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CSCD

21.86
0.00 (0.00%)
Pre Market
Last Updated: 01:00:00
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type
NASDAQ:CSCD NASDAQ Common Stock
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 21.86 18.00 27.50 0 01:00:00

Reports Mailed to Shareholders (registered Investment Company) (n-30b-2)

13/11/2012 4:45pm

Edgar (US Regulatory)


MERIDIAN FUND, INC.

October 10, 2012

To Our Shareholders:

Stocks rallied sharply in the quarter ended September 30, 2012 as enthusiasm over further quantitative easing from the Fed and signs of a nascent housing rebound overcame worries about European economies, mixed domestic economic indicators, slowing growth in emerging markets and notes of caution emanating from companies across most sectors. During the quarter the S&P 500 gained 5.8%, the NASDAQ added 6.2% and the Russell 2000, which includes smaller companies, was up 4.9%. The quarter’s best performing sectors included energy, technology and financials. Utilities, industrials and consumer staples were among the worst performing groups. The yield on the ten-year Treasury bond held steady to end the quarter at 1.64%, down only slightly from 1.67% at the start of the quarter.

GDP grew at 1.3% during the second quarter of 2012, down from a revised 2% in the first quarter. The increase in GDP came from personal consumption expenditures, exports and nonresidential and residential fixed investment, offset by declining inventory investment and state and local government spending. Earnings expectations for the S&P 500 fell during the quarter, as a rising number of companies forecast lower-than-expected profits and provided downward revisions to their guidance. We are troubled by the divergence between equity performance and fundamentals. In our experience such a divergence between stock prices and earnings can persist for a period of time, but is ultimately unsustainable. In light of this, we are approaching the market cautiously.

Long-term investment results, history clearly shows, are improved by buying good companies or mutual funds consistently over an extended period of time. We will continue to patiently execute our investment strategies.

We welcome those new shareholders who joined the Meridian Funds during the quarter and we appreciate the continued confidence of our existing shareholders.

Jamie England

William Tao

Larry Cordisco

Jim O’Connor


Meridian Equity Income Fund ® (MEIFX)

The Meridian Equity Income Fund’s net asset value per share at September 30, 2012 was $11.09. This represents an increase of 8.5% year-to-date. The Fund’s total return and average annual compound rate of return since inception January 31, 2005 were 44.1% and 4.9%, respectively. At the close of the quarter, total net assets were $26,763,137 and were invested 3.5% in cash and other assets net of liabilities and 96.5% in stocks. At the close of the quarter there were 450 shareholders in the Equity Income Fund.

The Fund continues to invest in companies that we believe have the potential for capital appreciation and the ability to grow dividends. The Fund is diversified, with 50 holdings representing 45 different industry groups. At the end of the quarter ended September 30, 2012, the portfolio’s average holding had a five-year average return on equity of 19.2% and an average dividend yield of 3.5%, both measures substantially higher than the average S&P 500 stock, with an average market capitalization of $46.5 billion and an average debt to capital ratio of 37.7%.

During the quarter we purchased shares of Baxter International, Black Rock, Enbridge Energy Partners, Flower Foods, Intel, Linear Technology and March & McLennan. We sold our shares in Allstate, Exelon, Federated Investors, General Electric, H&R Block, Hillenbrand, Home Depot, KLA-Tencor, Kraft Foods, Mercury General, Microchip Technology, NYSE Euronext, Pitney Bowes, Safeway, Staples, Time Warner Cable and Waste Management.

Time Warner, Inc., one of our largest holdings, is a leading media and entertainment company. Television represents over 75% of the company’s operating profits and includes cable stations TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network, news network CNN, premium pay channel HBO and broadcast network CW. Other businesses include the Warner Brothers movie studio and magazine publishing including such titles as Time, People, Fortune and Sports Illustrated. As viewing of video content migrates from traditional distribution to internet delivery, we believe that the developers and owners of high quality content like Time Warner will fare better than traditional distributors such as cable television providers. The company has a strong track record of earnings and dividend growth fueled by its content and faster growth abroad. Additionally, the company generates substantial free cash flow and maintains conservative financial leverage. With a 2.3% dividend yield and trading at twelve times forward earnings, in our opinion, Time Warner represents an attractive investment.

Meridian Growth Fund ® (MERDX)

The Meridian Growth Fund’s net asset value per share at September 30, 2012 was $46.05. This represents an increase of 10.6% year-to-date. The Fund’s total return and average annual compound rate of return since inception August 1, 1984 were 2,656.9% and 12.5%, respectively. At the close of the quarter, total net assets were $2,284,677,867 and were

 

2


invested 6.9% in cash, cash equivalents and other assets net of liabilities and 93.1% in stocks. At the close of the quarter there were 87,179 shareholders in the Growth Fund.

Despite macroeconomic worries, there are reasons for optimism. Corporate balance sheets are strong and unemployment levels continue to gradually decrease. Many small and mid-sized growth stocks sell at reasonable valuations. We continue to follow the investment strategy that has served the Fund well for the past 28 years. Our portfolio remains diversified in mid-sized growth companies which in our opinion are predominantly market leaders, having strong returns on capital, solid growth prospects and that sell at reasonable valuations. The Fund is invested in 56 positions along with Treasury Bills. Our heaviest areas of concentration remain the consumer and technology sectors.

During the quarter we purchased shares of ANSYS, AutoZone, Dollar Tree, DSW, Perrigo, Stericycle and Woodward. We sold our positions in Advance Auto Parts, Advent Software, International Game Technology, Nuance Communications and VeriFone Systems.

Brown & Brown, one of our largest holdings, is a large US insurance broker that focuses on property and casualty insurance for the small-and-middle markets. The company generates about 30% of revenue from Florida, its largest market. The middle-market brokerage segment is highly fragmented with smaller local competitors and has historically been more profitable than the large global insurance brokers. Brown has one of the strongest management teams in this segment, and consistently generates above industry margins driven by its strategies of strict cost control and disciplined acquisitions. Industry premiums for property and casualty insurance have increased each month since the beginning of 2012, after declining for seven consecutive years. We believe that Brown will benefit from this continued recovery in the insurance market over the next few years and that Brown is well positioned to grow faster than the industry over the long term as it continues to consolidate middle-market brokerages. The shares sell at a reasonable valuation, in our opinion, given the company’s balance sheet, financial returns and long-term growth prospects.

Meridian Value Fund ® (MVALX)

The Meridian Value Fund’s net asset value per share at September 30, 2012 was $31.96. This represents an increase of 13.8% year-to-date. The Fund’s total return and average annual compound rate of return since June 30, 1995 were 800.4% and 13.6%, respectively. The comparable period returns for the S&P 500 with dividends were 261.7% and 7.7%, respectively. At the close of the quarter, total net assets were $684,426,573 and were invested 7.5% in cash, cash equivalents and other assets net of liabilities and 92.5% in stocks. At the close of the quarter there were 31,711 shareholders in the Value Fund.

We continue to seek out-of-favor companies, typically having experienced an extended period of declining earnings. In recent years, most earnings problems have been related to poor economic conditions. With some stability in the economy, albeit tenuous, we now see more

 

3


companies that meet our strategy for company-specific reasons. These investments are the traditional strength and point of differentiation of the Meridian Value Fund. We are gradually shifting the portfolio to more of these investments and believe that this should bode well for a return to the Fund’s historically strong performance levels. The Fund is invested in 53 positions, representing 34 industry groups along with Treasury Bills. We continue to invest in companies of all market capitalizations and our largest areas of concentration are technology, retail and transportation.

During the quarter we purchased shares of Aeropostale, Flowers Foods, Gildan Activewear, Koninklijke Phillips, and Verint Systems. We sold our positions in Cummins, CVB Financial Group, Host Hotels & Resorts, Lincoln Electric and TD Ameritrade. One of our newest holdings, Matson, is the result of a spin-off from our holding of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

GATX Corporation is one of our largest holdings. The company specializes in owning and leasing long lived, widely used transportation assets that have a valuable service component. The majority of GATX’s business is in the railcar leasing market, particularly tank cars used to transport chemicals, petroleum or food and agriculture products. The company suffered declining earnings due to the weak macroeconomic environment as long term leases signed during better times expired and were renewed at lower rates during the recent downturn and early stages of the current recovery. Earnings growth turned positive as under-production of tank cars during the economic downturn, coupled with improved demand for railcars as the economy stabilized, resulted in favorable supply and demand conditions. Demand is now augmented by secular growth in domestic production of oil and chemicals, with the latter driven by expectations for increased domestic production of low priced natural gas. GATX is well managed, in our opinion, and trades at a reasonable valuation based on normalized earnings per share, which we believe could exceed $3.50 per share if current trends persist. In addition the shares have an attractive 2.8% dividend yield.

Miscellaneous

You can sign up for E-mail Alerts on our website at www.meridianfund.com . When you sign up for E-mail Alerts you will receive notification of news items, shareholder reports, SEC filings and other information regarding the Meridian Funds.

The Meridian Funds are no-load and there are no transaction fees or commissions charged when you purchase shares directly through our transfer agent, BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (U.S.), Inc. This is a very cost-effective way to purchase shares of the Meridian Funds if you do not need the services of a broker-dealer or if you make multiple purchases.

The information provided in this report should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security. There is no assurance that any securities discussed herein will remain in a particular Fund’s portfolio at the time you receive this report or that securities sold have not been repurchased. Securities discussed are presented

 

4


as illustrations of companies that fit a particular Fund’s investment strategy and do not represent a Fund’s entire portfolio and in the aggregate may represent only a small percentage of a Fund’s portfolio holdings. It should not be assumed that any of the securities transactions or holdings discussed were or will prove to be profitable, or that investment decisions Fund management makes in the future will be profitable or will equal the investment performance of the securities discussed herein. Management’s views presented herein and any discussion of a particular Fund’s portfolio holdings or performance are as of September 30, 2012 and are subject to change without notice.

 

5


Meridian Equity Income Fund

Summary of Portfolio Holdings

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

     

Portfolio Holdings by Category (% of total net assets)

     

Health Care Products

     4.3%       $ 1,162,700   

Media

     4.3         1,152,620   

Software & Services

     3.8         1,022,615   

Energy

     3.6         959,992   

Semiconductors

     3.4         913,738   

Chemicals-Specialty

     2.4         627,880   

Consumer Products-Household

     2.3         604,749   

Leisure & Amusement

     2.2         593,972   

Telecommunication Services-Integrated

     2.2         591,136   

Metals

     2.2         588,105   

Hypermarkets & Super Centers

     2.2         584,127   

Soft Drinks

     2.1         571,984   

Household-Home Furnishings

     2.1         571,766   

Retail-Drug Store

     2.1         561,176   

Data Processing & Outsourced Services

     2.0         545,956   

Pharmaceuticals

     2.0         543,355   

Aerospace & Defense

     2.0         541,604   

Health Care Technology

     2.0         539,000   

Food Distributors

     2.0         537,844   

Brewers

     2.0         536,095   

Retail

     2.0         530,563   

Tobacco

     2.0         526,581   

Paper & Forest Products

     2.0         519,376   

Banking-Regional Banks

     1.9         516,870   

Electrical Components & Equipment

     1.9         516,489   

Food

     1.9         514,590   

Multi-Utilities

     1.9         513,648   

Electronic Equipment Manufacturing

     1.9         512,460   

Industrial Machinery

     1.9         507,572   

Banking-Commercial

     1.9         506,382   

Chemicals-Diversified

     1.8         491,641   

Air Freight & Logistics

     1.8         487,750   

 

6


Meridian Equity Income Fund

Summary of Portfolio Holdings (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

     

Portfolio Holdings by Category (% of total net assets)

     

Diversified Financial Services

     1.8%       $ 485,264   

Oil & Gas-Storage & Transportation

     1.8         481,504   

Asset Management & Custody Banks

     1.8         481,410   

Distribution & Wholesale

     1.8         475,119   

REITs-Diversified

     1.8         474,980   

Restaurants

     1.8         464,714   

Paper & Packaging

     1.7         449,355   

Construction & Engineering

     1.7         447,240   

Computer Hardware

     1.7         444,972   

Packaging

     1.7         437,382   

Steel

     1.6         436,547   

Railroads

     1.6         432,684   

Insurance Brokers

     1.6         413,946   

Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities

     3.5         943,684   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     100.0%       $ 26,763,137   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7


Meridian Growth Fund

Summary of Portfolio Holdings

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio Holdings by Category (% of total net assets)

     
     

Retail

     14.8%       $ 338,692,939   

Technology

     7.9         181,280,049   

Tech-Software

     7.8         178,677,271   

Energy

     6.1         140,311,131   

Banking-Commercial

     5.2         119,124,360   

Health Care Products

     5.0         114,111,843   

Brokerage & Money Management

     4.4         99,893,643   

Cellular Communications

     3.2         74,046,509   

Insurance Brokers

     3.2         72,683,551   

Restaurants

     3.2         72,507,989   

U.S. Government Obligations

     2.6         59,994,080   

Building Products

     2.5         57,278,100   

Electronic Equipment Manufacturing

     2.5         56,144,611   

Health Care Information Services

     2.3         53,622,681   

Industrial Conglomerates

     2.3         52,176,717   

Distribution & Wholesale

     2.3         51,415,431   

Automotive Wholesale Services

     2.1         47,693,000   

Consumer Services

     2.0         46,456,212   

Real Estate Management & Services

     2.0         45,214,088   

Flooring & Carpets

     2.0         45,079,667   

Health Care Technology

     1.9         42,472,125   

Trucking

     1.5         33,428,154   

Air Freight & Logistics

     1.4         31,802,638   

Chemicals-Specialty

     1.4         31,254,868   

Furniture & Fixtures

     1.3         29,971,134   

Leisure & Amusement

     1.2         27,945,761   

Industrial Services

     1.2         26,730,822   

Industrial

     1.0         23,983,084   

Environmental Facilities & Services

     0.9         21,688,592   

Pharmaceuticals

     0.5         11,349,809   

Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities

     4.3         97,647,008   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     100    $ 2,284,677,867   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

8


Meridian Value Fund

Summary of Portfolio Holdings

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

     

Portfolio Holdings by Category (% of total net assets)

     

Technology

     8.1%       $ 55,170,451   

Leisure & Amusement

     8.0         55,048,020   

Diversified Financial Services

     7.6         52,352,300   

Retail

     5.1         35,202,110   

Industrial

     5.1         34,791,065   

Railroads

     4.8         32,743,736   

Energy

     4.7         32,457,346   

Industrial Services

     3.3         22,249,182   

Automotive Wholesale Services

     3.0         20,542,400   

Utilities

     2.7         18,400,556   

Metals

     2.5         17,027,040   

Office Services & Supplies

     2.5         16,881,915   

Health Care Services

     2.3         15,650,414   

Apparel

     2.2         15,376,864   

Consulting Services

     2.2         15,136,254   

Health Care Products

     2.1         14,219,460   

Agriculture

     2.0         13,844,142   

Home Improvement Retail

     2.0         13,565,701   

Pharmaceuticals

     2.0         13,562,936   

Household Appliances

     2.0         13,556,487   

Food

     2.0         13,497,684   

Brokerage & Money Management

     1.9         12,922,362   

Real Estate

     1.8         12,142,736   

Business Services

     1.5         10,412,240   

U.S. Government Obligations

     1.5         9,998,220   

Tech-Software

     1.4         9,705,248   

Transportation

     1.4         9,637,419   

Semiconductors

     1.4         9,488,074   

Aerospace & Defense

     1.4         9,397,024   

Banking-Commercial

     1.2         8,515,722   

Restaurants

     1.1         7,316,710   

 

9


Meridian Value Fund

Summary of Portfolio Holdings (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

     

Portfolio Holdings by Category (% of total net assets)

     

Banking

     1.0%       $ 7,147,710   

Storage

     1.0         6,841,074   

Diversified Operations

     0.6         4,371,080   

Air Freight & Logistics

     0.6         3,992,508   

Cash & Other Assets, Less Liabilities

     6.0         41,262,383   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
     100.0%       $ 684,426,573   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

10


Meridian Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS - 96.5%

  

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE - 2.0%

  

Lockheed Martin Corp.

    5,800      $ 541,604   

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS - 1.8%

  

United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B

    6,815        487,750   

ASSET MANAGEMENT & CUSTODY BANKS - 1.8%

  

BlackRock, Inc.

    2,700        481,410   

BANKING-COMMERCIAL - 1.9%

  

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

    11,100        506,382   

BANKING-REGIONAL BANKS - 1.9%

  

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

    9,000        516,870   

BREWERS - 2.0%

  

Molson Coors Brewing Co. Class B

    11,900        536,095   

CHEMICALS-DIVERSIFIED - 1.8%

  

EI du Pont de Nemours & Co.

    9,780        491,641   

CHEMICALS-SPECIALTY - 2.4%

  

RPM International, Inc.

    22,000        627,880   

COMPUTER HARDWARE - 1.7%

  

Diebold, Inc.

    13,200        444,972   

CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING - 1.7%

  

Mine Safety Appliances Co.

    12,000        447,240   

CONSUMER PRODUCTS-HOUSEHOLD - 2.3%

  

Kimberly-Clark Corp.

    7,050        604,749   
    Shares     Value  
   

DATA PROCESSING & OUTSOURCED
SERVICES - 2.0%

   

Paychex, Inc.

    16,400      $ 545,956   

DISTRIBUTION & WHOLESALE - 1.8%

  

Genuine Parts Co.

    7,785        475,119   

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES - 1.8%

  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    20,800        485,264   

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS & EQUIPMENT - 1.9%

  

Emerson Electric Co.

    10,700        516,489   

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURING - 1.9%

   

Molex, Inc.

    19,500        512,460   

ENERGY - 3.6%

  

Chevron Corp.

    4,700        547,832   

Enbridge Energy Partners LP

    14,000        412,160   
   

 

 

 
      959,992   

FOOD - 1.9%

  

Flowers Foods, Inc.

    25,500        514,590   

FOOD DISTRIBUTORS - 2.0%

  

SYSCO Corp.

    17,200        537,844   

HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS - 4.3%

  

Abbott Laboratories

    9,400        644,464   

Baxter International, Inc.

    8,600        518,236   
   

 

 

 
      1,162,700   

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY - 2.0%

  

Medtronic, Inc.

    12,500        539,000   

HOUSEHOLD-HOME FURNISHINGS - 2.1%

  

Leggett & Platt, Inc.

    22,825        571,766   
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

11


Meridian Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

  

HYPERMARKETS & SUPER CENTERS - 2.2%

  

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

    7,915      $ 584,127   

INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY - 1.9%

  

Eaton Corp.

    10,740        507,572   

INSURANCE BROKERS - 1.6%

  

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

    12,200        413,946   

LEISURE & AMUSEMENT - 2.2%

  

Carnival Corp.

    16,300        593,972   

MEDIA - 4.3%

  

Meredith Corp.

    14,800        518,000   

Time Warner, Inc.

    14,000        634,620   
   

 

 

 
      1,152,620   

METALS - 2.2%

  

Newmont Mining Corp.

    10,500        588,105   

MULTI-UTILITIES - 1.9%

  

Integrys Energy Group, Inc.

    9,840        513,648   

OIL & GAS-STORAGE & TRANSPORTATION - 1.8%

  

Spectra Energy Corp.

    16,400        481,504   

PACKAGING - 1.7%

  

Greif, Inc. Class A

    9,900        437,382   

PAPER & FOREST PRODUCTS - 2.0%

  

International Paper Co.

    14,300        519,376   

PAPER & PACKAGING - 1.7%

  

Sonoco Products Co.

    14,500        449,355   
    Shares     Value  
   

PHARMACEUTICALS - 2.0%

  

Johnson & Johnson

    7,885      $ 543,355   

RAILROADS - 1.6%

  

Norfolk Southern Corp.

    6,800        432,684   

REITS-DIVERSIFIED - 1.8%

  

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. REIT

    6,800        474,980   

RESTAURANTS - 1.8%

  

McDonald's Corp.

    5,065        464,714   

RETAIL - 2.0%

  

Hasbro, Inc.

    13,900        530,563   

RETAIL - DRUG STORE - 2.1%

  

Walgreen Co.

    15,400        561,176   

SEMICONDUCTORS - 3.4%

  

Intel Corp.

    18,100        410,508   

Linear Technology Corp.

    15,800        503,230   
   

 

 

 
      913,738   

SOFT DRINKS - 2.1%

  

Coca-Cola Co. (The)

    15,080        571,984   

SOFTWARE & SERVICES - 3.8%

  

CA, Inc.

    19,700        507,570   

Microsoft Corp.

    17,295        515,045   
   

 

 

 
      1,022,615   

STEEL - 1.6%

  

Nucor Corp.

    11,410        436,547   

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES-
INTEGRATED - 2.2%

   

AT&T, Inc.

    15,680        591,136   
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

12


Meridian Equity Income Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

  

TOBACCO - 2.0%

  

Reynolds American, Inc.

    12,150      $ 526,581   

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 96.5%
(Cost $22,743,713)

   

    25,819,453   

CASH AND OTHER ASSETS, LESS
LIABILITIES - 3.5%

   

    943,684   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

  

  $ 26,763,137   
   

 

 

 

REIT - Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

13


Meridian Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS - 93.1%

  

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS - 1.4%

  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

    874,660      $ 31,802,638   

AUTOMOTIVE WHOLESALE SERVICES - 2.1%

  

LKQ Corp.*

    2,578,000        47,693,000   

BANKING-COMMERCIAL - 5.2%

  

Bank of Hawaii Corp.

    1,153,030        52,601,229   

CVB Financial Corp. .

    879,495        10,501,170   

East West Bancorp, Inc.

    2,652,555        56,021,961   
   

 

 

 
      119,124,360   

BROKERAGE & MONEY MANAGEMENT - 4.4%

  

Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.*

    459,990        56,578,770   

LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.

    1,517,690        43,314,873   
   

 

 

 
      99,893,643   

BUILDING PRODUCTS - 2.5%

  

Valspar Corp.

    1,021,000        57,278,100   

CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS - 3.2%

  

SBA Communications Corp. Class A*

    1,177,210        74,046,509   

CHEMICALS-SPECIALTY - 1.4%

  

RPM International, Inc.

    1,095,125        31,254,868   

CONSUMER SERVICES - 2.0%

  

Rollins, Inc.

    1,986,157        46,456,212   

DISTRIBUTION & WHOLESALE - 2.3%

  

Watsco, Inc.

    531,330        40,269,501   

World Fuel Services Corp.

    313,000        11,145,930   
   

 

 

 
      51,415,431   
    Shares     Value  
   

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING - 2.5%

  

AMETEK, Inc.

    1,583,769      $ 56,144,611   

ENERGY - 6.1%

  

Continental Resources, Inc.*

    575,650        44,267,485   

Core Laboratories NV (Netherlands)

    234,965        28,543,548   

FMC Technologies, Inc.*

    580,945        26,897,753   

Noble Energy, Inc.

    437,950        40,602,345   
   

 

 

 
      140,311,131   

ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITIES & SERVICES - 0.9%

  

Stericycle, Inc.*

    239,600        21,688,592   

FLOORING & CARPETS - 2.0%

  

Mohawk Industries, Inc.*

    563,355        45,079,667   

FURNITURE & FIXTURES - 1.3%

  

Herman Miller, Inc.

    1,541,725        29,971,134   

HEALTH CARE INFORMATION SERVICES - 2.3%

  

Cerner Corp.*

    692,710        53,622,681   

HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS - 5.0%

  

DENTSPLY International, Inc.

    1,451,890        55,375,085   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.*

    547,050        58,736,758   
   

 

 

 
      114,111,843   

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY - 1.9%

  

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.*

    427,500        42,472,125   

INDUSTRIAL - 1.0%

  

Woodward, Inc.

    705,800      $ 23,983,084   
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

14


Meridian Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

  

INDUSTRIAL CONGLOMERATES - 2.3%

  

Pall Corp.

    821,810      $ 52,176,717   

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES - 1.2%

  

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc. (Canada)

    816,205        15,695,622   

Waste Connections, Inc.

    364,800        11,035,200   
   

 

 

 
      26,730,822   

INSURANCE BROKERS - 3.2%

  

Brown & Brown, Inc.

    2,788,015        72,683,551   

LEISURE & AMUSEMENT - 1.2%

  

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

    925,050        27,945,761   

PHARMACEUTICALS - 0.5%

  

Perrigo Co.

    97,700        11,349,809   

REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT & SERVICES - 2.0%

  

Jones Lang LaSalle, Inc.

    592,195        45,214,088   

RESTAURANTS - 3.2%

  

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc. Class A (Argentina)

    2,329,330        35,941,562   

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.

    544,873        36,566,427   
   

 

 

 
      72,507,989   

RETAIL - 14.8%

  

AutoZone, Inc.*

    69,000        25,507,230   

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*

    769,800        48,497,400   

CarMax, Inc.*

    986,395        27,914,978   

Coach, Inc.

    656,770        36,792,255   

DSW, Inc.

    383,900        25,613,808   

Dollar Tree, Inc.*

    69,000        3,332,010   
    Shares     Value  
   

RETAIL (continued)

  

Family Dollar Stores, Inc.

    751,000      $ 49,791,300   

Mattel, Inc.

    1,249,205        44,321,793   

PetSmart, Inc.

    855,815        59,034,119   

Tumi Holdings, Inc.*

    759,900        17,888,046   
   

 

 

 
      338,692,939   

TECHNOLOGY - 7.9%

   

Autodesk, Inc.*

    1,051,480        35,087,888   

Open Text Corp.* (Canada)

    675,150        37,227,771   

Trimble Navigation, Ltd.*

    1,215,795        57,944,790   

Zebra Technologies Corp. Class A*

    1,359,073        51,019,600   
   

 

 

 
      181,280,049   

TECH-SOFTWARE - 7.8%

   

ANSYS, Inc.*

    172,100        12,632,140   

Blackbaud, Inc.

    242,400        5,798,208   

Citrix Systems, Inc.*

    590,505        45,214,968   

MICROS Systems, Inc.*

    576,955        28,340,030   

Solera Holdings, Inc.

    1,047,365        45,947,902   

Teradata Corp.*

    540,300        40,744,023   
   

 

 

 
      178,677,271   

TRUCKING - 1.5%

  

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

    642,355        33,428,154   

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS - 93.1% (Cost $1,688,598,470)

   

    2,127,036,779   
 

 

 

 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS - 2.6%

  

U.S. Treasury Bill @ .102%**
due 10/25/12
(Face Value $45,000,000)

    

    44,996,750   

U.S. Treasury Bill @ .099%**
due 12/20/12
(Face Value $15,000,000)

    

    14,997,330   
 

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

15


Meridian Growth Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Value  
   

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS
(Cost $59,993,402)

  $ 59,994,080   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 95.7%
(Cost $1,748,591,872)

    2,187,030,859   

CASH AND OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES - 4.3%

    97,647,008   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

  $ 2,284,677,867   
   

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing securities

 

** Annualized yield at date of purchase

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

16


Meridian Value Fund

Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS - 92.5%

  

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE - 1.4%

  

Orbital Sciences Corp.*

    645,400      $ 9,397,024   

AGRICULTURE - 2.0%

  

Monsanto Co.

    152,100        13,844,142   

AIR FREIGHT & LOGISTICS - 0.6%

  

UTi Worldwide, Inc.

    296,400        3,992,508   

APPAREL - 2.2%

  

Gildan Activewear, Inc. (Canada)

    272,500        8,632,800   

Maidenform Brands, Inc.*

    329,300        6,744,064   
   

 

 

 
      15,376,864   

AUTOMOTIVE WHOLESALE SERVICES - 3.0%

  

LKQ Corp.*

    1,110,400        20,542,400   

BANKING - 1.0%

  

Wells Fargo & Co.

    207,000        7,147,710   

BANKING COMMERCIAL - 1.2%

  

Associated Banc-Corp.

    646,600        8,515,722   

BROKERAGE & MONEY MANAGEMENT - 1.9%

  

KBW, Inc.

    784,600        12,922,362   

BUSINESS SERVICES - 1.5%

  

Cintas Corp.

    251,200        10,412,240   

CONSULTING SERVICES - 2.2%

  

Huron Consulting Group, Inc.*

    434,700        15,136,254   

DIVERSIFIED FINANCIAL SERVICES - 7.6%

  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

    910,400        21,239,632   

Equifax, Inc.

    371,000        17,281,180   

Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.

    436,600        13,831,488   
   

 

 

 
      52,352,300   
    Shares     Value  
   

DIVERSIFIED OPERATIONS - 0.6%

  

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Netherlands)

    186,400      $ 4,371,080   

ENERGY - 4.7%

  

Apache Corp.

    131,000        11,327,570   

EOG Resources, Inc.

    129,000        14,454,450   

Ultra Petroleum Corp.*

    303,700        6,675,326   
   

 

 

 
      32,457,346   

FOOD - 2.0%

  

Flowers Foods, Inc.

    376,300        7,593,734   

Lancaster Colony Corp.

    80,600        5,903,950   
   

 

 

 
      13,497,684   

HEALTH CARE PRODUCTS - 2.1%

  

Haemonetics Corp.*

    177,300        14,219,460   

HEALTH CARE SERVICES - 2.3%

  

ICON Plc ADR* (Ireland)

    642,200        15,650,414   

HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAIL - 2.0%

  

Sherwin-Williams Co. (The)

    91,100        13,565,701   

HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES - 2.0%

  

Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

    177,790        13,556,487   

INDUSTRIAL - 5.1%

  

Aecon Group, Inc. (Canada)

    540,600        6,637,211   

Flowserve Corp.

    125,300        16,005,822   

Lennox International, Inc.

    251,200        12,148,032   
   

 

 

 
      34,791,065   

INDUSTRIAL SERVICES - 3.3%

  

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Inc. (Canada)

    445,100        8,559,273   

W.W. Grainger, Inc.

    65,700        13,689,909   
   

 

 

 
      22,249,182   
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

17


Meridian Value Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

    Shares     Value  
   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

  

LEISURE & AMUSEMENT - 8.0%

  

Bally Technologies, Inc.*

    310,700      $ 15,345,473   

Carnival Corp.

    425,000        15,487,000   

International Speedway Corp. Class A.

    361,700        10,261,429   

Polaris Industries, Inc.

    172,550        13,954,118   
   

 

 

 
      55,048,020   

METALS - 2.5%

  

Newmont Mining Corp.

    304,000        17,027,040   

OFFICE SERVICES & SUPPLIES - 2.5%

  

Steelcase, Inc. Class A.

    1,713,900        16,881,915   

PHARMACEUTICALS - 2.0%

  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.*

    336,800        13,562,936   

RAILROADS - 4.8%

  

GATX Corp.

    402,900        17,099,076   

Union Pacific Corp.

    131,800        15,644,660   
   

 

 

 
      32,743,736   

REAL ESTATE - 1.8%

  

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.*

    411,200        12,142,736   

RESTAURANTS - 1.1%

  

Denny's Corp.*

    1,508,600        7,316,710   

RETAIL - 5.1%

  

Aeropostale, Inc.*

    533,600        7,219,608   

Costco Wholesale Corp.

    161,900        16,210,238   

Mattel, Inc.

    331,800        11,772,264   
   

 

 

 
      35,202,110   

SEMICONDUCTORS - 1.4%

  

Power Integrations, Inc.

    311,800        9,488,074   
    Shares     Value  
   

STORAGE - 1.0%

  

Mobile Mini, Inc.*

    409,400      $ 6,841,074   

TECHNOLOGY - 8.1%

   

Autodesk, Inc.*

    299,300        9,987,641   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.*

    1,760,100        10,410,992   

eBay, Inc.*

    274,800        13,303,068   

Verint Systems, Inc.*

    362,800        9,955,232   

Zebra Technologies Corp. Class A*

    306,700        11,513,518   
   

 

 

 
      55,170,451   

TECH-SOFTWARE - 1.4%

  

Citrix Systems, Inc.*

    126,750        9,705,248   

TRANSPORTATION - 1.4%

  

Matson, Inc.

    460,900        9,637,419   

UTILITIES - 2.7%

  

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

    699,375        18,400,556   

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS - 92.5%

  

(Cost $499,858,427)

  

    633,165,970   
   

 

 

 

U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS - 1.5%

  

U.S. Treasury Bill @ .099%**
due 12/20/12
(Face Value $10,000,000)

    

    9,998,220   

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS

  

(Cost $9,997,768)

  

    9,998,220   
   

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 94.0%

  

(Cost $509,856,195)

  

    643,164,190   
 

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

18


Meridian Value Fund

Schedule of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

        Value  
   

CASH AND OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES - 6.0%

  $ 41,262,383   
   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS - 100.0%

  $ 684,426,573   
   

 

 

 

ADR - American Depositary Receipt

 

* Non-income producing securities

 

** Annualized yield at date of purchase

 

See accompanying notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

19


Meridian Fund, Inc.

Notes to Schedules of Investments

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

1. Investment Valuation: Marketable securities are valued at the closing price or last sales price on the principal exchange or market on which they are traded; or, if there were no sales that day, at the last reported bid price. Securities and other assets for which reliable market quotations are not readily available or for which a significant event has occurred since the time of the most recent market quotation, will be valued at their fair value as determined by Aster Investment Management Company, Inc. under the guidelines established by, and under the general supervision and responsibility of, the Funds’ Board of Directors. Short-term debt securities with original or remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at the mean of their quoted bid and asked prices. Short-term debt securities with 60 days or less to maturity are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair market value.

 

2. Fair Value Measurements: As described in Note 1 above, the Funds utilize various methods to determine and measure the fair value of investment securities on a recurring basis. The objective of a fair value measurement is to determine the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). Accordingly, the fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities;

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.); and

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s determinations as to the fair value of investments).

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The summary of inputs used to value the Funds’ securities as of September 30, 2012 is as follows:

 

Valuation Inputs

  Meridian Equity
Income Fund
     Meridian
Growth Fund
     Meridian
Value Fund
 

Level 1 – Quoted Prices*

  $ 25,819,453       $ 2,127,036,779       $ 633,165,970   

Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs**

            59,994,080         9,998,220   

Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs

                      
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Market Value of Investments

  $ 22,743,713       $ 2,187,030,859       $ 643,164,190   
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    * Level 1 investments are comprised of common stock with industry classifications as defined on the Schedule of Investments.

 

  ** Level 2 investments are limited to U.S. Treasury Securities.

 

20


Meridian Fund, Inc.

Notes to Schedules of Investments (continued)

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

During the period ended September 30, 2012 there were no transfers between levels.

 

3. Federal Income Tax Information: The aggregate cost of investments, unrealized appreciation and depreciation which are book figures that approximate federal income tax basis, were as follows:

 

    Aggregate Cost      Aggregate
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Aggregate
Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Meridian Equity Income Fund

  $ 22,743,713       $ 3,453,821       $ (378,081   $ 3,075,740   

Meridian Growth Fund

    1,748,591,872         483,884,599         (45,445,612     438,438,987   

Meridian Value Fund

    509,856,195         152,479,932         (19,171,937     133,307,995   

 

21


 

MERIDIAN FUND, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

This report is submitted for

the information of shareholders of

Meridian Fund, Inc. It is not

authorized for distribution to

prospective investors unless

preceded or accompanied by an

effective prospectus.

 

 

Officers and Directors

JOHN EMRICH

MICHAEL S. ERICKSON

JAMES B. GLAVIN

RONALD ROTTER

MICHAEL STOLPER

Directors

GREGG B. KEELING

Acting President

Chief Financial Officer

Treasurer, Secretary and

Chief Compliance Officer

Custodian

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

New York, New York

Transfer Agent and Disbursing Agent

BNY MELLON INVESTMENT SERVICING (US) INC.

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

(800) 446-6662

Counsel

GOODWIN PROCTER LLP

Washington, D.C.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP

San Francisco, California

 

 

MERIDIAN EQUITY INCOME FUND ®

MERIDIAN GROWTH FUND ®

MERIDIAN VALUE FUND ®

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

 

 

LOGO

60 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Wood Island, Suite 306

Larkspur, CA 94939

www.meridianfund.com

Telephone (800) 446-6662

September 30, 2012

 

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