N-Q 1 t76580_nq.htm FORM N-Q t76580_nq.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY
 
Investment Company Act file Number 811-02278
 
Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

7 Times Square, New York, NY 10036

Mitchell E. Appel
(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  212-907-1900

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2013
 
 
 

 
 
Item 1: Schedule of Investments.
A copy of Schedule of Investments for the period ended 3/31/13 is included with this Form.
 
Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
   
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)
March 31, 2013
               
 
Shares
       
Value
 
 
COMMON STOCKS (94.6%)
       
               
      CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (10.7%)        
 
8,400
 
AutoZone, Inc. *
 
$
3,332,868
 
 
28,000
 
BorgWarner, Inc. *
   
2,165,520
 
 
40,000
 
Brinker International, Inc.
   
1,506,000
 
 
10,500
 
Buckle, Inc. (The) (1)
   
489,825
 
 
37,000
 
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
   
1,912,160
 
 
30,000
 
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.
   
1,419,000
 
 
34,000
 
Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
   
1,748,960
 
 
23,000
 
Genuine Parts Co.
   
1,794,000
 
 
15,200
 
Gildan Activewear, Inc.
   
606,632
 
 
27,000
 
HSN, Inc.
   
1,481,220
 
 
27,000
 
Johnson Controls, Inc.
   
946,890
 
 
9,600
 
Life Time Fitness, Inc. *
   
410,688
 
 
112,000
 
LKQ Corp. *
   
2,437,120
 
 
24,000
 
McDonald’s Corp.
   
2,392,560
 
 
23,000
 
NIKE, Inc. Class B
   
1,357,230
 
 
18,000
 
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. *
   
1,845,900
 
 
13,000
 
Penn National Gaming, Inc. *
   
707,590
 
 
22,828
 
PVH Corp.
   
2,438,259
 
 
10,000
 
Signet Jewelers Ltd.
   
670,000
 
 
32,000
 
Starbucks Corp.
   
1,822,720
 
 
68,600
 
TJX Companies, Inc. (The)
   
3,207,050
 
 
5,400
 
VF Corp.
   
905,850
 
 
13,000
 
Vitamin Shoppe, Inc. *
   
635,050
 
 
6,000
 
Wynn Resorts Ltd.
   
750,960
 
 
34,000
 
Yum! Brands, Inc.
   
2,445,960
 
           
39,430,012
 
      CONSUMER STAPLES (10.4%)        
 
71,000
 
BRF - Brasil Foods S.A. ADR
   
1,569,810
 
 
17,000
 
British American Tobacco PLC
ADR (1)
   
1,819,850
 
 
21,300
 
Brown-Forman Corp. Class B
   
1,520,820
 
 
24,000
 
Bunge Ltd.
   
1,771,920
 
 
48,400
 
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
   
3,128,092
 
 
16,800
 
Coca-Cola Femsa, SAB de C.V.
ADR (1)
   
2,751,336
 
 
130,000
 
Companhia de Bebidas das
Americas ADR
   
5,502,900
 
 
14,000
 
Costco Wholesale Corp.
   
1,485,540
 
 
22,400
 
Energizer Holdings, Inc.
   
2,233,952
 
 
59,875
 
Flowers Foods, Inc.
   
1,972,282
 
 
20,000
 
Fomento Economico Mexicano
SAB de C.V. ADR
   
2,270,000
 
 
64,000
 
General Mills, Inc.
   
3,155,840
 
 
33,000
 
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters,
Inc. * (1)
   
1,873,080
 
 
32,000
 
Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Inc.
   
1,366,720
 
 
43,000
 
Hormel Foods Corp.
   
1,776,760
 
 
29,000
 
PepsiCo, Inc.
   
2,294,190
 
 
22,000
 
Reynolds American, Inc.
   
978,780
 
 
9,000
 
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
   
780,750
 
           
38,252,622
 
      ENERGY (4.4%)        
 
12,000
 
Cameron International Corp. *
   
782,400
 
 
8,600
 
CNOOC Ltd. ADR
   
1,646,900
 
 
14,600
 
Core Laboratories N.V.
   
2,013,632
 
 
17,000
 
Enbridge, Inc. (1)
   
791,180
 
 
               
 
Shares
       
Value
 
 
24,000
 
EQT Corp.
 
$
1,626,000
 
 
70,000
 
FMC Technologies, Inc. *
   
3,807,300
 
 
22,200
 
Noble Energy, Inc.
   
2,567,652
 
 
22,000
 
Tenaris S.A. ADR (1)
   
897,160
 
 
26,000
 
TransCanada Corp. (1)
   
1,245,140
 
 
24,000
 
Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. ADR
   
609,120
 
           
15,986,484
 
     
FINANCIALS (10.9%)
       
 
8,000
 
ACE Ltd.
   
711,760
 
 
21,000
 
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. *
   
3,224,970
 
 
20,600
 
AFLAC, Inc.
   
1,071,612
 
 
36,000
 
American Tower Corp. REIT
   
2,769,120
 
 
45,000
 
Arch Capital Group Ltd. *
   
2,365,650
 
 
8,151
 
Banco de Chile ADR (1)
   
772,878
 
 
35,000
 
Bancolombia S.A. ADR
   
2,213,750
 
 
13,300
 
Bank of Montreal
   
837,235
 
 
22,100
 
Bank of Nova Scotia
   
1,287,767
 
 
7,700
 
BlackRock, Inc.
   
1,977,976
 
 
16,000
 
BRE Properties, Inc. REIT
   
778,880
 
 
11,400
 
Camden Property Trust REIT
   
782,952
 
 
8,200
 
Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce (1)
   
643,126
 
 
27,000
 
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (1)
   
1,806,570
 
 
11,600
 
Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc.
REIT
   
890,880
 
 
9,400
 
Essex Property Trust, Inc. REIT
   
1,415,452
 
 
17,000
 
HCP, Inc. REIT
   
847,620
 
 
75,500
 
HDFC Bank Ltd. ADR
   
2,825,210
 
 
71,376
 
Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ADR
   
1,270,493
 
 
20,000
 
M&T Bank Corp. (1)
   
2,063,200
 
 
10,000
 
PartnerRe Ltd.
   
931,100
 
 
9,000
 
Portfolio Recovery Associates, Inc. *
   
1,142,280
 
 
30,000
 
ProAssurance Corp.
   
1,419,900
 
 
26,000
 
Royal Bank of Canada
   
1,567,800
 
 
17,000
 
Stifel Financial Corp. *
   
589,390
 
 
21,000
 
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
   
1,572,270
 
 
8,000
 
Taubman Centers, Inc. REIT
   
621,280
 
 
7,400
 
Toronto-Dominion Bank (The)
   
616,198
 
 
30,000
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
   
1,109,700
 
           
40,127,019
 
     
HEALTH CARE (11.6%)
       
 
47,000
 
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *
   
4,330,580
 
 
17,200
 
Allergan, Inc.
   
1,920,036
 
 
16,000
 
Bayer AG ADR (1)
   
1,656,800
 
 
14,500
 
Becton, Dickinson & Co.
   
1,386,345
 
 
1,300
 
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Class A *
   
163,800
 
 
14,800
 
Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. *
(1)
   
384,504
 
 
15,000
 
C.R. Bard, Inc.
   
1,511,700
 
 
56,000
 
Catamaran Corp. *
   
2,969,680
 
 
31,000
 
Cerner Corp. *
   
2,937,250
 
 
6,000
 
DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc. *
   
711,540
 
 
6,000
 
DENTSPLY International, Inc.
   
254,520
 
 
26,000
 
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. *
   
2,136,160
 
 
46,000
 
Express Scripts Holding Co. *
   
2,651,900
 
 
34,800
 
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co.
KGaA ADR (1)
   
1,178,328
 
 
 

1

 
 
Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
 
March 31, 2013

               
 
Shares
       
Value
 
 
38,800
 
Henry Schein, Inc. *
 
$
3,590,940
 
 
44,400
 
HMS Holdings Corp. *
   
1,205,460
 
 
24,000
 
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. *
   
2,217,360
 
 
5,000
 
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. *
   
2,455,950
 
 
13,400
 
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. *
   
2,857,148
 
 
3,100
 
MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. *
   
410,006
 
 
17,800
 
Novo Nordisk A/S ADR
   
2,874,700
 
 
12,500
 
Owens & Minor, Inc.
   
407,000
 
 
23,000
 
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries
Ltd. ADR
   
912,640
 
 
17,000
 
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
   
1,300,330
 
 
8,000
 
Volcano Corp. *
   
178,080
 
           
42,602,757
 
     
INDUSTRIALS (24.6%)
       
 
85,000
 
ABB Ltd. ADR * (1)
   
1,934,600
 
 
24,300
 
Acuity Brands, Inc.
   
1,685,205
 
 
96,750
 
AMETEK, Inc.
   
4,195,080
 
 
39,200
 
AZZ, Inc.
   
1,889,440
 
 
15,000
 
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
   
891,900
 
 
22,900
 
Canadian National Railway Co.
   
2,296,870
 
 
24,000
 
Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V.
   
1,490,400
 
 
35,000
 
CLARCOR, Inc.
   
1,833,300
 
 
10,000
 
Clean Harbors, Inc. *
   
580,900
 
 
49,000
 
Danaher Corp.
   
3,045,350
 
 
56,000
 
Donaldson Co., Inc.
   
2,026,640
 
 
45,200
 
Eaton Corp. PLC
   
2,768,500
 
 
37,000
 
EnerSys *
   
1,686,460
 
 
14,800
 
Equifax, Inc.
   
852,332
 
 
18,000
 
Esterline Technologies Corp. *
   
1,362,600
 
 
22,000
 
Fastenal Co.
   
1,129,700
 
 
15,000
 
FedEx Corp.
   
1,473,000
 
 
3,000
 
Flowserve Corp.
   
503,130
 
 
6,000
 
Graco, Inc.
   
348,180
 
 
23,250
 
HEICO Corp.
   
1,009,282
 
 
40,250
 
IDEX Corp.
   
2,150,155
 
 
17,600
 
IHS, Inc. Class A *
   
1,843,072
 
 
21,776
 
Iron Mountain, Inc.
   
790,687
 
 
33,000
 
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
   
2,457,840
 
 
21,000
 
Kansas City Southern
   
2,328,900
 
 
33,200
 
Kirby Corp. *
   
2,549,760
 
 
5,000
 
L-3 Communications Holdings,
Inc.
   
404,600
 
 
29,100
 
Latam Airlines Group S.A. ADR
(1)
   
632,634
 
 
26,000
 
Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc.
   
1,408,680
 
 
20,000
 
Norfolk Southern Corp.
   
1,541,600
 
 
30,000
 
Parker Hannifin Corp.
   
2,747,400
 
 
17,800
 
Precision Castparts Corp.
   
3,375,236
 
 
43,500
 
Republic Services, Inc.
   
1,435,500
 
 
11,000
 
Rockwell Collins, Inc.
   
694,320
 
 
54,000
 
Rollins, Inc.
   
1,325,700
 
 
36,000
 
Roper Industries, Inc.
   
4,583,160
 
 
50,700
 
Rush Enterprises, Inc. Class A *
   
1,222,884
 
 
2,000
 
Snap-on, Inc.
   
165,400
 
 
37,600
 
Stericycle, Inc. *
   
3,992,368
 
 
15,000
 
Teledyne Technologies, Inc. *
   
1,176,600
 
 
66,000
 
Toro Co. (The)
   
3,038,640
 
 
16,700
 
Towers Watson & Co. Class A
   
1,157,644
 
 
25,000
 
Union Pacific Corp.
   
3,560,250
 
 
 
Shares
       
Value
 
 
31,000
 
United Technologies Corp.
 
$
2,896,330
 
 
10,700
 
Valmont Industries, Inc.
   
1,682,789
 
 
12,600
 
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
   
2,834,748
 
 
21,400
 
Wabtec Corp.
   
2,185,154
 
 
66,200
 
Waste Connections, Inc.
   
2,381,876
 
 
24,000
 
Woodward Inc.
   
954,240
 
           
90,521,036
 
     
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (9.2%)
       
 
25,000
 
Accenture PLC Class A
   
1,899,250
 
 
19,400
 
Alliance Data Systems Corp. *
   
3,140,666
 
 
30,800
 
Amphenol Corp. Class A
   
2,299,220
 
 
9,700
 
Anixter International, Inc.
   
678,224
 
 
60,000
 
ANSYS, Inc. *
   
4,885,200
 
 
2,800
 
Canon, Inc. ADR (1)
   
102,732
 
 
42,000
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Corp. Class A *
   
3,217,620
 
 
16,000
 
Equinix, Inc. *
   
3,460,960
 
 
10,600
 
MasterCard, Inc. Class A
   
5,735,978
 
 
34,200
 
MICROS Systems, Inc. *
   
1,556,442
 
 
3,000
 
NCR Corp. *
   
82,680
 
 
20,000
 
Salesforce.com, Inc. *
   
3,576,600
 
 
56,000
 
Trimble Navigation Ltd. *
   
1,677,760
 
 
20,300
 
WEX, Inc. *
   
1,593,550
 
           
33,906,882
 
     
MATERIALS (8.5%)
       
 
16,000
 
Agrium, Inc. (1)
   
1,560,000
 
 
15,000
 
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
   
1,306,800
 
 
8,000
 
Airgas, Inc.
   
793,280
 
 
3,600
 
Albemarle Corp.
   
225,072
 
 
30,700
 
AptarGroup, Inc.
   
1,760,645
 
 
20,000
 
Ball Corp.
   
951,600
 
 
14,000
 
BASF SE ADR (1)
   
1,229,200
 
 
4,000
 
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
   
761,480
 
 
4,000
 
Compass Minerals International,
Inc.
   
315,600
 
 
22,000
 
Crown Holdings, Inc. *
   
915,420
 
 
20,000
 
Cytec Industries, Inc.
   
1,481,600
 
 
38,000
 
Ecolab, Inc.
   
3,046,840
 
 
24,000
 
FMC Corp.
   
1,368,720
 
 
9,000
 
NewMarket Corp.
   
2,343,240
 
 
31,000
 
Praxair, Inc.
   
3,457,740
 
 
24,000
 
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
   
1,570,560
 
 
20,200
 
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (The) Class
A
   
873,448
 
 
8,000
 
Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)
   
1,351,120
 
 
30,000
 
Sigma-Aldrich Corp.
   
2,330,400
 
 
12,800
 
Syngenta AG ADR
   
1,072,000
 
 
39,000
 
Valspar Corp. (The)
   
2,427,750
 
           
31,142,515
 
     
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (1.7%)
       
 
40,000
 
Crown Castle International Corp. *
   
2,785,600
 
 
3,000
 
Rogers Communications, Inc. Class
B
   
153,180
 
 
43,000
 
SBA Communications Corp. Class
A *
   
3,096,860
 
           
6,035,640
 
 
 

2

 
 
Value Line Premier Growth Fund, Inc.
 
Schedule of Investments (unaudited)
 
               
 Shares         Value  
     
UTILITIES (2.6%)
       
 
55,200
 
Cia de Saneamento Basico do
Estado de Sao Paulo ADR *
 
$
2,634,696
 
 
20,000
 
ITC Holdings Corp.
   
1,785,200
 
 
32,000
 
ONEOK, Inc.
   
1,525,440
 
 
52,000
 
Questar Corp.
   
1,265,160
 
 
14,000
 
Sempra Energy
   
1,119,160
 
 
26,800
 
Wisconsin Energy Corp.
   
1,149,452
 
           
9,479,108
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(Cost $177,179,760) (94.6%)
   
347,484,075
 
 
Principal
Amount
       
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (10.1%)        
     
REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS (4.9%)
       
$
18,100,000
 
With Morgan Stanley, 0.15%,
dated 03/28/13, due 04/01/13,
delivery value $18,100,302
(collateralized by $18,140,000
U.S. Treasury Notes 1.000% due
03/31/17, with a value of
$18,463,614)
 
18,100,000
 
               
 INVESTMENTS OF CASH COLLATERAL FOR SECURITIES
    ON LOAN (5.2%)
     
     
JOINT REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
(5.2%)
       
 
4,786,113
 
Joint Repurchase Agreement with
Morgan Stanley, 0.17%, dated
03/28/13, due 04/01/13, delivery
value $4,786,203 (collateralized
by $4,881,847 U.S. Treasury
Note 2.500% due 03/31/15, with
a value of $4,825,082)
   
4,786,113
 
 
8,727,617
 
Joint Repurchase Agreement with
Barclays, 0.15%, dated 03/28/13,
due 04/01/13, delivery value
$8,727,763 (collateralized by
$8,902,174 U.S. Treasury Note
0.500% due 07/31/17, with a
value of $8,895,258)
   
8,727,617
 
 
 
Principal
Amount
       
Value
 
$
5,630,721
 
Joint Repurchase Agreement with
Credit Suisse First Boston,
0.18%, dated 03/28/13, due
04/01/13, delivery value
$5,630,833 (collateralized by
$5,743,477 U.S. Treasury Note
0.625% due 09/30/17, with a
value of $5,725,856)
 
$
5,630,721
 
           
19,144,451
 
               
     
TOTAL INVESTMENTS OF
CASH COLLATERAL FOR
SECURITIES ON LOAN
(Cost $19,144,451) (5.2%)
   
19,144,451
 
               
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM
INVESTMENTS
(Cost $37,244,451) (10.1%)
   
37,244,451
 
               
     
TOTAL INVESTMENT
SECURITIES (104.7%)
(Cost $214,424,211)
   
384,728,526
 
               
EXCESS OF LIABILITIES OVER CASH AND
     OTHER ASSETS (-4.7%)
   
(17,285,093
)
         
NET ASSETS (2) (100%)  
$
367,443,433
 
         
NET ASSET VALUE OFFERING AND
    REDEMPTION PRICE, PER OUTSTANDING
    SHARE
    ($367,443,433 ÷ 11,697,496 shares outstanding)
 
$
31.41
 
 
*
Non-income producing.
(1)
A portion or all of the security was held on loan. As of March 31, 2013, the market value of the securities on loan was $17,988,410.
(2)
For federal income tax purposes, the aggregate cost was $214,424,211, aggregate gross unrealized appreciation was $170,647,958, aggregate gross unrealized depreciation was $343,643 and the net unrealized appreciation was $170,304,315.
ADR
American Depositary Receipt.
REIT
Real Estate Investment Trust.
 
 

3

 

The Fund follows fair valuation accounting standards (FASB ASC 820-10) which establish a definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value and a discussion of changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
Level 1 – Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including inputs in markets that are not considered to be active;
Level 3 – Inputs that are unobservable.
 
Transfers between investment levels may occur as the markets fluctuate and/or the availability of data used in an investment’s valuation changes. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
 
The following table summarizes the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments in securities as of March 31, 2013:
 
Investments in Securities:
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets
                       
 Common Stocks
  $ 347,484,075     $ 0     $ 0     $ 347,484,075  
 Short-Term Investments
    0       37,244,451       0       37,244,451  
 Total Investments in Securities
 
  $ 347,484,075     $ 37,244,451     $ 0     $ 384,728,526  
 
The Fund follows the updated provisions surrounding fair value measurements and disclosures on transfers in and out of all levels of the fair value hierarchy on a gross basis and the reasons for the transfers as well as to disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for investments that fall in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels at the beginning of the reporting period.
 
The amounts and reasons for all transfers in and out of each level within the three-tier hierarchy are disclosed when the Fund had an amount of total transfers during the reporting period that was meaningful in relation to its net assets as of the end of the reporting period. An investment asset’s or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level input, individually or in aggregate, that is significant to fair value measurement. The objective of fair value measurement remains the same even when there is a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for an asset or liability and regardless of the valuation techniques used.
 
For the period ended March 31, 2013, there were no Level 3 investments. The Schedule of Investments includes a breakdown of the Schedule’s investments by category.
 
 
 

 
 
Item 2. Controls and Procedures.
(a)  
The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the   registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in rule 30a-2(c) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(c) ) based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures as of the date within 90 days of filing date of this report, are approximately designed to ensure that material information relating to the registrant is made known to such officers and are operating effectively.

(b)
The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have determined that there have been no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Item 3. Exhibits:
(a)  
Certifications of principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant.
 
 
 

 

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

By
/s/ Mitchell E. Appel
 
 
Mitchell E. Appel, President
 
     
Date:
May 28, 2013                      
 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
     
By:
/s/ Mitchell E. Appel
 
 
Mitchell E. Appel, President, Principal Executive Officer
     
By:
/s/ Emily D. Washington
 
 
Emily D. Washington, Treasurer, Principal Financial Officer
     
Date:
May 28, 2013