nv30bv2
 
Third Quarter Report
(TY LOGO)
 
Tri-Continental Corporation
 
Quarterly Report for
the Period Ended
September 30, 2009
 
 
 
 
Tri-Continental Corporation seeks future growth of both capital and income, while providing reasonable current income.


 

 
Letter to Stockholders ­ ­
 

(PHOTO - BANNIGAN - LEWIS)
Patrick T. Bannigan (left)
Stephen R. Lewis, Jr. (right)

Dear Stockholders:
 
We are pleased to present the third quarter stockholder report for Tri-Continental Corporation (the “Fund”). Within this report you will find the Fund’s investment results and portfolio of investments as of Sept. 30, 2009.
 
For the three months ended Sept. 30, 2009, the Fund’s total return based on net asset value rose 17.55%, and its total return based on market price rose 20.40%. During the same period, the S&P 500 Index gained 15.61%, the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index increased 15.27%, and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average gained 15.11%.
 
Under the earned distribution policy adopted in January 2009, the Fund paid a distribution of $0.04 per common share during the third quarter of 2009. Total distributions paid thus far in 2009 aggregate $0.15 per common share. Distributions are based upon amounts distributed by underlying portfolio companies owned by the Fund.
 
The Fund continues to offer several distribution payment options and we continue to recommend that Stockholders assess their income needs and consider investing a portion of their distributions in additional shares of the Fund. The options available for receiving distribution payments are:
 
>  100% of distribution reinvested in additional shares
 
>  75% of distribution reinvested / 25% of distribution paid in cash
 
>  50% of distribution reinvested / 50% of distribution paid in cash
 
>  100% of distribution paid in cash

2  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
You may change your payment election by contacting your Financial Advisor or by calling Stockholder Services at 1(800) 221-2450.
 
On behalf of the Board, we would like to thank you for your continued support of Tri-Continental Corporation.
 
 
 
     
-s- STEPHEN R. LEWIS, JR.   -s- PATRICK T. BANNIGAN
Stephen R. Lewis, Jr.   Patrick T. Bannigan
Chairman of the Boards   President,
RiverSource Family of Funds

 
For more informationgo online to Tricontinental.comor Seligman.com; or call1(800) 221-2450.Customer Service Representativesare available to answeryour questions Mondaythrough Friday from7 a.m. to 6 p.m.Central time.
 

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  3


 

 
Your Fund at a Glance ­ ­
(Unaudited)
 
FUND SUMMARY
 
>  Tri-Continental Corporation (the Fund) common stock rose 17.55% based on net asset value and 20.40% based on market price for the three-month period ended Sept. 30, 2009.
 
>  The Fund outperformed its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, which gained 15.61% for the three-month period.
 
>  The Fund outperformed the Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index, which gained 15.27% for the same period.
 
ANNUALIZED TOTAL RETURNS (for period ended Sept. 30, 2009)
 
                                                 
    3 months*     9 months*     1 year     3 years     5 years     10 years  
Tri-Continental Corporation
Market Price
    +20.40%       +13.62%       -20.05%       -12.09%       -2.39%       -3.21%  
                                                 
Net Asset Value
    +17.55%       +17.32%       -11.18%       -10.95%       -2.70%       -2.87%  
                                                 
S&P 500 Index(1) (unmanaged)
    +15.61%       +19.26%       -6.91%       -5.43%       +1.02%       -0.15%  
                                                 
Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index(2)
    +15.27%       +21.44%       -5.47%       -4.64%       +1.17%       -0.27%  
                                                 
Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average(3)
    +15.11%       +20.60%       -5.78%       -5.06%       +1.14%       +0.25%  
                                                 
 
* Not annualized.
 
The performance information shown represents past performance and is not a guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of your investment will fluctuate so that your shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance information shown. You may obtain performance information current to the most recent month-end by visiting seligman.com.
 
The Fund’s returns reflect the effect of payments/expense reimbursements from the investment manager, including the predecessor investment manager, if any. Without such payments/reimbursements, the Fund’s returns would be lower.
 
Returns reflect changes in market price or net asset value, as applicable, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares.
 
The indices and the average do not reflect the effects of sales charges, expenses (excluding Lipper) and taxes. It is not possible to invest directly in an index or an average.

4  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
(1) The Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500 Index), an unmanaged index of common stocks, is frequently used as a general measure of market performance. The index reflects reinvestment of all distributions and changes in market prices.
(2) The Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Index (the Lipper Index) includes the 30 largest open-end large-cap core funds tracked by Lipper Inc. The Lipper Index’s returns include net reinvested dividends.*
(3) The Lipper Large-Cap Core Funds Average (the Lipper Average) includes open-end funds that, by portfolio practice, invest at least 75% of their assets in companies with market capitalizations (on a three-year weighted basis) above Lipper’s U.S. Diversified Equity large-cap floor. Large-cap core funds typically have an average price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book ratio, and three-year sales-per-share growth value relative to the S&P 500 Index. The Lipper Average’s returns include net reinvested dividends.*
The Lipper Index replaced the Lipper Average as the Fund’s secondary benchmark. The Lipper Average includes all funds categorized by Lipper within the broad universe of open-end funds in the Lipper Average, whereas the Lipper Index includes only a select group of open-end funds from the Lipper Average, as described above. This change was made to bring the selection of the secondary benchmark in line with the practice of the RiverSource Family of Funds, which would permit a common stockholder experience and provide a more focused peer group for performance comparison purposes. Information on both the Lipper Index and the Lipper Average will be included for a transition period. Thereafter, only the Lipper Index will be included.
 
PRICE PER SHARE
 
                                 
    Sept. 30, 2009     June 30, 2009     March 31, 2009     Dec. 31, 2008  
Market price
  $ 11.02     $ 9.19     $ 8.42     $ 9.86  
                                 
Net asset value
    13.03       11.13       9.74       11.29  
                                 
 
DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL GAIN INFORMATION PER COMMON SHARE
(for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2009)
 
                         
    Capital gain (loss)  
Distributions paid(a)   Realized     Unrealized gain(b)     Unrealized loss(b)  
$0.15
  $ (2.24 )   $ 1.37     $ (1.96 )
                         
 
(a) Preferred Stockholders were paid dividends totaling $1.875 per share.
(b) Represents the per Common share amount of gross unrealized gain or loss on portfolio securities as of Sept. 30, 2009.
 
 
The net asset value of the Fund’s shares may not always correspond to the market price of such shares. Common stock of many closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. The Fund is subject to stock market risk, which is the risk that stock prices overall will decline over short or long periods, adversely affecting the value of an investment in the Fund.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  5


 

 
Your Fund at a Glance (continued) ­ ­
 
STYLE MATRIX
 
 

Shading within the style matrix indicates areas in which the Fund is designed to generally invest.
 
The style matrix can be a valuable tool for constructing and monitoring your portfolio. It provides a frame of reference for distinguishing the types of stocks or bonds owned by a fund, and may serve as a guideline for helping you build a portfolio.
 
Investment products, including shares of funds, are not federally or FDIC-insured, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value.
 
PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION(1) (at Sept. 30, 2009; % of portfolio assets)
         
         
Stocks
    99.3%  
         
Consumer Discretionary
    11.1%  
         
Consumer Staples
    5.7%  
         
Energy
    12.4%  
         
Financials
    18.9%  
         
Health Care
    17.1%  
         
Industrials
    7.0%  
         
Information Technology
    17.9%  
         
Materials
    3.2%  
         
Telecommunication Services
    3.7%  
         
Utilities
    2.3%  
         
Equity-Linked Notes
    0.4%  
         
Other(2)
    0.3%  
         
 
(1) Sectors can be comprised of several industries. Please refer to the section entitled “Portfolio of Investments” for a complete listing. No single industry exceeds 25% of portfolio assets.
 
Percentages indicated are based upon total investments (excluding Investments of Cash Collateral Received for Securities on Loan) as of Sept. 30, 2009. The Fund’s composition is subject to change.
 
(2) Cash & Cash Equivalents.
 
The sectors identified above are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS), which was developed by and is the exclusive property of Morgan Stanley Capital International Inc. and Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
TOP TEN HOLDINGS (at Sept. 30, 2009; % of portfolio assets)
         
         
Chevron
    5.0%  
         
Johnson & Johnson
    3.8%  
         
Pfizer
    3.5%  
         
Apple
    3.0%  
         
IBM
    2.6%  
         
Home Depot
    2.6%  
         
Bank of America
    2.3%  
         
General Electric
    1.9%  
         
Rovi
    1.9%  
         
Goldman Sachs Group
    1.7%  
         
 
Excludes cash & cash equivalents.
 
For further detail about these holdings, please refer to the section entitled “Portfolio of Investments.”
 
Fund holdings are as of the date given, are subject to change at any time, and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  7


 

 
Portfolio of Investments ­ ­
 
Sept. 30, 2009 (Unaudited)
(Percentages represent value of investments compared to net assets)
 
Investments in Securities
 
             
Common Stocks (99.6%)
Issuer   Shares     Value(a)
 
Aerospace & Defense (2.2%)
Boeing
    59,616     $3,228,206
General Dynamics
    96,271     6,219,106
Goodrich
    15,984     868,571
ITT
    18,839     982,454
Lockheed Martin
    45,098     3,521,252
Northrop Grumman
    59,209     3,064,066
Raytheon
    37,910     1,818,543
United Technologies
    21,912     1,335,098
             
Total
  21,037,296
 
 
Air Freight & Logistics (0.2%)
CH Robinson Worldwide
    26,764 (g)   1,545,621
FedEx
    4,668     351,127
             
Total
  1,896,748
 
 
Auto Components (—%)
Johnson Controls
    10,469 (g)   267,588
 
 
Automobiles (0.1%)
Harley-Davidson
    47,514     1,092,822
 
 
Beverages (2.2%)
Brown-Forman Cl B
    20,369 (g)   982,193
Coca-Cola
    191,183     10,266,527
Coca-Cola Enterprises
    91,210     1,952,806
Pepsi Bottling Group
    26,646     970,980
PepsiCo
    105,966     6,215,966
             
Total
  20,388,472
 
 
Biotechnology (0.8%)
Amgen
    71,779 (b)   4,323,249
Biogen Idec
    21,192 (b)   1,070,620
Cephalon
    31,037 (b,g)   1,807,595
             
Total
  7,201,464
 
 
Building Products (0.1%)
Masco
    68,608 (g)   886,415
 
 
Capital Markets (4.6%)
Bank of New York Mellon
    166,834     4,836,518
Franklin Resources
    9,699     975,719
Goldman Sachs Group
    98,380     18,136,354
Morgan Stanley
    468,016 (g)   14,452,334
State Street
    61,120     3,214,912
WCAS Capital Partners II LP
    4,292,803 (i)   1,622,679
             
Total
  43,238,516
 
 
Chemicals (1.5%)
Air Products & Chemicals
    27,099     2,102,340
CF Inds Holdings
    9,852     849,538
Dow Chemical
    269,313     7,020,991
EI du Pont de Nemours & Co
    70,716 (g)   2,272,812
PPG Inds
    26,162     1,522,890
             
Total
  13,768,571
 
 
Commercial Banks (3.0%)
BB&T
    70,863 (g)   1,930,308
Comerica
    50,712 (g)   1,504,625
Fifth Third Bancorp
    98,736 (g)   1,000,196
First Horizon Natl
    74,911 (b)   991,066
KeyCorp
    123,471     802,562
Marshall & Ilsley
    140,663     1,135,150
PNC Financial Services Group
    158,238 (g)   7,688,784
SunTrust Banks
    149,950 (g)   3,381,373
Wells Fargo & Co
    359,945     10,143,250
             
Total
  28,577,314
 
 
Commercial Services & Supplies (0.3%)
Avery Dennison
    27,121     976,627
Iron Mountain
    27,654 (b)   737,256
RR Donnelley & Sons
    55,756     1,185,372
             
Total
  2,899,255
 
 
             
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

8  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
             
Common Stocks (continued)
Issuer   Shares     Value(a)
 
Communications Equipment (1.5%)
Cisco Systems
    173,076 (b)   $4,074,209
Motorola
    406,815     3,494,541
QUALCOMM
    137,914     6,203,372
             
Total
  13,772,122
 
 
Computers & Peripherals (8.0%)
Apple
    172,384 (b)   31,954,823
Dell
    351,031 (b)   5,356,733
Hewlett-Packard
    110,964     5,238,610
IBM
    232,905 (e)   27,857,767
Lexmark Intl Cl A
    64,655 (b,g)   1,392,669
NetApp
    42,759 (b)   1,140,810
QLogic
    9,925 (b,g)   170,710
Western Digital
    78,329 (b)   2,861,358
             
Total
  75,973,480
 
 
Construction & Engineering (0.1%)
Fluor
    25,350     1,289,048
 
 
Construction Materials (0.1%)
Vulcan Materials
    16,377 (g)   885,504
 
 
Consumer Finance (0.8%)
American Express
    29,059     985,100
Capital One Financial
    110,776 (g)   3,958,026
Discover Financial Services
    99,564     1,615,924
SLM
    129,265 (b,g)   1,127,191
             
Total
  7,686,241
 
 
Distributors (0.1%)
Genuine Parts
    29,421     1,119,763
 
 
Diversified Consumer Services (0.5%)
Apollo Group Cl A
    45,020 (b)   3,316,624
H&R Block
    77,095     1,417,006
             
Total
  4,733,630
 
 
Diversified Financial Services (5.2%)
Bank of America
    1,472,802     24,919,810
CIT Group
    137,161 (g)   165,965
Citigroup
    2,617,393     12,668,182
IntercontinentalExchange
    14,207 (b)   1,380,778
JPMorgan Chase & Co
    236,534     10,364,920
             
Total
  49,499,655
 
 
Diversified Telecommunication Services (3.3%)
AT&T
    596,178     16,102,768
CenturyTel
    36,445     1,224,552
Frontier Communications
    80,589 (g)   607,641
Qwest Communications Intl
    183,030 (g)   697,344
Verizon Communications
    415,670     12,582,331
             
Total
  31,214,636
 
 
Electric Utilities (1.0%)
Edison Intl
    29,772     999,744
FirstEnergy
    39,287     1,796,202
Northeast Utilities
    38,587     916,055
Pinnacle West Capital
    30,607     1,004,522
Progress Energy
    84,011 (g)   3,281,469
Southern
    56,269     1,782,039
             
Total
  9,780,031
 
 
Electrical Equipment (0.2%)
Emerson Electric
    43,778     1,754,623
Rockwell Automation
    1,979 (g)   84,305
             
Total
  1,838,928
 
 
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (1.0%)
Corning
    403,276     6,174,155
Jabil Circuit
    23,163     310,616
Tyco Electronics
    121,885 (c)   2,715,598
             
Total
  9,200,369
 
 
Energy Equipment & Services (1.9%)
Baker Hughes
    67,743 (g)   2,889,916
BJ Services
    96,118     1,867,573
Diamond Offshore Drilling
    11,999 (g)   1,146,144
ENSCO Intl
    65,568 (g)   2,789,263
Halliburton
    40,690     1,103,513
Nabors Inds
    63,575 (b,c)   1,328,718
Natl Oilwell Varco
    76,799 (b,g)   3,312,340
Noble
    62,178 (g)   2,360,277
Smith Intl
    29,906     858,302
Weatherford Intl
    11,912 (b,c)   246,936
             
Total
  17,902,982
 
 
             
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  9


 

 
Portfolio of Investments (continued) ­ ­
 
             
Common Stocks (continued)
Issuer   Shares     Value(a)
 
Food & Staples Retailing (1.1%)
SYSCO
    75,211     $1,868,993
Walgreen
    82,882     3,105,589
Wal-Mart Stores
    90,429     4,439,159
Whole Foods Market
    36,853 (b,g)   1,123,648
             
Total
  10,537,389
 
 
Food Products (0.9%)
Archer-Daniels-Midland
    150,534     4,398,603
ConAgra Foods
    57,717     1,251,305
Dean Foods
    40,694 (b)   723,946
Sara Lee
    85,249     949,674
Tyson Foods Cl A
    79,202     1,000,321
             
Total
  8,323,849
 
 
Gas Utilities (0.2%)
Nicor
    24,521 (g)   897,223
Questar
    22,473     844,086
             
Total
  1,741,309
 
 
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (0.8%)
Becton Dickinson & Co
    27,125     1,891,969
Boston Scientific
    97,433 (b)   1,031,815
CareFusion
    28,672 (b)   625,050
Medtronic
    59,523     2,190,446
St. Jude Medical
    49,498 (b)   1,930,917
             
Total
  7,670,197
 
 
Health Care Providers & Services (2.7%)
Aetna
    82,760     2,303,211
Cardinal Health
    92,911     2,490,015
CIGNA
    125,553     3,526,784
Coventry Health Care
    46,172 (b,g)   921,593
Humana
    24,709 (b)   921,646
Laboratory Corp of America Holdings
    12,563 (b,g)   825,389
McKesson
    39,454     2,349,486
Quest Diagnostics
    31,680 (g)   1,653,379
UnitedHealth Group
    281,928     7,059,476
WellPoint
    81,596 (b)   3,864,387
             
Total
  25,915,366
 
 
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.5%)
McDonald’s
    153,102     8,737,531
Starbucks
    242,514 (b,g)   5,007,914
             
Total
  13,745,445
 
 
Household Durables (0.2%)
DR Horton
    99,489 (g)   1,135,169
Pulte Homes
    81,133     891,652
             
Total
  2,026,821
 
 
Household Products (0.4%)
Clorox
    19,549     1,149,872
Colgate-Palmolive
    35,231     2,687,421
             
Total
  3,837,293
 
 
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (0.1%)
Constellation Energy Group
    35,925     1,162,892
 
 
Industrial Conglomerates (2.8%)
General Electric
    1,271,888     20,884,401
Textron
    66,356 (g)   1,259,437
Tyco Intl
    115,005 (c)   3,965,372
             
Total
  26,109,210
 
 
Insurance (5.2%)
AFLAC
    24,619     1,052,216
Allstate
    353,880     10,835,805
Aon
    84,339     3,431,754
Assurant
    28,410     910,825
Chubb
    59,901     3,019,609
Hartford Financial Services Group
    61,987 (g)   1,642,656
Lincoln Natl
    49,430 (g)   1,280,731
MetLife
    172,900     6,582,303
Principal Financial Group
    62,611 (g)   1,714,915
Progressive
    196,964 (b)   3,265,663
Prudential Financial
    31,793     1,586,789
Torchmark
    41,023 (g)   1,781,629
Travelers Companies
    213,982     10,534,334
Unum Group
    57,272     1,227,912
             
Total
  48,867,141
 
 
             
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

10  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
             
Common Stocks (continued)
Issuer   Shares     Value(a)
 
Internet & Catalog Retail (0.7%)
Amazon.com
    62,858 (b)   $5,868,423
Expedia
    41,043 (b)   982,980
             
Total
  6,851,403
 
 
Internet Software & Services (0.2%)
eBay
    72,729 (b)   1,717,132
 
 
IT Services (1.2%)
Affiliated Computer Services Cl A
    28,552 (b)   1,546,662
Automatic Data Processing
    79,712     3,132,681
Cognizant Technology Solutions Cl A
    37,822 (b)   1,462,199
Computer Sciences
    29,428 (b)   1,551,150
Fiserv
    20,080 (b,g)   967,856
MasterCard Cl A
    15,243 (g)   3,081,372
             
Total
  11,741,920
 
 
Leisure Equipment & Products (0.1%)
Mattel
    66,506     1,227,701
 
 
Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.1%)
Life Technologies
    22,582 (b)   1,051,192
 
 
Machinery (1.1%)
Cummins
    26,032     1,166,494
Eaton
    30,441     1,722,656
Illinois Tool Works
    67,069     2,864,517
Ingersoll-Rand
    108,637 (c,g)   3,331,897
PACCAR
    30,371 (g)   1,145,290
             
Total
  10,230,854
 
 
Media (1.3%)
CBS Cl B
    202,002     2,434,124
Gannett
    82,836 (g)   1,036,278
News Corp Cl A
    442,638     5,307,230
Viacom Cl B
    137,269 (b)   3,849,023
             
Total
  12,626,655
 
 
Metals & Mining (1.7%)
Alcoa
    162,736 (g)   2,135,096
Allegheny Technologies
    24,486 (g)   856,765
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold
    84,494 (g)   5,797,134
Newmont Mining
    95,433     4,200,961
Nucor
    29,439 (g)   1,383,927
United States Steel
    30,531 (g)   1,354,660
             
Total
  15,728,543
 
 
Multiline Retail (1.1%)
Family Dollar Stores
    71,498     1,887,547
JC Penney
    29,136     983,340
Kohl’s
    83,558 (b)   4,766,984
Macy’s
    65,125     1,191,136
Nordstrom
    33,368 (g)   1,019,059
Sears Holdings
    11,412 (b,g)   745,318
             
Total
  10,593,384
 
 
Multi-Utilities (0.9%)
Consolidated Edison
    61,365 (g)   2,512,283
PG&E
    101,954 (g)   4,128,117
SCANA
    27,155 (g)   947,710
Xcel Energy
    66,717 (g)   1,283,635
             
Total
  8,871,745
 
 
Office Electronics (0.1%)
Xerox
    123,011     952,105
 
 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (10.5%)
Apache
    14,688 (g)   1,348,799
Chesapeake Energy
    41,568     1,180,531
Chevron
    768,328     54,113,340
ConocoPhillips
    332,245     15,004,184
Hess
    53,467     2,858,346
Marathon Oil
    236,306     7,538,161
Murphy Oil
    34,239 (g)   1,971,139
Noble Energy
    20,977 (g)   1,383,643
Occidental Petroleum
    88,644     6,949,690
Peabody Energy
    22,475 (g)   836,520
Range Resources
    20,203 (g)   997,220
Sunoco
    24,149 (g)   687,039
Tesoro
    44,673 (g)   669,202
Valero Energy
    207,889     4,030,968
             
Total
  99,568,782
 
 
             
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  11


 

 
Portfolio of Investments (continued) ­ ­
 
             
Common Stocks (continued)
Issuer   Shares     Value(a)
 
Pharmaceuticals (12.8%)
Abbott Laboratories
    36,220     $1,791,803
Allergan
    51,107     2,900,833
Bristol-Myers Squibb
    72,690     1,636,979
Eli Lilly & Co
    69,672     2,301,266
Forest Laboratories
    114,465 (b)   3,369,850
Johnson & Johnson
    671,478     40,886,296
King Pharmaceuticals
    64,212 (b,g)   691,563
Merck & Co
    396,929 (g)   12,554,864
Mylan
    80,061 (b,g)   1,281,777
Pfizer
    2,293,822     37,962,755
Schering-Plough
    352,988     9,971,911
Wyeth
    112,068     5,444,263
             
Total
  120,794,160
 
 
Road & Rail (—%)
Norfolk Southern
    6,836     294,700
 
 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.0%)
Analog Devices
    37,608     1,037,229
Broadcom Cl A
    55,259 (b)   1,695,899
Intel
    743,067     14,541,821
Linear Technology
    28,598 (g)   790,163
MEMC Electronic Materials
    75,552 (b,g)   1,256,430
Microchip Technology
    48,510 (g)   1,285,515
Micron Technology
    162,962 (b)   1,336,288
NVIDIA
    142,105 (b,g)   2,135,838
Texas Instruments
    162,715     3,854,718
             
Total
  27,933,901
 
 
Software (3.1%)
BMC Software
    17,722 (b)   665,107
Intuit
    59,727 (b)   1,702,220
Microsoft
    61,794     1,599,847
Red Hat
    36,860 (b)   1,018,810
Rovi
    590,649 (b,g)   19,845,805
Symantec
    214,023 (b,g)   3,524,959
             
Total
  28,356,748
 
 
Specialty Retail (4.7%)
Abercrombie & Fitch Cl A
    42,922 (g)   1,411,275
AutoNation
    50,188 (b,g)   907,399
AutoZone
    8,613 (b)   1,259,393
Bed Bath & Beyond
    36,849 (b,g)   1,383,311
Best Buy
    63,399 (g)   2,378,730
Gap
    136,021     2,910,849
Home Depot
    1,028,999     27,412,534
Lowe’s Companies
    63,968     1,339,490
O’Reilly Automotive
    49,800 (b,g)   1,799,772
Sherwin-Williams
    60,838 (g)   3,660,015
             
Total
  44,462,768
 
 
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (0.7%)
Coach
    47,997     1,580,061
Nike Cl B
    53,138     3,438,029
VF
    19,467 (g)   1,409,995
             
Total
  6,428,085
 
 
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (0.2%)
People’s United Financial
    94,327 (g)   1,467,728
 
 
Tobacco (1.1%)
Altria Group
    446,561     7,953,251
Lorillard
    37,660     2,798,138
             
Total
  10,751,389
 
 
Trading Companies & Distributors (—%)
Fastenal
    23 (g)   890
 
 
Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.4%)
Sprint Nextel
    933,158 (b)   3,685,974
 
 
Total Common Stocks
(Cost: $956,509,960)
          $941,425,521
 
 
 
                     
Equity-Linked Notes (0.4%)(j)
    Coupon
    Principal
     
Issuer   rate     amount     Value(a)
 
Lehman Brothers Holdings
Sr Unsecured
09-14-08
    53.51 %     $14,844,000 (b,d,f,h)   $1,757,682
10-02-08
    39.50       14,844,000 (b,d,f,h)   2,176,353
 
 
Total Equity-Linked Notes
(Cost: $29,688,000)
                  $3,934,035
 
 
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Portfolio of Investments.

12  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 
             
Money Market Fund (0.3%)
    Shares     Value(a)
 
RiverSource Short-Term Cash Fund, 0.28%
    2,655,700 (k)   $2,655,700
 
 
Total Money Market Fund
(Cost: $2,655,700)
          $2,655,700
 
 
             
             
Investments of Cash Collateral Received
for Securities on Loan (13.1%)
    Shares     Value(a)
 
Cash Collateral Reinvestment Fund (8.9%)
JPMorgan Prime Money Market Fund
    83,622,218     $83,622,218
 
 
                     
    Coupon
    Principal
     
Issuer   rate     amount     Value(a)
 
Asset-Backed Commercial Paper (1.7%)
Belmont Funding LLC
10-06-09
    0.52 %     $3,999,596     $3,999,596
Ebbets Funding LLC
10-06-09
    0.47       3,999,634     3,999,634
Rhein-Main Securitisation
10-20-09
    0.32       4,998,889     4,998,889
Tasman Funding
10-23-09
    0.30       2,999,250     2,999,250
                     
Total
          15,997,369
 
 
Certificates of Deposit (2.0%)
Banco Espirito Santo e Comm London
10-06-09
    0.30       5,000,000     5,000,000
Dexia Credit Local du France
10-09-09
    0.42       3,999,347     3,999,347
Monte de Paschi
11-02-09
    0.40       5,000,000     5,000,000
Raiffeisen Zentralbank Oest Vienna
10-05-09
    0.29       5,000,000     5,000,000
                     
Total
          18,999,347
 
 
Commercial Paper (0.5%)
KBC Financial Products
11-02-09
    0.48       4,997,691     4,997,691
 
 
Total Investments of Cash Collateral Received for Securities on Loan
(Cost: $123,616,625)
                  $123,616,625
 
 
Total Investments in Securities
(Cost: $1,112,470,285)(l)
                  $1,071,631,881
 
 
 
Investments in Derivatives
 
Futures Contracts Outstanding at Sept. 30, 2009
 
                                 
    Number of
                Unrealized
 
    contracts
    Notional
    Expiration
    appreciation
 
Contract description   long (short)     market value     date     (depreciation)  
S&P 500 Index
    3       $789,675       Dec. 2009       $11,727  
Notes to Portfolio of Investments
 
(a) The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Staff Position FAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (FSP 157-4), on June 30, 2009. FSP 157-4 provides guidance on estimating the fair value of an investment when the trade volume and level of activity for the investment have significantly decreased relative to historical levels. FSP 157-4 requires funds to disclose in interim and annual periods the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  13


 

 
Portfolio of Investments (continued) ­ ­
 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (continued)
 
inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category. There was no impact to the Fund’s net assets or results of operations upon adoption. This disclosure can be found as part of the Fair Value Measurements disclosure in the Portfolio of Investments.
 
All securities are valued at the close of each business day of the NYSE. Securities traded on national securities exchanges or included in national market systems are valued at the last quoted sales price. Debt securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter market and are valued by an independent pricing service using an evaluated bid. When market quotes are not readily available, the pricing service, in determining fair values of debt securities, takes into consideration such factors as current quotations by broker/dealers, coupon, maturity, quality, type of issue, trading characteristics, and other yield and risk factors it deems relevant in determining valuations. Foreign securities are valued based on quotations from the principal market in which such securities are normally traded. The procedures adopted by the Board of Directors (the Board) generally contemplate the use of fair valuation in the event that price quotations or valuations are not readily available, price quotations or valuations from other sources are not reflective of market value and thus deemed unreliable, or a significant event has occurred in relation to a security or class of securities (such as foreign securities) that is not reflected in price quotations or valuations from other sources. A fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security at a given point in time.
 
Many securities markets and exchanges outside the U.S. close prior to the close of the NYSE and therefore the closing prices for securities in such markets or on such exchanges may not fully reflect events that occur after such close but before the close of the NYSE, including significant movements in the U.S. market after foreign exchanges have closed. Accordingly, in those situations, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (Ameriprise Financial), parent company of RiverSource Investments, LLC (RiverSource Investments or the Investment Manager), as administrator to the Corporation, will fair value foreign securities pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board, including utilizing a third party pricing service to determine these fair values. These procedures take into account multiple factors, including movements in the U.S. securities markets, to determine a good faith estimate that reasonably reflects the current market conditions as of the close of the NYSE.
 
Short-term securities maturing in more than 60 days from the valuation date are valued at the market price or approximate market value based on current interest rates. Typically, those maturing in 60 days or less that originally had maturities of more than 60 days at acquisition date are valued at amortized cost using the market value on the 61st day before maturity. Short-term securities maturing in 60 days or less at acquisition date are valued at amortized cost. Amortized cost is an approximation of market value. Investments in money market funds are valued at net asset value.
 
(b) Non-income producing. For long-term debt securities, item identified is in default as to payment of interest and/or principal.
 
(c) Foreign security values are stated in U.S. dollars. At Sept. 30, 2009, the value of foreign securities, excluding short-term securities, represented 1.2% of net assets.

14  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 

Notes to Portfolio of Investments (continued)
 
(d) Represents a security sold under Rule 144A, which is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This security may be determined to be liquid under guidelines established by the Fund’s Board of Directors. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. At Sept. 30, 2009, the value of these securities amounted to $3,934,035 or 0.4% of net assets.
 
(e) At Sept. 30, 2009, investments in securities included securities valued at $1,794,150 that were partially pledged as collateral to cover initial margin deposits on open stock index futures contracts.
 
(f) This position is in bankruptcy.
 
(g) At Sept. 30, 2009, security was partially or fully on loan.
 
(h) Identifies issues considered to be illiquid as to their marketability. The aggregate value of such securities at Sept. 30, 2009 was $3,934,035, representing 0.4% of net assets. Information concerning such security holdings at Sept. 30, 2009 is as follows:
 
             
    Acquisition
     
Security   dates   Cost  
Lehman Brothers Holdings
Sr Unsecured
53.51% 2008
  03-07-08     $14,844,000  
39.50% 2008
  03-26-08     14,844,000  
 
(i) Restricted security.
 
(j) Equity-Linked Notes (ELNs) are notes created by a counterparty, typically an investment bank, that may bear interest at a fixed or floating rate. At maturity, the notes must be exchanged for an amount based on the value of one or more equity securities of third party issuers or the value of an index. The exchanged value may be limited to an amount less than the actual value of the underlying stocks or value of an index at the maturity date. Any difference between the exchange amount and the original cost of the notes will be a gain or loss.
 
(k) Affiliated Money Market Fund — The Fund may invest its daily cash balance in RiverSource Short-Term Cash Fund, a money market fund established for the exclusive use of funds in the RiverSource Family of Funds and other institutional clients of RiverSource Investments. The rate shown is the seven-day current annualized yield at Sept. 30, 2009.
 
(l) At Sept. 30, 2009, the cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was approximately $1,112,470,000 and the approximate aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on that cost was:
 
         
Unrealized appreciation
    $95,862,000  
Unrealized depreciation
    (136,700,000 )
         
Net unrealized depreciation
    $(40,838,000 )
         
 
The industries identified above are based on the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS), which was developed by and is the exclusive property of Morgan Stanley Capital International Inc. and Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  15


 

 
Portfolio of Investments (continued) ­ ­
 
Fair Value Measurements
 
Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) require disclosure regarding the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value and any changes in valuation inputs or techniques. In addition, investments shall be disclosed by major category.
 
The Fund categorizes its fair value measurements according to a three-level hierarchy that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by prioritizing that the most observable input be used when available. Observable inputs are those that market participants would use in pricing an investment based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are those that reflect the Fund’s assumptions about the information market participants would use in pricing an investment. An investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is deemed significant to the asset or liability’s fair value measurement. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. For example, certain U.S. government securities are generally high quality and liquid, however, they are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
 
Fair value inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
    Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices for investments in active markets that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date. Valuation adjustments are not applied to Level 1 investments.
 
    Level 2 — Valuations based on other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.).
 
    Level 3 — Valuations based on significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions and judgment in determining the fair value of investments).
 
Inputs that are used in determining fair value of an investment may include price information, credit data, volatility statistics, and other factors. These inputs can be either observable or unobservable. The availability of observable inputs can vary between investments, and is affected by various factors such as the type of investment, and the volume and level of activity for that investment or similar investments in the marketplace. The inputs will be considered by the Fund Administrator, along with any other relevant factors in the calculation of an investment’s fair value. The Fund uses prices and inputs that are current as of the measurement date, which may include periods of market dislocations. During these periods, the availability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many investments. This condition could cause an investment to be reclassified between the various levels within the hierarchy.
 
Non-U.S. equity securities actively traded in foreign markets may be reflected in Level 2 despite the availability of closing prices, because the Fund evaluates and determines whether those closing prices reflect fair value at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or require adjustment, as described in Note (a) to the Portfolio of Investments.
 
Investments falling into the Level 3 category are primarily supported by quoted prices from brokers and dealers participating in the market for those investments. However, these may be classified as

16  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
 

Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
Level 3 investments due to lack of market transparency and corroboration to support these quoted prices. Additionally, valuation models may be used as the pricing source for any remaining investments classified as Level 3. These models rely on one or more significant unobservable inputs and/or significant assumptions by the Fund Administrator. Inputs used in a valuation model may include, but are not limited to, financial statement analysis, discount rates and estimated cash flows, and comparable company data.
 
The following table is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of Sept. 30, 2009:
 
                                 
    Fair value at Sept. 30, 2009  
    Level 1
    Level 2
             
    quoted prices
    other
    Level 3
       
    in active
    significant
    significant
       
    markets for
    observable
    unobservable
       
Description   identical assets     inputs     inputs     Total  
Equity Securities
                               
Common Stocks
                               
Capital Markets
    $41,615,837       $—       $1,622,679       $43,238,516  
All Other Industries(a)
    898,187,005                   898,187,005  
                                 
Total Equity Securities
    939,802,842             1,622,679       941,425,521  
                                 
Other
                               
Equity-Linked Notes
          3,934,035             3,934,035  
Affiliated Money Market Fund(b)
    2,655,700                   2,655,700  
Investments of Cash Collateral Received for Securities on Loan(c)
    83,622,218       39,994,407             123,616,625  
                                 
Total Other
    86,277,918       43,928,442             130,206,360  
                                 
Investments in Securities
    1,026,080,760       43,928,442       1,622,679       1,071,631,881  
Other Financial Instruments(d)
    11,727                   11,727  
                                 
Total
    $1,026,092,487       $43,928,442       $1,622,679       $1,071,643,608  
                                 
 
(a) All industry classifications are identified in the Portfolio of Investments.
(b) Money market fund that is a sweep investment for cash balances in the Fund at Sept. 30, 2009.
(c) Asset categories for Investments of Cash Collateral are identified in the Portfolio of Investments.
(d) Other Financial Instruments are derivative instruments, which are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. Derivative descriptions are located in the Investments in Derivatives section of the Portfolio of Investments.

TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT  17


 

 
Portfolio of Investments (continued) ­ ­
 

Fair Value Measurements (continued)
 
The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets for which significant unobservable inputs were used to determine fair value.
 
         
    Common
 
    Stocks  
Balance as of Dec. 31, 2008
    $1,893,126  
Accrued discounts/premiums
     
Realized gain (loss)
     
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)*
    (270,447 )
Net purchases (sales)
     
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
     
 
Balance as of Sept. 30, 2009
    $1,622,679  
         
 
* Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) relating to securities held at Sept. 30, 2009 was $(270,447).

18  TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION — 2009 QUARTERLY REPORT


 

 
Notes ­ ­
 

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Notes ­ ­
 

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THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF THE QUARTERLY REPORT


 

Tri-Continental Corporation
734 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
 
tricontinental.com
 
         
(TY LOGO)   This report must be accompanied or preceded by the Fund’s current prospectus. Tri-Continental Corporation is managed by RiverSource Investments, LLC. This material is distributed by RiverSource Fund Distributors, Inc. Member FINRA.
©2009 RiverSource Investments, LLC.
  SL-99483 A (11/09)