Jun   04      1,905  
250    Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.    50    Apr   04      24,249  
200    Stone Energy Corp.    50    Sep   04      (54,301 )
100    Total S.A.    100    May   04      10,799  

                     


1,365                         (91,278 )

                     


COLLATERALIZED PUTS  
100    BP plc    45    Apr   04      8,699  
100    BP plc    45    Jul   04      8,699  
150    ConocoPhillips    60    May   04      12,599  
200    Murphy Oil Corp.    55    Jul   04      4,849  
72    Murphy Oil Corp.    50    Oct   04      1,224  
100    Schlumberger Ltd.    55    May   04      6,200  
150    Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.    15    Aug   04      2,549  

                     


872                         44,819  

                     


                        $ (46,459 )
                       


 

CHANGES IN PORTFOLIO SECURITIES


 

During the Three Months Ended March 31, 2004

(unaudited)

 

     Shares

     Additions

     Reductions

     Held
March 31, 2004


Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

   50,000             125,000

Apache Corp.

   105,000 (1)    20,000      190,000

BP plc ADR

   50,000             590,000

ConocoPhillips

   25,000             285,000

General Electric Co.

   125,000             454,800

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

   5,000             296,000

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.

   197,675             197,675

XTO Energy Inc.

   218,900 (2)           218,900

Aqua America, Inc.

          51,250      330,000

El Paso Corp.

          180,000     

Ingersoll-Rand Co. Ltd.

          22,000        78,000

Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. ADR

          190,000      410,000

“Shell” Transport & Trading Co. plc ADR

          15,000      135,000

Temple-Inland Inc.

          15,000      105,000

(1) By stock split.

(2) Received 26,250 shares by stock split.

 

10


HISTORICAL FINANCIAL STATISTICS


 

December 31


   Value of
Net Assets


     Shares
Outstanding*


     Net
Asset
Value per
Share*


    

Dividends
from

Net Investment
Income
per Share*


    

Distributions
from

Net Realized
Gains
per Share*


 

1994

   $ 332,279,398      18,570,450      $ 17.89      $ .61      $ .79  

1995

     401,404,971      19,109,075        21.01        .58        .81  

1996

     484,588,990      19,598,729        24.73        .55        .88  

1997

     556,452,549      20,134,181        27.64        .51        1.04  

1998

     474,821,118      20,762,063        22.87        .52        1.01  

1999

     565,075,001      21,471,270        26.32        .48        1.07  

2000

     688,172,867      21,053,644        32.69        .39        1.35  

2001

     526,491,798      21,147,563        24.90        .43        1.07  

2002

     451,275,463      21,510,067        20.98        .43        .68  

2003

     522,941,279      21,736,777        24.06        .38        .81  

March 31, 2004 (unaudited)

     537,220,905      21,736,777        24.71        .17      .09

*   Prior years have been adjusted to reflect the 3-for-2 stock split effected in October 2000.
  Paid or declared.

 


 

Common Stock

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange

and the Pacific Exchange

 

Petroleum & Resources Corporation

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

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

Website: www.peteres.com

E-mail: contact@peteres.com

Counsel: Chadbourne & Parke L.L.P.

Independent Auditors: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

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

Custodian of Securities: The Bank of New York


 

This report, including the financial statements herein, is transmitted to the stockholders of Petroleum & Resources Corporation for their information. It is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase or sale of shares of the Corporation or of any securities mentioned in this report. The rates of return will vary and the market 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.

 

 

 

 

 

11


ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS


 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on March 30, 2004. For those nominated, the following votes were cast for directors:

 

    votes for

  votes withheld

(A) Enrique R. Arzac:

  19,134,133   349,341

(B) Phyllis O. Bonanno:

  19,209,585   273,889

(C) Daniel E. Emerson:

  19,109,564   373,910

(D) Thomas H. Lenagh:

  19,106,335   377,139

(E) W.D. MacCallan:

  19,109,902   373,572

(F) Kathleen T. McGahran:

  19,207,336   276,138

(G) W. Perry Neff:

  19,121,413   362,061

(H) Douglas G. Ober:

  19,126,867   356,607

(I) Landon Peters:

  19,129,555   353,919

(J) John J. Roberts:

  19,116,336   367,138

(K) Susan C. Schwab:

  19,193,164   290,310

(L) Robert J.M. Wilson:

  19,114,964   368,510

 

A proposal to approve and ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the firm of independent auditors of the Corporation for 2004 was approved with 19,212,888 votes for, 137,447 votes against and 133,146 votes abstaining.

 

 

12


SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION AND SERVICES


 

DIVIDEND PAYMENT SCHEDULE

 

The Corporation 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 elections 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 Petroleum & Resources 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 Shareholders

 

For shareholders 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 Corporation

Petroleum & Resources Corporation

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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

(800) 638-2479

Website: www.peteres.com

E-mail: contact@peteres.com

 

The Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

Address Shareholder Inquiries to:

Shareholder Relations Department

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

(866) 723-8330

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

Website: www.InvestPower.com

E-mail: info@InvestPower.com

 

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

 

13