Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Asset Management / General American Investors Company, Inc.

General American Investors Company, Inc.

gam · NYSE Financial Services
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FY2018 Annual Report · General American Investors Company, Inc.
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General American Investors Company, Inc.
530 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY  10036
(212) 916-8400   (800) 436-8401
E-mail: InvestorRelations@gainv.com
www.generalamericaninvestors.com

G E N E R A L
A M E R I C A N 
I N V E S T O R S

2 0 1 8
A N N U A L
R E P O R T

GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.
Established in 1927, the Company is a closed-end investment company listed on the

New York Stock Exchange. Its objective is long-term capital appreciation through

investment in companies with above average growth potential.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY  (unaudited) 
Net assets applicable to Common Stock - 
     December 31 
Net investment income 
Net realized gain 
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation 
Distributions to Preferred Stockholders 

Per Common Share - December 31 
     Net asset value 
     Market price 
Discount from net asset value 

Common Shares outstanding - Dec. 31 
Market price range* (high-low) 
Market volume - shares 

*Unadjusted for dividend payments. 

2018 
$896,789,202 
8,173,881 
59,267,989 
(139,146,694) 
(11,311,972) 

2017 

$1,070,483,445
8,564,156
91,833,612
70,336,629
(11,311,972)

$34.51  
$28.44  

-17.6% 

$40.47
$34.40

-15.0%

25,984,054  
$37.26-$27.09  
 12,069,886  

26,453,136 
$36.53-$31.12
 10,504,400 

DIVIDEND SUMMARY (per share) (unaudited) 

Record Date 

Payment Date 

  Ordinary 
Income 

Long-Term 
 Capital Gain 

Total

Common Stock 

Nov. 19, 2018 
     Total from 2018 earnings 

Dec. 28, 2018 

$0.293862 

$1.956138 

$2.250000

Nov. 13, 2017 
Feb. 5, 2018 
     Total from 2017 earnings 

Dec. 29, 2017 
Feb. 16, 2018 

$0.578150 
- 
$0.578150 

$2.511850 
0.500000 
$3.011850 

$3.090000
0.500000
$3.590000

Preferred Stock 

Mar. 7, 2018 
Jun. 7, 2018 
Sept. 7, 2018 
Dec. 7, 2018 
     Total for 2018  

Mar. 7, 2017 
Jun. 7, 2017 
Sept. 7, 2017 
Dec. 7, 2017 
     Total for 2017  

Mar. 26, 2018 
Jun. 25, 2018 
Sept. 24, 2018 
Dec. 24, 2018 

Mar. 24, 2017 
Jun. 26, 2017 
Sept. 25, 2017 
Dec. 26, 2017 

$0.048567 
0.048567 
0.048567 
0.048567 
$0.194268 

$0.069579 
0.069579 
0.069579 
0.069579 
$0.278316 

$0.323308 
0.323308 
0.323308 
0.323308 
$1.293232 

$0.302296 
0.302296 
0.302296 
0.302296 
$1.209184 

$0.371875
0.371875
0.371875
0.371875
$1.487500

$0.371875
0.371875
0.371875
0.371875
$1.487500

General American Investors Company, Inc.
530 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
(212) 916-8400       (800) 436-8401
E-mail: InvestorRelations@gainv.com
www.generalamericaninvestors.com

T O   T H E   S T O C K H O L D E R S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1

T O   T H E   S T O C K H O L D E R S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

General  American  Investors’  net  asset  value 

(NAV)  per  Common  Share  (assuming  re-
investment  of  all  dividends)  decreased  7.0% 
for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018.    The 
U.S. stock market was down 4.4% for the year, 
as  measured  by  our  benchmark,  the  Standard 
&  Poor’s  500  Stock  Index  (including  income).  
The  return  to  our  Common  Stockholders  de-
creased by 9.9% and the discount at which our 
shares traded to their NAV continued to fluctu-
ate and on December 31, 2018, it was 17.6%.

The  table  that  follows  provides  a  compre-
hensive  presentation  of  our  performance  and 
compares  our  returns  on  an  annualized  basis 
with the S&P 500.  

Stockholder Return 

Years 

(Market Value)  NAV Return 

S&P 500

  3   

  5   

  10 

  20 

  30 

  40 

  50 

5.4% 

3.9 

11.4 

7.1 

11.7 

13.5 

10.6 

6.3% 

9.3%

4.7 

11.2 

7.2 

11.3 

13.0 

11.3 

8.5

13.1

5.6

9.9

11.5

9.8

Market  volatility  returned  with  a  vengeance 
in  2018  reflected  in  the  equity  market’s 
strong  early  performance  and  weak  finish  as 
December’s  market  decline  was  unmatched 
since 1931.  As we hypothesized last year, earn-
ings  multiples  contracted  with  interest  rate 
increases  just  as  earnings  accelerated  rapidly 
with an improved economy on the back of sig-
nificantly reduced U.S. corporate tax rates and 
regulatory  reforms.    Thus,  while  earnings  rose 
in excess of 23% for the year, the performance 
of  the  S&P  500  logged  7%  gains  through 
October 31 and ended down 4.4% for the year.  
Much  of  the  decline  can  be  traced  to  escalat-
ing  trade  spats  threatening  corporate  supply 
chains,  elevated  debt  levels  and  liquidity  con-
cerns,  perhaps  in  part,  a  result  of  Fed  balance 
sheet  reductions  and  similar  planned  actions 
by  other  central  banks.    Significant  geo-politi-
cal tensions also appeared to reach a zenith in 
the fourth quarter with tariff implementations, 
degrading  world  economic  growth,  especially 
in  China  and  Europe,  an  uncertain  outcome 
with  Brexit  and  the  rise  of  political  populism 
across the European Union. 

As  is  often  the  case,  the  very  circumstances 
that  lead  to  market  corrections  cause  adjust-
ment  in  policy  as  participants  adjust  their 
strategies,  relieving  the  overriding  pessimism, 
upending  the  negative  sentiment  and  in  the 
short-term  lead  markets  higher.    Recent  favor-
able  comments  by  Federal  Reserve  Chairman 
Powell  and  others  are  the  case  in  point  and 
have  diminished  market  fears  of  a  “too  tight” 
Federal  Reserve  policy,  and  recent  U.S./China 
discussions  seem  to  have  calmed  trade  and 
geopolitical  concerns  converting  pessimism  to 
hope  that  many  of  the  issues  contributing  to 
the  4th  quarter  and  late  December  selloff  may 
be resolved favorably.  

In  truth,  nothing  has  yet  been  resolved,  al-
though,  at  the  fringes  some  progress  has  been 
made.  Valuations  are  largely  where  they  were 
at  the  end  of  November  with  the  exception 
of  the  FAANG  stocks,  which  have  experienced 
significant multiple contraction as of this writ-
ing.    2019  earnings  growth  for  the  S&P  500 
anticipated  at  the  end  of  September  to  be  9% 
has  been  reduced  by  analysts  to  5%,  with  a 
few  calling  for  an  outright  earnings  recession, 
as  we  had  in  2015.    However,  stock  buybacks 
have  likely  been  large  enough  over  the  past 
year,  despite  some  margin  compression,  to 
grow earnings around 1-2% per S&P 500 share 
on  their  own  and  assuming  nominal  gross 
domestic  product  growth  in  the  U.S.  econo-
my  in  excess  of  3.5%,  4-5%  earnings  growth 
seems plausible, if not conservative.  Assuming 
no  significant  policy  errors  here  and  abroad, 
China  successfully  rebooting  its  expansion 
and the addition of announced, but not imple-
mented  buybacks,  growth  in  earnings  may 
improve further. 

In  sum,  the  rise  of  uncertainty  has  negative-
ly  affected  anticipated  growth  rates,  margins 
and  multiples  paid  for  corporate  earnings.  
Volatility  in  financial  markets  has  risen  dra-
matically  with  much  of  it  self-induced  by 
poorly  planned  or  implemented  policy  de-
cisions  and  commentary.    As  some  of  these 
uncertainties  resolve  themselves  over  time, 
negative expectations may not be realized and 
the  equity  markets  may  find  their  footing  and 
continue to advance as one of the longest mar-
ket  expansions  in  U.S.  history  unfolds  into  its 
eleventh year.  We remain guardedly optimistic 
on the equity markets, but vigilant on the po-
tential for rising risks to the economy.

Ms.  Diane  G.  Radosti,  an  employee  of 
the  Company  for  the  last  thirty-eight  years 
and  Treasurer  since  1990,  retired  effective 
December 31, 2018.  Ms. Radosti will continue 
in  a  consulting  role  with  the  Company  dur-
ing the first quarter of 2019.  Effective January 
1,  2019,  Ms.  Samantha  X.  Jin  was  appointed 
Treasurer.

The Company is also pleased to report the fol-
lowing  officer  promotions  effective  January  1, 
2019:  Mr.  Anang  K.  Majmudar  to  Senior  Vice-
President, Mr. Liron Kronzon to Vice-President, 
and  Ms.  Connie  A.  Santa  Maria  to  Assistant 
Corporate Secretary.

Information  about  the  Company,  including 
our  investment  objectives,  operating  policies 
and  procedures,  investment  results,  record  of 
dividend payments, financial reports and press 
releases, etc., is available on our website, which 
can  be  accessed  at  www.generalamericanin-
vestors.com. 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Jeffrey W. Priest
President and Chief Executive Officer

February 6, 2019

 
 
 
 
 
2

T H E   C O M P A N Y

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

Corporate 
Overview

General  American  Investors, 
established  in  1927,  is  one  of 
the  nation’s  oldest  closed-end 
investment  companies.  It  is  an 
independent  organization  that 
is  internally  managed.  For  reg-
ulatory purposes, the Company is classified as 
a  diversified,  closed-end  management  invest-
ment company; it is registered under and sub-
ject  to  the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940 
and  Sub-Chapter  M  of  the  Internal  Revenue 
Code.

Investment 
Policy

The  primary  objective  of  the 
Company  is  long-term  capital 
appreciation.    Lesser  emphasis 
is  placed  on  current  income.  
In  seeking  to  achieve  its  pri-
mary  objective,  the  Company 
invests principally in common stocks believed 
by its management to have better than average 
growth potential.

The  Company’s  investment  approach  focuses 
on  the  selection  of  individual  stocks,  each  of 
which  is  expected  to  meet  a  clearly  defined 
portfolio  objective.    A  continuous  investment 
research  program,  which  stresses  fundamental 
security  analysis,  is  carried  on  by  the  officers 
and staff of the Company under the oversight 
of  the  Board  of  Directors.    The  Directors  have 
a  broad  range  of  experience  in  business  and 
financial affairs.  

Portfolio 
Manager

Mr.  Jeffrey  W.  Priest,  has  been 
President  of  the  Company 
since  February  1,  2012  and 
has  been  responsible  for  the 
management  of  the  Company 
since  January  1,  2013  when 
he  was  appointed  Chief  Executive  Officer 
and  Portfolio  Manager.    Mr.  Priest  joined  the 
Company  in  2010  as  a  senior  investment 
analyst  and  has  spent  his  entire  30-year  busi-
ness career on Wall Street.  Mr. Priest succeeds  
Mr.  Spencer  Davidson  who  served  as  Chief 
Executive  Officer  and  Portfolio  Manager  from 
1995 through 2012.  

“GAM” 
Common
Stock 

As  a  closed-end  investment 
company,  the  Company  does 
not  offer  its  shares  continu-
ously.    The  Common  Stock  is 
listed  on  The  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  (symbol,  GAM)  and 
can  be  bought  or  sold  in  the  same  manner  as 
all  listed  stocks.    Net  asset  value  is  computed 
and published on the Company’s website daily 
(on  an  unaudited  basis)  and  is  also  furnished 
upon  request.    It  is  also  available  on  most 
electronic quotation services using the symbol 
“XGAMX.”    Net  asset  value  per  share  (NAV), 
market  price,  and  the  discount  or  premium 
from NAV as of the close of each week, is pub-
lished  in  Barron’s  and  The  Wall  Street  Journal, 
Monday edition.

Shares  of  the  Company  usually  sell  at  a  dis-
count  to  NAV,  as  do  the  shares  of  most  other 
domestic  equity  closed-end  investment  com-
panies.  

Since  March  1995,  the  Board  of  Directors  has 
authorized  the  repurchase  of  Common  Stock 
in  the  open  market  when  the  shares  trade  at 
a  discount  to  NAV  of  at  least  8%.    To  date, 
27,368,114 shares have been repurchased.

“GAM Pr B” 
Preferred
Stock

On  September  24,  2003,  the  Company  issued 
and  sold  in  an  underwritten 
offering 8,000,000 shares of its 
5.95%  Cumulative  Preferred 
Stock,  Series  B  with  a  liqui-
dation  preference  of  $25  per 
share  ($200,000,000  in  the  ag-
gregate).    The  Preferred  Shares  are  rated  “A1” 
by  Moody’s  Investors  Service,  Inc.  and  are 
listed  and  traded  on  The  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  (symbol,  GAM  Pr  B).    The  Preferred 
Shares are available to leverage the investment 
performance  of  the  Common  Stockholders; 
higher  market  volatility  for  the  Common 
Stockholders may result.

The  Board  of  Directors  authorized  the  repur-
chase of up to 1 million Preferred Shares in the 
open market at prices below $25 per share.  To 
date, 395,313 shares have been repurchased.

3

T H E   C O M P A N Y

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

Dividend
and 
Distribution 
Policy

The  Company’s  dividend  and 
distribution  policy  is  to  dis-
tribute  to  stockholders  before 
year-end  substantially  all  or-
dinary  income  estimated  for 
the  full  year  and  capital  gains 
realized  during  the  ten-month  period  ended 
October 31 of that year.  If any additional capi-
tal gains are realized and available or ordinary 
income  is  earned  during  the  last  two  months 
of the year, a “spill-over” distribution of these 
amounts  may  be  paid.    Dividends  and  distri-
butions  on  shares  of  Preferred  Stock  are  paid 
quarterly.  Distributions from capital gains and 
dividends  from  ordinary  income  are  allocated 
proportionately  among  holders  of  shares  of 
Common Stock and Preferred Stock.  

Dividends  from  income  have  been  paid  con-
tinuously  on  the  Common  Stock  since  1939 
and  capital  gain  distributions  in  varying 
amounts  have  been  paid  for  each  of  the  years 
1943-2018 (except for the year 1974).  (A table 
listing dividends and distributions paid during 
the  20-year  period  1999-2018  is  shown  at  the 
bottom  of  page  4.)    To  the  extent  that  shares 
can  be  issued,  dividends  and  distributions  are 
paid  to  Common  Stockholders  in  additional 
shares of Common Stock unless the stockhold-
er specifically requests payment in cash.  

Proxy Voting 
Policies, 
Procedures  
and Record

The  policies  and  procedures 
used  by  the  Company  to  de-
termine  how  to  vote  proxies 
relating  to  portfolio  securities 
and  the  Company’s  proxy 
voting  record  for  the  12-
month  period  ended  June 
30,  2018  are  available:  (1)  without  charge, 
upon  request,  by  calling  the  Company  at  its 
toll-free  number  (1-800-436-8401),  (2)  on  the 
Company’s  website  at  www.generalamerican-
investors.com  and  (3)  on  the  Securities  and 
Exchange  Commission’s  website  at  www.sec.
gov.

Direct 
Registration

The  Company  makes  avail-
able  direct  registration  for  its 
Common Shareholders.  Direct 
registration,  an  element  of  the 
Investors  Choice  Plan  admin-
istered by our transfer agent, is 
a system that allows for book-entry ownership 
and electronic transfer of our Common Shares.  
Accordingly,  when  Common  Shareholders, 
who  hold  their  shares  directly,  receive  new 
shares  resulting  from  a  purchase,  transfer  or 
dividend  payment,  they  will  receive  a  state-
ment  showing  the  credit  of  the  new  shares 
as  well  as  their  Plan  account  and  certificated 
share  balances.    A  brochure  which  describes 
the  features  and  benefits  of  the  Investors 
Choice  Plan,  including  the  ability  of  share-
holders to deposit certificates with our transfer 
agent,  can  be  obtained  by  calling  American 
Stock Transfer & Trust Company at 1-800-413-
5499,  calling  the  Company  at  1-800-436-8401 
or  visiting  our  website:    www.generalameri-
caninvestors.com  -  click  on  Distributions  & 
Reports, then Report Downloads.

Privacy  
Policy and 
Practices

The  Company  collects  non-
public  personal  information 
about  its  direct  stockhold-
ers  with  respect  to  their 
transactions  in  shares  of  the 
Company’s  securities  (those 
stockholders  whose  shares  are 
registered directly in their names).  This infor-
mation includes the stockholder’s address, tax 
identification  or  Social  Security  number  and 
dividend elections. We do not have knowledge 
of,  nor  do  we  collect  personal  information 
about,  stockholders  who  hold  the  Company’s 
securities in “street name” registration.

We  do  not  disclose  any  nonpublic  personal 
information about our current or former stock-
holders  to  anyone,  except  as  permitted  by 
law.    We  restrict  access  to  nonpublic  personal 
information  about  our  stockholders  to  those 
few  employees  who  need  to  know  that  infor-
mation  to  perform  their  responsibilities.    We 
maintain  safeguards  to  comply  with  federal 
standards to secure our stockholders’ informa-
tion.

4

I N V E S T M E N T   R E S U L T S     ( U N A U D I T E D )

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

Total return on $10,000 in-
vestment for 20 years ended 
December 31, 2018

T he  investment  return  for  a  Common  Stockholder  of  General  American  Investors  (GAM) 

over  the  20  years  ended  December  31,  2018  is  shown  in  the  table  below  and  in  the 
accompa ny ing  chart.  The  return  based  on  GAM’s  net  asset  value  (NAV)  per  Common 
Share in comparison to the change in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (S&P 500) is also 
displayed. Each illustration assumes an investment of $10,000 at the beginning of 1999.

Stockholder Return is the return a Common Stock holder of GAM would have achieved assum-
ing reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at the actual reinvestment price and of all 
cash dividends and distributions at the market price on the ex-dividend date.

Net Asset Value (NAV) Return is the return on shares of the Company’s Common Stock based 
on the NAV per share, including the reinvestment of all dividends and distributions at the rein-
vestment prices indicated above.

Standard  &  Poor’s  500  Return  is  the  total  rate  of  return  on  this  widely-recognized,  unman-
aged  index  which  is  a  measure  of  general  stock  market  performance,  including  dividend 
income.

Past performance may not be indicative of future results.

The following tables and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a stockholder would 
pay on Company distributions or the sale of Company shares.

GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS 

STANDARD & POOR’S 500

STOCKHOLDER RETURN 
   ANNUAL 
   RETURN 
39.22% 
19.10 
4.33 
-27.21 
27.01 
8.79 
17.40 
16.78 
8.72 
-48.20 
36.86 
16.24 
-5.29 
19.77 
34.22 
9.32 
-5.34 
7.59 
21.21 
-9.87 

CUMULATIVE 
INVESTMENT 
$13,922 
16,581 
17,299 
12,592 
15,993 
17,399 
20,426 
23,854 
25,934 
13,434 
18,385 
21,371 
20,241 
24,242 
32,538 
35,570 
33,671 
36,227 
43,910 
39,576 

NET ASSET VALUE RETURN 
   ANNUAL 
CUMULATIVE 
   RETURN 
INVESTMENT 
36.40% 
$13,640 
17.64 
16,046 
-1.20 
15,854 
-23.02 
12,204 
27.40 
15,548 
10.37 
17,160 
16.20 
19,940 
12.24 
22,381 
8.01 
24,174 
-43.02 
13,774 
32.08 
18,193 
15.31 
20,978 
-2.87 
20,376 
17.31 
23,903 
33.33 
31,870 
6.46 
33,929 
-1.56 
33,400 
9.68 
36,633 
18.38 
43,366 
-7.03 
40,317 

RETURN

CUMULATIVE 
 INVESTMENT 
$12,096 
10,996 
9,689 
7,544 
9,698 
10,745 
11,264 
13,028 
13,733 
8,642 
10,928 
12,573 
12,841 
14,894 
19,722 
22,422 
22,738 
25,462 
31,020 
29,661 

   ANNUAL
   RETURN
20.96%
-9.09
-11.89
-22.14
28.56
10.79
4.83
15.66
5.41
-37.07
26.45
15.06
2.13
15.99
32.41
13.69
1.41
11.98
21.83
-4.38

1999 
2000 
2001 
2002 
2003 
2004 
2005 
2006 
2007 
2008 
2009 
2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 
2014 
2015 
2016 
2017 
2018 

D I V I D E N D S   A N D   D I S T R I B U T I O N S   P E R   C O M M O N   S H A R E   ( 1 9 9 9 - 2 0 1 8 )     ( U N A U D I T E D )

This table shows dividends 
and distributions on the 
Company’s Common Stock 
for the prior 20-year period. 
Amounts shown are based 
upon the year in which the 
income was earned, not the 
year paid.  Spill-over pay-
ments made after year-end 
are attributable to income 
and gains earned in the 
prior year.

EARNINGS SOURCE

     SHORT-TERM       LONG-TERM

  YEAR     INCOME  CAPITAL GAINS   CAPITAL GAINS 
$.620 
  1999 
1.550 
  2000 
.640 
  2001 
  2002 
— 
— 
  2003 
— 
  2004 
.041 
  2005 
— 
  2006 
  2007 
.009 
— 
  2008 

$4.050
6.160
1.370
.330
.590
.957
1.398
2.666
5.250
.254

$.420 
.480 
.370 
.030 
.020 
.217 
.547 
.334 
.706 
.186 

 EARNINGS SOURCE

        SHORT-TERM         LONG-TERM      RETURN OF

  YEAR     INCOME  CAPITAL GAINS    CAPITAL GAINS      CAPITAL

  2009 
  2010 
  2011 
  2012 
  2013 
  2014 
  2015 
  2016 
  2017 
  2018 

$.103 
.081 
.147 
.215 
.184 
.321 
.392 
.283 
.578 
.294 

$.051 
.033 
.011 
.015 
— 
.254 
— 
— 
— 
— 

$.186 
.316 
.342 
1.770 
1.916 
2.925 
.858 
2.997 
3.012 
1.956 

$.010
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5

I N V E S T M E N T   R E S U L T S     ( U N A U D I T E D )

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

20-YEAR INVESTMENT RESULTS
ASSUMING AN INITIAL INVESTMENT OF $10,000 

CUMULATIVE VALUE OF INVESTMENT

COMPARATIVE ANNUALIZED INVESTMENT RESULTS
YEARS ENDED 
 DECEMBER 31, 2018 

STOCKHOLDER 
RETURN 

GAM NET 
ASSET VALUE 

S&P 500
STOCK INDEX

1 year 

5 years 

10 years 

15 years 

20 years 

-9.9% 

-7.0% 

-4.4%

3.9 

11.4 

6.2 

7.1 

4.7 

11.2 

6.5 

7.2 

8.5

13.1

7.7

5.6

$40,000

$30,000

$20,000

$10,000

$0

GAM Stockholder Return

GAM Net Asset Value

S&P 500 Stock Index

The diversification of the 
Company’s net assets 
applicable to its Common 
Stock by industry group as 
of December 31, 2018 is 
shown in the table.

9

9

9

1

0

0

0

2

1

0

0

2

2

0

0

2

3

0

0

2

4

0

0

2

5

0

0

2

6

0

0

2

7

0

0

2

8

0

0

2

9

0

0

2

0

1

0

2

1

1

0

2

2

1

0

2

3

1

0

2

4

1

0

2

5

1

0

2

6

1

0

2

1 7

0

2

8

1

0

2

P O R T F O L I O   D I V E R S I F I C A T I O N   ( U N A U D I T E D )

INDUSTRY CATEGORY 
 Information Technology 
     Semiconductors & Semiconductor  
        Equipment 
     Software & Services 
     Technology Hardware & Equipment 

Financials 
       Banks 
       Diversified Financials 
       Insurance 

Consumer Staples 
     Food, Beverage & Tobacco 
     Food & Staples Retailing 

Consumer Discretionary 
     Media 
     Retailing 

Industrials 
     Capital Goods 
     Commercial & Professional Services 
     Transportation 

Health Care  
      Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology 
         & Life Sciences 
Energy 
Miscellaneous** 
Telecommunication Services 

Short-Term Securities 
     Total Investments 
Other Assets and Liabilities - Net 
Preferred Stock 
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stock 

                   DECEMBER 31, 2018

COST(000) 

% COMMON 
VALUE(000)  NET ASSETS*

$9,265 
91,009 
42,067 
142,341 

560 
10,386 
41,926 
52,872 

58,772 
25,409 
84,181 

30,174 
37,129 
67,303 

27,479 
8,408 
21,327 
57,214 

51,038 
65,350 
58,369 
7,835 
586,503 

57,748 
$644,251 

$34,345 
130,116 
77,058 
241,519 

15,744 
37,816 
144,890 
198,450 

116,956 
43,496 
160,452 

31,094 
108,609 
139,703 

33,747 
43,102 
20,784 
97,633 

83,889 
64,701 
38,653 
6,611 
1,031,611 

57,748 
1,089,359 
(2,453) 
(190,117) 
$896,789 

3.8%

14.6
8.6
27.0

1.7
4.2
16.2
22.1

13.0
4.9
17.9

3.5
12.1
15.6

3.8
4.8
2.3
10.9

9.4
7.2
4.3
0.7
115.1

6.4
121.5
(0.3)
(21.2)
100.0%

 * Net Assets applicable to the Company's Common Stock.
 **  Securities which have been held for less than one year, not previously disclosed and not restricted.

 (see notes to unaudited financial statements)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6

M A J O R   S T O C K   C H A N G E S ( a ) :   T H R E E   M O N T H S   E N D E D   D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 8   ( U N A U D I T E D )

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

INCREASES:

NEW POSITIONS

  VBI Vaccines Inc. 

ADDITIONS

Axis Capital Holdings Limited 

  Cameco Corporation 

  Delta Air Lines, Inc. 

  Discovery, Inc. 

  DXC Technology Company 

Eaton Corporation plc 

  GCI Liberty, Inc.- Class A   

  Nelnet, Inc. 

Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Phillips 66 

  Worldpay, Inc. 

DECREASES:

ELIMINATIONS

  Charter Communications, Inc. 

Ford Motor Company 

  General Electric Company 

REDUCTIONS

Apple Inc. 

Arantana Therapeutics, Inc. 

  Celgene Corporation 

eBay Inc. 

Ensco plc - Class A 

Everest Re Group, Ltd. 

Facebook, Inc. - Class A 

  Gilead Sciences, Inc. 

  Halliburton Company 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

Kindred Biosciences, Inc. 

The Kroger Co. 

  Macy's, Inc. 

PepsiCo, Inc. 

Pfizer Inc. 

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. - Class A 

  Universal Display Corporation 

  Vodafone Group plc ADR 

  Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 

NET SHARES TRANSACTED 

SHARES HELD

900,000 

1,764,464 (b)

20,000 

200,000 

20,000 

50,000 

25,000 

25,000 

67,600 

12,500 

28,621 

28,000 

10,000 

10,000 

434,063 

295,000 

15,000 

274,999 

10,000 

200,000 

200,000 

5,000 

9,500 

40,000 

25,000 

6,600 

9,243 

140,979 

120,000 

20,500 

50,000 

263,000 

10,000 

328,352 

72,325 

295,000 

1,327,947 

416,511 

449,285 

151,474 

154,131 

359,199 

382,500 

464,985 

168,000 

148,769 

    --- 

    --- 

    --- 

89,000 

1,599,365 

155,000 

438,800 

1,325,000 

115,000 

76,500 

333,600 

460,000 

182,300 

449,574 

415,782 

300,000 

174,500 

330,808 

197,196 

121,309 

342,900 

157,875 

(a)  Common shares unless otherwise noted; excludes transactions in Common Stocks - Miscellaneous - Other.
(b)  Shares purchased in prior period and previously carried under Common Stocks - Miscellaneous - Other.

(see notes to financial statement)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7

 T E N   L A R G E S T   I N V E S T M E N T   H O L D I N G S   ( U N A U D I T E D )

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

The statement of 
investments as of 
December 31, 2018, 
shown on pages 8 - 10 
includes securities of 61 
issuers.  Listed here are 
the ten largest holdings 
on that date.

THE TJX COMPANIES, INC. 
Through its T.J. Maxx and Marshalls divisions, TJX is the leading
off-price retailer.  The continued growth of these divisions in the
U.S. and Europe, along with expansion of related U.S. and foreign
off-price formats, provide ongoing growth opportunities.

MICROSOFT CORPORATION 
Microsoft is a leading global provider of software, services, and
hardware devices.  The company produces the Windows operating
system, Office productivity suite, Azure public cloud service, and
Xbox gaming console.

REPUBLIC SERVICES, INC. 
Republic Services is a leading provider of non-hazardous, solid
waste collection and disposal services in the U.S.  The efficient
operation of its routes and facilities combined with appropriate
pricing enables Republic Services to generate significant free cash flow.
ALPHABET INC. 
Alphabet is a global technology firm with a dominant market 
share in internet search, online advertising, desktop, and mobile 
operating systems, as well as a growing share of cloud computing 
platforms.  Alphabet has a wide competitive moat, a strong business 
franchise, a reasonable valuation, several positive potential catalysts, 
and manageable risks.

NESTLÉ S.A. 
Nestlé is a well-managed, global food company with a favorably-
positioned product portfolio and an excellent balance sheet. Market 
share, volume growth, pricing power, expense control, and capital 
management yield durable, above average, total return potential.

  SHARES 

    VALUE 

% COMMON
NET ASSETS 

1,296,536 

$58,007,021 

6.4%

500,686 

50,854,677 

5.7

597,895 

43,102,251 

4.8

35,500 

36,764,155 

4.1

450,000 

36,545,900 

4.1

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC. - CLASS A 
Berkshire Hathaway is a holding company owning many well-operated
subsidiaries mainly in the insurance, railroad, utility/energy, aerospace, 
manufacturing, retail, and finance industries. The company also holds 
various common stock investments.  Berkshire is positioned to provide 
above average, long term, relatively defensive returns due to its  
conservative balance sheet.

110 

33,660,000 

3.7

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. 
Arch Capital, a Bermuda-based insurer/reinsurer, generates premiums
of approximately $6.5 billion and has a high quality, well-reserved
balance sheet.  This company has a strong management team that
exercises underwriting discipline, expense control, and capital
management resulting in above-average earnings and book value 
growth. 

1,200,000 

32,064,000 

3.6

UNILEVER N.V. 
Unilever N.V. is a well-managed, primarily emerging market-based, 
global consumer goods manufacturer focusing on personal care, 
home care, food and refreshment products.  Advantaged geographies
coupled with above average volume growth, pricing power, and 
management execution generates above average, long-term 
shareholder returns.

590,000 

32,051,366 

3.6

640,000 

CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. 
Cisco is the leading global provider of telecommunications infrastructure 
products and services that span networking, security, collaboration, and 
cloud applications. Cisco benefits from secular technology trends and is 
also successfully executing a multi-year transition.  Cisco offers an attractive  
valuation with solid growth, strong shareholder yield, and moderate risk.
ASML HOLDING N.V. 
ASML is the leading global provider of lithography systems for the 
semiconductor industry, manufacturing highly complex equipment critical 
to the production of integrated circuits or microchips. ASML has established 
a dominant market share in next-generation lithography even as that market 
grows its share of semiconductor capex budgets. ASML has strong growth 
prospects, healthy margin leverage, shareholder-friendly capital allocation, 
and a moderate risk profile.

177,850 

27,731,200 

3.1

27,677,017 

3.1

$378,457,587 

42.2%

 
 
 
8

S T A T E M E N T   O F   I N V E S T M E N T S   D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 8

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

CONSUMER 
DISCRETIONARY
(15.4%)

 SHARES 

COMMON STOCKS 

 MEDIA (3.5%) 

449,285 
359,199 
197,196 

 Discovery, Inc. (a) 
 GCI Liberty, Inc.- Class A (a) 
 Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. - Class A 

 RETAILING (11.9%) 

18,000 
335,279 
300,000 
1,296,536 

 Amazon.com, Inc. (a) 
 Liberty Expedia Holdings, Inc. (a) 
 Macy's, Inc. 
 The TJX Companies, Inc. 

(COST $30,174,082) 

(COST $36,833,238) 
(COST $67,007,320) 

CONSUMER  
STAPLES
(17.9%)

 FOOD, BEVERAGE, AND TOBACCO (13.0%) 

225,118 
93,210 
450,000 
174,500 
590,000 

 Danone (France) 
 Diageo plc ADR (United Kingdom) 
 Nestlé S.A.  (Switzerland) 
 PepsiCo, Inc. 
 Unilever N.V.  (Netherlands/United Kingdom) 

85,200 
415,782 
157,875 

 FOOD AND STAPLES RETAILING (4.9%) 
 Costco Wholesale Corporation 
 The Kroger Co. 
 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 

(COST $58,772,256) 

(COST $25,409,192) 
(COST $84,181,448) 

ENERGY 
(7.2%)

252,500 
1,327,947 
1,325,000 
3,830,440 
460,000 
1,300,000 
168,000 

 Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 
 Cameco Corporation (Canada) 
 Ensco plc - Class A (United Kingdom) 
 Gulf Coast Ultra Deep Royalty Trust  
 Halliburton Company 
 Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (a) 
 Phillips 66 

(COST $65,349,681) 

VALUE (NOTE 1a)

$11,115,311
14,784,631
5,194,143
31,094,085

27,035,460
13,112,762
8,934,000
58,007,021
107,089,243
138,183,328

15,863,133
13,217,178
36,545,900
19,278,760
32,051,366
116,956,337

17,356,092
11,434,005
14,706,056
43,496,153
160,452,490

11,069,600
15,072,198
4,717,000
109,168
12,226,800
7,033,000
14,473,200
64,700,966

FINANCIALS  
(22.1%)

 BANKS (1.7%) 

110,000 

 M&T Bank Corporation 

(COST $560,176) 

15,744,300

182,300 
382,500 

 DIVERSIFIED FINANCIALS  (4.2%) 
 JPMorgan Chase & Co. 
 Nelnet, Inc. 

(COST $10,385,873) 

 INSURANCE (16.2%) 

154,552 
1,200,000 
295,000 
110 
115,000 
400,000 

 Aon plc (United Kingdom) 
 Arch Capital Group Ltd. (a) (Bermuda) 
 Axis Capital Holdings Limited (Bermuda) 
 Berkshire Hathaway Inc.- Class A (a) (b) 
 Everest Re Group, Ltd. (Bermuda) 
 MetLife, Inc. 

(COST $41,925,667) 
(COST $52,871,716) 

 PHARMACEUTICALS, BIOTECHNOLOGY, AND LIFE SCIENCES 

1,599,365 
155,000 
333,600 
299,942 
449,574 
200,191 
464,985 
330,808 
1,764,464 

 Arantana Therapeutics, Inc. (a) 
 Celgene Corporation (a) 
 Gilead Sciences, Inc.  
 Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (a) 
 Kindred Biosciences, Inc. (a) 
 Merck & Co., Inc. 
 Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) 
 Pfizer Inc. 
 VBI Vaccines Inc. (a) (Canada) 

(COST $51,037,592) 

17,796,126
20,020,050
37,816,176

22,465,679
32,064,000
15,233,800
33,660,000
25,042,400
16,424,000
144,889,879
198,450,355

9,804,107
9,933,950
20,866,680
3,416,339
4,922,835
15,296,594
2,385,373
14,439,769
2,823,142
83,888,789

HEALTH CARE 
(9.4%)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
9

S T A T E M E N T   O F   I N V E S T M E N T S   D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 8   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

SHARES 

COMMON STOCKS (Continued) 

VALUE (NOTE 1a)

INDUSTRIALS 
(10.9%)

  CAPITAL GOODS(3.8%) 

154,131 
217,541 

Eaton Corporation plc (Ireland) 
United Technologies Corporation 

(COST $27,479,170) 

$10,582,634
23,163,766
33,746,400

COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (4.8%) 

597,895 

Republic Services, Inc. 

(COST $8,407,622) 

43,102,251

TRANSPORTATION (2.3%) 

416,511 

Delta Air Lines, Inc. 

(COST $21,327,337) 
(COST $57,214,129) 

INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
(26.9%)

SEMICONDUCTOR AND SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT(3.8%) 

203,652 
177,850 

Applied Materials, Inc. 
ASML Holding N.V. (Netherlands) 

(COST $9,264,556) 

SOFTWARE AND SERVICES (14.5%) 

35,500 
151,474 
438,800 
76,500 
500,686 
148,769 

Alphabet Inc. (a) 
DXC Technology Company 
eBay Inc. (a) 
Facebook, Inc. - Class A (a) 
Microsoft Corporation 
Worldpay, Inc. (a) 

TECHNOLOGY, HARDWARE, AND EQUIPMENT (8.6%) 

(COST $90,704,097) 

89,000 
640,000 
133,966 
175,000 
135,036 
121,309 

Apple Inc. 
Cisco Systems, Inc. 
InterDigital, Inc. 
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (a) 
QUALCOMM Incorporated 
Universal Display Corporation  

(COST   $42,064,544) 
(COST $142,033,197) 

20,783,899
97,632,550

6,667,566
27,677,017
34,344,583

36,764,155
8,053,873
12,317,116
10,028,385
50,854,677
11,370,415
129,388,621

14,038,860
27,731,200
8,899,361
7,351,750
7,684,899
11,350,883
77,056,953
240,790,157

MISCELLANEOUS 
(4.3%)

TELECOMMUNICATION 
SERVICES (0.7%)

Other (c) 

(COST   $58,369,076) 

38,653,117

342,900  Vodafone Group plc ADR (United Kingdom)

(COST   $7,835,032) 

6,611,112

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (114.8%) 

(COST $585,899,191) 

1,029,362,864

  WARRANTS 
TECHNOLOGY
HARDWARE AND 
EQUIPMENT (0.0%)

281,409 

  WARRANT (a)  
  Applied DNA Sciences, Inc./November 14, 2019/$3.50 

(COST $2,814) 

1,126

PUT OPTIONS 

 CONTRACTS 

RETAILING 
(0.2%)

(100 SHARES EACH)   COMPANY/EXPIRATION DATE/EXERCISE PRICE 

3,800 

  The TJX Companies, Inc./January 18, 2019/$48.75 

(COST $296,005) 

1,520,000

SOFTWARE AND
SERVICES 
(0.1%)

1,500 

  Microsoft Corporation/January 18, 2019/$105 
(COST $304,552) 
(COST $600,557) 

 TOTAL PUT OPTIONS (0.3%) 

727,500
2,247,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 0

S T A T E M E N T   O F   I N V E S T M E N T S   D E C E M B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 8   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

SHARES 
57,748,016 

SHORT-TERM SECURITIES AND OTHER ASSETS    VALUE (NOTE 1a)
State Street Institutional Treasury Plus Money 
    Market Fund, Trust Class, 2.25% (d)  (6.4%) 
(COST $57,748,016) 

$57,748,016

  TOTAL INVESTMENTS (e) (121.5%) 

   Liabilities in excess of receivables and other assets (-0.3%) 

  PREFERRED STOCK (-21.2%) 
  NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK (100%) 

(COST $644,250,578)  1,089,359,506
(2,453,129)
 1,086,906,377 
(190,117,175)
$896,789,202

ADR - American Depository Receipt   
(a) Non-income producing security.  
(b) Security is held as collateral for options written.  
(c) Securities which have been held for less than one year, not previously disclosed, and not restricted. 
(d) 7-day yield. 
(e) At December 31, 2018,  the cost of investments for Federal income tax purposes was $647,437,508; 

aggregate gross unrealized appreciation was $496,340,378; aggregate gross unrealized depreciation was 
$54,418,380; and net unrealized appreciation was $441,921,998. 

(see notes to financial statements)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 1

S T A T E M E N T   O F   A S S E T S   A N D   L I A B I L I T I E S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

ASSETS 

DECEMBER 31, 2018

INVESTMENTS, AT VALUE (NOTE 1a)

Common stocks (cost $585,899,191) 
Warrant (cost $2,814) 
Purchased options (cost $600,557) 
Money market fund (cost $57,748,016) 
Total investments (cost $644,250,578) 

RECEIVABLES AND OTHER ASSETS
  Cash 
  Receivable for securities sold 
  Dividends, interest and other receivables 
  Qualified pension plan asset, net excess funded (note 7) 
  Present value of future office lease payments (note 8) 
  Prepaid expenses, fixed assets, and other assets 
TOTAL ASSETS 
LIABILITIES

  Payable for securities purchased 
  Accrued compensation payable to officers and employees 
  Accrued preferred stock dividend not yet declared 
  Accrued supplemental pension plan liability (note 7) 
  Accrued supplemental thrift plan liability (note 7) 
  Present value of future office lease payments (note 8) 
  Accrued expenses and other liabilities 
TOTAL LIABILITIES 

5.95% CUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B -
  7,604,687 at a liquidation value of $25 per share (note 5) 
NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK -  25,984,054 (note 5) 

NET ASSET VALUE PER COMMON SHARE 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK  

  Common Stock, 25,984,054  shares at par value (note 5) 
  Additional paid-in capital (note 5) 
  Unallocated distributions on Preferred Stock 
  Total distributable earnings (note 5) 
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss (note 7) 
NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK 

(see notes to financial statements)

$1,029,362,864
1,126
2,247,500
57,748,016
1,089,359,506

3,440,304
3,266,222
1,834,035
2,889,389
5,477,302
2,001,531
1,108,268,289

1,942,260
3,448,000
219,955
5,376,582
4,022,879
5,477,302
874,934
21,361,912

190,117,175
$896,789,202

$34.51

$25,984,054
432,382,368
(219,955)
442,606,759 
(3,964,024)
$896,789,202

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 2

S T A T E M E N T   O F   O P E R A T I O N S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

INCOME

  Dividends (net of foreign withholding taxes of $693,812) 

Interest 

EXPENSES

Investment research 

  Administration and operations 
  Office space and general 
  Auditing and legal fees 
  Directors' fees and expenses 
  Transfer agent, custodian, and registrar fees and expenses 

State and local taxes 
Stockholders' meeting and reports 

TOTAL EXPENSES 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME 

YEAR ENDED 
DECEMBER 31, 2018
$19,257,586
1,519,921
20,777,507

6,674,468
3,690,461
1,209,190
287,648
281,926
231,369
136,244
92,320
12,603,626
8,173,881

REALIZED GAIN AND CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION ON INVESTMENTS (NOTES 1, 3 AND 4)

  Net realized gain on investments: 

Common stock 
Purchased option transactions 

  Written option transactions 

  Net decrease in unrealized appreciation:

Common stocks and warrant 
Purchased options 

  Written options 

GAINS AND DEPRECIATION ON INVESTMENTS 
NET INVESTMENT INCOME, GAINS, AND DEPRECIATION ON INVESTMENTS 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO PREFERRED STOCKHOLDERS 
DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS 

60,012,191
(664,474)
(79,728)
59,267,989

(138,897,975)
(155,283)
(93,436)
(139,146,694)
(79,878,705)
(71,704,824)
(11,311,972)
($83,016,796)

S T A T E M E N T   O F   C H A N G E S   I N   N E T   A S S E T S

OPERATIONS

Net investment income 
Net realized gain on investments 
Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation 

Distributions to Preferred Stockholders* 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Funded status of defined benefit plans (note 7) 

Distributions to Common Stockholders* 

CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS (NOTE 5)

Value of Common Shares issued in payment of dividends 
   and distributions  
Cost of Common Shares purchased 

DECREASE IN NET ASSETS - CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS 

NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK

BEGINNING OF YEAR 

END OF YEAR  

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,

2018

2017

$8,173,881 
59,267,989 
(139,146,694) 
(71,704,824) 
(11,311,972) 
(83,016,796) 

$8,564,156
91,833,612
70,336,629
170,734,397
(11,311,972)*
159,422,425

(1,328,128) 
(70,424,179) 

1,987,555
(86,731,075)*

22,883,574 
(41,808,714) 
(18,925,140) 
(173,694,243) 

35,156,383
(61,886,535)
(26,730,152)
47,948,753

1,070,483,445 

1,022,534,692

$896,789,202 
$896,789,202 

$1,070,483,445
$1,070,483,445

*Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  Release  No.  33-10532,  effective  November  5,  2018,  specifies  certain  disclosure 
updates  and  simplifications.    Accordingly,  the  distinction  between  dividends  from  net  investment  income  and  distri-
butions from realized capital gains is being discontinued such that all dividends and distributions will be reported in 
a  single  line  item.    Prior  year  distribution  amounts  have  been  conformed  to  current  presentation.    In  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2017 distributions were reported as follows: Distribution to Preferred Stockholders consisted of Dividends 
from  net  investment  income  of  $2,116,504  and  Distributions  from  capital  gains  of  $9,195,468.    Distribution  to 
Common Stockholders consisted of Dividends from net income of $15,212,903 and Distributions from capital gains of 
$71,518,172.

(see notes to financial statements)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 3

F I N A N C I A L   H I G H L I G H T S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

The table shows per share 
operating performance 
data, total investment 
return, ratios and supple-
mental data for each year 
in the five-year period 
ended December 31, 2018. 
This information has 
been derived from infor-
mation contained in the 
financial statements and 
market price data for the 
Company’s shares.

PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE 
  Net asset value, beginning of year 
  Net investment income 
  Net gain (loss) on common stocks, 
  options and other-realized and 
  unrealized 

  Other comprehensive income (loss) 

  Distributions on Preferred Stock: 

  Dividends from net investment income 
  Distributions from net capital gains 

Total from investment operations 
  Distributions on Common Stock: 

  Dividends from net investment income 
  Distributions from net capital gains 

  Net asset value, end of year 
  Per share market value, end of year 

TOTAL INVESTMENT RETURN 
  Stockholder return, based on market price 
  per share 
RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA 
  Net assets applicable to Common Stock 

(9.87%) 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

2014

$40.47 
.31 

$37.56 
.32 

$37.74 
.30 

$39.77 
.48 

$41.07
.32

(3.03) 
(.05) 
(2.77) 

(.06) 
(.38) 
(.44) 
(3.21) 

6.23 
.08 
6.63 

(.04) 
(.39) 
(.43) 
6.20 

3.10 
.02 
3.42 

(.04) 
(.38) 
(.42) 
3.00 

(.99) 
.02 
(.49) 

(.12) 
(.27) 
(.39) 
(.88) 

2.39
(.13)
2.58

(.04)
(.34)
(.38)
2.20

(.29) 
(2.46) 
(2.75) 
$34.51 
$28.44 

(.30) 
(2.99) 
(3.29) 
$40.47 
$34.40 

(.33) 
(2.85) 
(3.18) 
$37.56 
$31.18 

(.34) 
(.81) 
(1.15) 
$37.74 
$31.94 

(.32)
(3.18)
(3.50)
$39.77
$35.00

21.21% 

7.59% 

(5.34%) 

9.32%

end of year (000's omitted) 

$896,789  $1,070,483  $1,022,535  $1,068,028  $1,227,900

  Ratio of expenses to average net assets 

  applicable to Common Stock 

1.20% 

1.28% 

1.27% 

1.17% 

1.10%

  Ratio of net income to average net assets 

  applicable to Common Stock 

  Portfolio turnover rate 

0.78% 
23.00% 

0.79% 
19.58% 

0.78% 
20.29% 

1.17% 
14.41% 

0.78%
14.98%

PREFERRED STOCK 
  Liquidation value, end of year 

(000's omitted) 

  Asset coverage 
  Liquidation preference per share 
  Market value per share 

(see notes to financial statements)

$190,117 
572% 
$25.00 
$25.72 

$190,117 
663% 
$25.00 
$26.59 

$190,117 
638% 
$25.00 
$25.77 

$190,117  $190,117
746%
$25.00
$26.01

662% 
$25.00 
$26.75 

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S 

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

  General  American  Investors  Company,  Inc.  (the  “Company”),  established  in  1927,  is  registered  under  the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 as a closed-end, diversified management investment company. It is internally 
managed by its officers under the direction of the Board of Directors.

  The  accompanying  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  United  States  generally 
accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) pursuant to the requirements for reporting; Accounting Standards 
Codification 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies (“ASC 946"), and Regulation S-X.

  The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP  requires  management  to  make  esti-
mates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial state-
ments and the reported amounts of income, expenses and gains and losses during the reported period.  Changes 
in the economic environment, financial markets, and any other parameters used in determining these estimates 
could cause actual results to differ, and these differences could be material.

a.  SECURITY VALUATION  Equity securities traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last reported 
sales  price  on  the  last  business  day  of  the  period.  Equity  securities  reported  on  the  NASDAQ  national  market 
are valued at the official closing price on that day. Listed and NASDAQ equity securities for which no sales are 
reported on that day and other securities traded in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last bid price 
(asked  price for options  written) on the  valuation date. Equity securities traded  primarily in foreign markets are 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (Continued from previous page.)

valued at the closing price of such securities on their respective exchanges or markets.  Corporate debt securities, 
domestic and foreign, are generally traded in the over-the-counter market rather than on a securities exchange.  
The  Company  utilizes  the  latest  bid  prices  provided  by  independent  dealers  and  information  with  respect  to 
transactions  in  such  securities  to  determine  current  market  value.    If,  after  the  close  of  foreign  markets,  condi-
tions  change  significantly,  the  price  of  certain  foreign  securities  may  be  adjusted  to  reflect  fair  value  as  of  the 
time  of  the  valuation  of  the  portfolio.  Investments  in  money  market  funds  are  valued  at  their  net  asset  value.   
Special holdings (restricted securities) and other securities for which quotations are not readily available are val-
ued at fair value determined in good faith pursuant to specific procedures appropriate to each security as estab-
lished by and under the general supervision of the Board of Directors.  The determination of fair value involves 
subjective  judgments.    As  a  result,  using  fair  value  to  price  a  security  may  result  in  a  price  materially  different 
from the price used by other investors or the price that may be realized upon the actual sale of the security.

b.  OPTIONS    The  Company  may  purchase  and  write  (sell)  put  and  call  options.    The  Company  purchases  put 
options  or  writes  call  options  to  hedge  the  value  of  portfolio  investments  while  it  purchases  call  options  and 
writes put options to obtain equity market exposure. The risk associated with purchasing an option is that the 
Company pays a premium whether or not the option is exercised. Additionally, the Company bears the risk of 
loss of the premium and a change in market value should the counterparty not perform under the contract.  Put 
and call options purchased are accounted for in the same manner as portfolio securities. Premiums received from 
writing  options  are  reported  as  a  liability  on  the  Statement  of  Assets  and  Liabilities.  Those  that  expire  unexer-
cised are treated by the Company on the expiration date as realized gains on written option transactions in the 
Statement of Operations. The difference between the premium received and the amount paid on effecting a clos-
ing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or, if the premium 
is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss on written option transactions 
in the Statement of Operations. If a written call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from 
the  sale  of  the  underlying  security  in  determining  whether  the  Company  has  realized  a  gain  or  loss  on  invest-
ments  in  the  Statement  of  Operations.  If  a  written  put  option  is  exercised,  the  premium  reduces  the  cost  basis 
for the securities purchased by the Company and is parenthetically disclosed under cost of investments on the 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Company as writer of an option bears the market risk of an unfavorable 
change in the price of the security underlying the written option.  See Note 4 for option activity.

c.  SECURITIES  TRANSACTIONS  AND  INVESTMENT  INCOME    Securities  transactions  are  recorded  as  of  the  trade  date. 
Dividend  income  and  distributions  to  stockholders  are  recorded  as  of  the  ex-dividend  dates.  Interest  income, 
adjusted for amortization of discount and premium on investments, is earned from settlement date and is recog-
nized on the accrual basis. Cost of short-term investments represents amortized cost.

d.  FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION  AND TRANSACTIONS  Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denomi-
nated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate of such currencies versus 
U.S. dollars on the date of valuation.  Purchases and sales of securities, income and expense items denominated 
in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect on the transaction date.  Events 
may  impact  the  availability  or  reliability  of  foreign  exchange  rates  used  to  convert  the  U.S.  dollar  equivalent 
value.  If such an event occurs, the foreign exchange rate will be valued at fair value using procedures established 
and  approved  by  the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors.    The  Company  does  not  separately  report  the  effect  of 
changes in foreign exchange rates from changes in market prices on securities held.  Such changes are included 
in net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments on the Statement of Operations.
  Realized  foreign  exchange  gains  or  losses  arise  from  sales  of  foreign  currencies,  currency  gains  or  losses  real-
ized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and the difference between the recorded 
amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts ac-
tually received or paid.  Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in foreign exchange 
rates  on  foreign  denominated  assets  and  liabilities  other  than  investments  in  securities  held  at  the  end  of  the 
reporting period. 

  Foreign  security  and  currency  transactions  may  involve  certain  considerations  and  risks  not  typically  associ-
ated  with  those  of  U.S.  companies  as  a  result  of,  among  other  factors,  the  possibility  of  political  or  economic 
instability or the level of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets.

e.  DIVIDENDS  AND  DISTRIBUTIONS    The  Company  expects  to  pay  dividends  of  net  investment  income  and  distribu-
tions of net realized capital and currency gains, if any, annually to common shareholders and quarterly to preferred 
shareholders.  Dividends and distributions to common and preferred shareholders, which are determined in accor-
dance with Federal income tax regulations are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Permanent book/tax differences 
relating to income and gains are reclassified to paid-in capital as they arise.

f.   FEDERAL INCOME TAXES  The Company’s policy is to fulfill the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code appli-
cable  to  regulated  investment  companies  and  to  distribute  substantially  all  taxable  income  to  its  stockholders. 
Accordingly, no provision for Federal income taxes is required. In accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements regard-
ing accounting for uncertainties in income taxes, management has analyzed the Company’s tax positions taken or 
expected to be taken on Federal and state income tax returns for all open tax years (the current and the prior three 
tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Company’s financial statements.

g.  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES  Amounts related to contingent liabilities are accrued if it is probable that a liability has 
been  incurred  and  an  amount  is  reasonably  estimable.    Management  evaluates  whether  there  are  incremental 
legal or other costs directly associated with the ultimate resolution of a matter that are reasonably estimable and, 
if so, they are included in the accrual.

1 5

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - (Continued from previous page.)

h. INDEMNIFICATIONS  In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety 
of  indemnifications.  The  Company’s  maximum  exposure  under  these  arrangements  is  unknown.  However,  the 
Company has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these indemnification provisions and expects the risk of 
loss thereunder to be remote.

2.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS 

  Various data inputs are used in determining the value of the Company’s investments. These inputs are sum-
marized in a hierarchy consisting of the three broad levels listed below:

Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical securities (including money market funds which are valued 
using amortized cost and which transact at net asset value, typically $1 per share),

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

Level  3  -  significant  unobservable  inputs  (including  the  Company’s  own  assumptions  in  determining  the  fair 
value of investments).

  The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated 
with  investing  in  those  securities.  The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  inputs  used  to  value  the  Company’s  net 
assets as of December 31, 2018:

  Assets 
  Common stocks 
  Warrants 
  Purchased options 
  Money market fund 
  Total 

Level 1 
$1,029,362,864 
1,126 
2,247,500 
57,748,016 
$1,089,359,506 

Level 2 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Level 3 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

Total
$1,029,362,864
1,126
2,247,500
57,748,016
$1,089,359,506

  Transfers among levels, if any, are reported as of the actual date of reclassification.  No such transfers occurred during the 
year ended December 31, 2018.

3.  PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

  Purchases  and  sales  of  securities  (other  than  short-term  securities  and  options)  during  2018  amounted  to 
$268,946,486 and $272,249,196, on long transactions, respectively.

4.  OPTIONS

  The level of activity in purchased and written options varies from year to year based upon market conditions.  
Transactions  in  purchased  call  and  put  options,  as  well  as  written  covered  call  options  and  collateralized  put 
options during the year ended December 31, 2018 were as follows: 

Purchased Options

  Outstanding, December 31, 2017 

Purchased 
Exercised 
Expired 

  Outstanding, December 31, 2018 

 CALLS 

CONTRACTS 
4,500 
2,000 
(4,000) 
(2,500) 
0 

COST BASIS 
$333,937 
236,523 
(425,160) 
(145,300) 
$0 

 PUTS

CONTRACTS 
2,100 
10,650 
(5,850) 
(1,600) 
5,300 

COST BASIS
       $713,037
2,035,717
(1,829,510)
(318,687)
$600,557 

Written Options

COVERED CALLS 

COLLATERALIZED PUTS

  Outstanding, December 31, 2017 
  Written 

Terminated in closing purchase transaction 

  Options assigned 

Expired 

  Outstanding, December 31, 2018 

CONTRACTS 
2,100 
19,505 
(20,957) 
(148) 
(500) 
0 

PREMIUMS 
$705,936 
6,671,559 
(6,997,745) 
(123,277) 
(256,473) 
$0 

CONTRACTS 

0 
6,602 
(6,062) 
(540) 
0 
0 

PREMIUMS
       $0
1,507,272
(1,374,205)
(133,067)
0
$0 

5.  CAPITAL STOCK AND DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS 

  The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, 
and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value.  With respect to the Common Stock, 25,984,054 shares 
were issued and outstanding; 8,000,000 Preferred Shares were originally issued and 7,604,687 were outstanding 
on December 31, 2018.

  On  September  24,  2003,  the  Company  issued  and  sold  8,000,000  shares  of  its  5.95%  Cumulative  Preferred 
Stock, Series B  in an underwritten offering.  The Preferred Shares were noncallable for the 5 year period ended 
September  24,  2008  and  have  a  liquidation  preference  of  $25.00  per  share  plus  accumulated  and  unpaid  divi-
dends to the date of redemption.  

  On December 10, 2008, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1 million Preferred Shares in 
the open market at prices below $25.00 per share.  This authorization has been renewed annually thereafter.  To 
date, 395,313 shares have been repurchased.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

5.  CAPITAL STOCK AND DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTIONS - (Continued from previous page.)

  The Company allocates distributions from net capital gains and other types of income  proportionately among hold-
ers of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock. To the extent that dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock are 
not paid from net capital gains, they will be paid from investment company taxable income, or will represent a return 
of capital.   

  Under  the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940,  the  Company  is  required  to  maintain  an  asset  coverage  of  at  least 
200%  of  the  Preferred  Stock.  In  addition,  pursuant  to  Moody’s  Investor  Service,  Inc.  Rating  Agency  Guidelines,  the 
Company  is  required  to  maintain  a  certain  discounted  asset  coverage  for  its  portfolio  that  equals  or  exceeds  a  Basic 
Maintenance Amount.  If the Company fails to meet these requirements in the future and does not cure such failure, 
the Company may be required to redeem, in whole or in part, shares of Preferred Stock at a redemption price of $25.00 
per  share  plus  accumulated  and  unpaid  dividends.    In  addition,  failure  to  meet  the  foregoing  asset  coverage  require-
ments  could  restrict  the  Company’s  ability  to  pay  dividends  on  shares  of  Common  Stock  and  could  lead  to  sales  of 
portfolio securities at inopportune times.

  The holders of Preferred Stock have voting rights equivalent to those of the holders of Common Stock (one vote per 
share) and, generally, vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class.

  Holders of Preferred Stock will elect two members to the Company’s Board of Directors and the holders of Preferred 
and Common Stock, voting as a single class, will elect the remaining directors. If the Company fails to pay dividends 
on  the  Preferred  Stock  in  an  amount  equal  to  two  full  years’  dividends,  the  holders  of  Preferred  Stock  will  have  the 
right to elect a majority of the directors. In addition, the Investment Company Act of 1940 requires that approval of 
the  holders  of  a  majority  of  any  outstanding  Preferred  Shares,  voting  separately  as  a  class,  would  be  required  to  (a) 
adopt  any  plan  of  reorganization  that  would  adversely  affect  the  Preferred  Stock  and  (b)  take  any  action  requiring  a 
vote  of  security  holders,  including,  among  other  things,  changes  in  the  Company’s  subclassification  as  a  closed-end 
investment company or changes in its fundamental investment policies.

  The Company presents its Preferred Stock, for which its redemption is outside of the Company’s control, outside of 
the net assets applicable to Common Stock in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
  Transactions in Common Stock during 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

SHARES 

2018 

2017 

AMOUNT

2018 

2017

Par Value of Shares issued in payment of 
dividends and distributions (shares
issued from treasury) 
Increase in paid-in capital 

Total increase   

Par Value of Shares purchased (at an
   average discount from net asset value
   of 16.0% and 15.7%, respectively) 
Decrease in paid-in capital 

Total decrease 
Net decrease 

758,865 

1,047,100 

$758,865 
22,124,709 
      22,883,574 

$1,047,100
34,109,283
35,156,383

(1,227,947)  (1,815,079) 

(469,082) 

(767,979) 

(1,227,947) 
(40,580,767) 
(41,808,714) 
($18,925,140) 

(1,815,079)
(60,071,456)
(61,886,535)
($26,730,152)

  At December 31, 2018, the Company held in its treasury 5,996,818 shares of Common Stock with an aggregate cost
of $197,915,206.

  The  tax  basis  distributions  during  the  year  ended  December  31,  2018  are  as  follows:  ordinary  distributions  of 
$8,963,411 and net capital gains distributions of $72,772,740.  As of December 31, 2018, distributable earnings on a 
tax basis totaled $445,891,246 consisting of $3,716,353 from undistributed net capital gains, $252,895 from ordinary 
income and $441,921,998 from net unrealized appreciation on investments.  Reclassifications arising from permanent 
"book/tax" difference reflect non-tax deductible expenses during the year ended December 31, 2018.  As a result, addi-
tional paid-in capital was decreased by $1,002,465 and total distributable earnings was increased by $1,002,465.  Net 
assets  were  not  affected  by  this  reclassification.    As  of  December  31,  2018,  the  Company  had  wash  loss  deferrals  of 
$3,186,930 and straddle loss deferrals of $1,103,299. 

6.  OFFICERS' COMPENSATION 

  The aggregate compensation accrued and paid by the Company during the year ended December 31, 2018 to its offi-
cers (identified on page 20) amounted to $6,390,000 of which $3,035,000 was payable as of year end.

7.  BENEFIT PLANS 

  The Company has funded (qualified) and unfunded (supplemental) defined contribution thrift plans that are avail-
able  to  its  employees.    The  aggregate  cost  of  such  plans  for  2018  was  $541,301.    The  qualified  thrift  plan  acquired 
24,699 shares in the open market, sold 17,727 shares in the open market, of the Company’s Common Stock during the 
year ended December 31, 2018.  It held 635,664 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at December 31, 2018. 

  The Company also has both funded (qualified) and unfunded (supplemental) noncontributory defined benefit pen-
sion plans that cover its employees.  The pension plans provide a defined benefit based on years of service and final 
average  salary  with  an  offset  for  a  portion  of  Social  Security  covered  compensation.    The  investment  policy  of  the 
pension  plan  is  to  invest  not  less  than  80%  of  its  assets,  under  ordinary  conditions,  in  equity  securities  and  the  bal-
ance in fixed income securities.  The investment strategy is to invest in a portfolio of diversified registered investment 
funds (open-end and exchange traded) and an unregistered partnership focused upon capital appreciation.  Open-end 
funds and the unregistered partnership are valued at net asset value based upon the fair market value of the underlying 
investment portfolios.  Exchange traded funds are valued based upon their closing market price.

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 7

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

7.  BENEFIT PLANS - (Continued from previous page.)

  The  Company  recognizes  the  overfunded  or  underfunded  status  of  a  defined  benefit  postretirement  plan  as  an 
asset  or  liability  in  the  Statement  of  Assets  and  Liabilities  and  recognizes  changes  in  funded  status  in  the  year  in 
which the changes occur through other comprehensive income.

OBLIGATIONS AND FUNDED STATUS OF DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS: 

DECEMBER 31, 2018 (MEASUREMENT DATE) 

 QUALIFIED   SUPPLEMENTAL

PLAN 

PLAN 

TOTAL

CHANGE IN BENEFIT OBLIGATION:
  Benefit obligation at beginning of year 
     Service Cost 
     Interest cost 
     Benefits paid 
     Actuarial (gain)/loss 
     Projected benefit obligation at end of year 
CHANGE IN PLAN ASSETS:

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 

     Actual return on plan assets 
     Employer contributions 
     Benefits paid 
     Fair value of plan assets at end of year 
FUNDED STATUS AT END OF YEAR 
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year 

$18,297,585   
374,634   
662,547   
(877,707) 
(1,036,603) 
17,420,456   

23,058,949   
(1,871,397) 
- 
(877,707) 
20,309,845   
$2,889,389  
$16,755,697  

$5,851,558 
141,257 
205,715 
(321,696) 
(500,252) 
5,376,582 

$24,149,143
515,891
868,262
(1,199,403)
(1,536,855)
22,797,038

- 
- 

321,696 
(321,696) 

23,058,949 
(1,871,397)
321,696 
(1,199,403)
20,309,845 
- 
($2,487,193)
($5,376,582) 
$5,285,506   $22,041,203

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE ASSUMPTIONS USED TO DETERMINE OBLIGATION AT YEAR END:
  Discount rate: 4.20%

Salary scale assumption: 4.50% for NHCE* and 2.75% for HCE*

  Mortality: RP-2014 Mortality Table scaled back through 2006/MP-2018 Projection Scale  without collar adjustment

CHANGE IN FUNDED STATUS: 

  Noncurrent benefit asset - qualified plan 
LIABILITIES:
  Current benefit liability - supplemental plan 
  Noncurrent benefit liability - supplemental plan 

BEFORE  ADJUSTMENTS 

AFTER

$4,761,364  

($1,871,975)  $2,889,389

($311,112) 
(5,540,446) 

($3,561) 
478,537  

($314,673)
(5,061,909)

AMOUNTS RECOGNIZED IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSIST OF:
  Net actuarial (gain)/loss 
  Prior service cost 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

$2,635,030  
866 
$2,635,896 

$1,328,713   $3,963,743
281
$3,964,024

(585) 
$1,328,128 

WEIGHTED-AVERAGE ASSUMPTIONS TO DETERMINE NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST DURING YEAR:
     Discount rate:  3.55%
     Expected return on plan assets**: 7.25 for Qualified Plan; N/A for Supplemental Plan
     Salary scale assumption:  4.50% for NHCE* and 2.75% for HCE*
     Mortality:  RP-2014 Mortality Table scaled back through 2006/MP-2017 Projection Scale without collar adjustment

*NHCE-Non-Highly Compensated Employee; HCE-Highly Compensated Employee.
**Determined based upon a discount to the long-term average historical performance of the plan.

COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST:
     Service cost 
     Interest cost 
     Expected return on plan assets 
     Amortization of: 
          Prior service cost 
          Recognized net actuarial loss 
     Net periodic benefit cost 

  QUALIFIED    SUPPLEMENTAL

PLAN 

     PLAN 

       TOTAL

$374,634 
662,547  
(1,502,844) 

- 
203,449  
($262,214) 

$141,257 
205,715  
- 

585  
76,370  
$423,927  

$515,891
868,262 
(1,502,844)

585 
279,819 
$161,713 

  The Company's qualified pension plan owns assets as of December 31, 2018 comprised of $14,387,812 of equity securities 
and $2,603,360 of money market fund assets classified as Level 1 and $3,318,673 of limited partnership interest which are 
not classified by level.

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 8

N O T E S   T O   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S   -   c o n t i n u e d

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

7.  BENEFIT PLANS - (Continued from previous page.) 

EXPECTED CASH FLOWS 
Expected Company contributions for 2018 
Expected benefit payments:
     2019 
     2020 
     2021 
     2022 
     2023 
     2024-2027 

QUALIFIED PLAN 
— 

$960,992  
991,681  
1,007,168  
1,020,393  
1,045,469  
5,608,896  

SUPPLEMENTAL PLAN 

$314,673 

$314,673  
302,040  
288,712  
275,226  
271,447  
1,763,142  

TOTAL
$314,673

$1,275,665 
1,293,721 
1,295,880 
1,295,619 
1,316,916 
7,372,038 

  The estimated amount that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic benefit 
cost in 2019 is $42,981 which is comprised of $42,700 of actuarial loss and $281 of service cost.

8.  OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENT

In 2007, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement for office space which expired in January 2018 and 
provided  for  aggregate  rental  payments  of  approximately  $10,755,000,  net  of  construction  credits.  The  lease  agreement 
contained clauses whereby the Company received free rent for a specified number of months and credit towards construc-
tion of office improvements, and incurred escalations annually relating to operating costs and real property taxes and to 
annual  rent  charges  beginning  in  2013.  The  Company  extended  the  lease  for  two  months  through  March  2018.  Rental 
expense approximated $192,200 for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

In  February  2016,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  issued  Accounting  Standards  Update  (“ASU”) 
No.  2016-02,  Leases,  which  requires  lessees  to  reassess  if  a  contract  is  or  contains  lease  agreements  and  assess  the  lease 
classification to determine if they should recognize a right-of-use asset and offsetting liability on the Statement of Assets 
and Liabilities that arises from entering into a lease, including an operating lease.  Existing U.S. GAAP did not require the 
lessee to record an asset and offsetting liability associated with an operating lease.  Generally consistent with existing U.S. 
GAAP, the annual cost  of an operating lease will continue to be reflected as an expense in the Statements of Operations 
and Changes in Net Assets and disclosure of the terms of a lease will continue to be reported in the footnotes to the fi-
nancial  statements.    ASU  2016-02  is  effective  for  financial  statements  issued  for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  December 
15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early application is permitted and, the Company, in con-
junction with its new operating lease adopted this accounting standard at the beginning of 2018.  The above referenced 
right-of-use  asset  and  offsetting  liability  is  reported  on  the  Statement  of  Assets  and  Liabilities  of  the  Company  in  line 
items entitled, “Present value of future office lease payments.”  Since the operating lease does not specify an implicit rate, 
the right-of-use asset and liability have been calculated using a discount rate of 3.0%, which is based upon high quality 
corporate interest rates for a term equivalent to the lease period as of January 1, 2018.

  The  Company  entered  into  a  new  operating  lease  agreement  in  2017  for  office  space  which  will  expire  in  2028  and 
provide for aggregate rental payments of approximately $6,437,500.  The lease agreement contains clauses whereby the 
Company will receive free rent for a specified number of months and credit towards construction of office improvements 
and incurs escalations annually relating to operating costs and real property taxes and to annual rent charges beginning 
in 2023.  Rental expense approximated $594,200 for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The Company has the option to 
extend the lease for an additional five years at market rates.  As of December 31, 2018, no consideration has been given to 
extending this lease.  Minimum rental commitments under this operating lease are approximately:

  2019: 
  2020: 
  2021: 
  2022:  
  2023 
  Thereafter: 
  Total Remaining Lease Payments  
  Effect of Present Value Discounting 
  Present Value of Future Office Lease Payments 

$624,000
624,000
624,000
624,000
631,000
3,206,000
  6,333,000
    (855,698)
$5,477,302

 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
                  
 
     
1 9

R E P O R T   O F   I N D E P E N D E N T   R E G I S T E R E D   P U B L I C   A C C O U N T I N G   F I R M

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 
AND STOCKHOLDERS OF 
GENERAL AMERICAN INVESTORS COMPANY, INC.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We  have  audited  the  accompanying  statement  of  assets  and  liabilities  of  General  American 
Investors  Company,  Inc.  (the  “Company”),  including  the  statement  of  investments,  as  of 
December 31, 2018, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the state-
ments of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial 
highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes (collectively 
referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, 
in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2018, the results 
of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years 
in  the  period  then  ended  and  its  financial  highlights  for  each  of  the  five  years  in  the  period 
then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsi-
bility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We 
are  a  public  accounting  firm  registered  with  the  Public  Company  Accounting  Oversight  Board 
(United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in 
accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  PCAOB.  Those  standards 
require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether 
the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  error  or  fraud.  The 
Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Company’s 
internal  control  over  financial  reporting.  As  part  of  our  audits,  we  are  required  to  obtain  an 
understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  express-
ing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. 
Accordingly, we express no such opinion. 

Our  audits  included  performing  procedures  to  assess  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the 
financial  statements,  whether  due  to  error  or  fraud,  and  performing  procedures  that  respond 
to  those  risks.  Such  procedures  included  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  regarding  the 
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of 
securities owned as of December 31, 2018, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. 
Our  audits  also  included  evaluating  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant  estimates 
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. 
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1949. 
New York, NY
February 15, 2019

2 0

O F F I C E R S

G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s

NAME (AGE) 
  EMPLOYEE SINCE 
Jeffrey W. Priest (56) 
   2010 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION 
  DURING PAST 5 YEARS 
President of the Company  
   since 2012 and Chief Executive 
   Officer since 2013

NAME (AGE) 

EMPLOYEE SINCE 
Liron Kronzon (49)  
   2016 

Anang K. Majmudar (44)  Senior Vice-President of the 
   Company effective 2019,
   2012 
   Vice-President 2015-2018,  
   securities analyst 
   (general industries)

Andrew V. Vindigni (59)  Senior Vice-President of the    
   1988 

   Company since 2006,
   securities analyst (financial    
   services and consumer 
   non-durables) 

Eugene S. Stark (60)  
   2005 

Craig A. Grassi (50) 
   1991 

Vice-President, Administration 
   of the Company and 
   Principal Financial Officer  
   since 2005, Chief Compliance 
   Officer since 2006

Vice-President of the Company 
   since 2013, securities analyst
   and information technology

Sally A. Lynch, Ph.D. (59) 
   1997 

Diane G. Radosti (66) 
   1980 

Samantha X. Jin (44) 
   2018 

Linda J. Genid (60) 
   1983 

Connie A. Santa Maria (45) 
   2015 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
  DURING PAST 5 YEARS 
Vice-President of the 
   Company effective 2019,
   securities analyst
   (general industries)

Vice-President of the  
   Company since 2006,
   securities analyst
   (biotechnology industry)

Treasurer of the Company
   1990-2018 and 
   Principal Accounting
   Officer 2003-2018

Treasurer of the Company
   and Principal Accounting
   Officer effective 2019

Corporate Secretary of the
   Company since 2016,
   Assistant Corporate 
   Secretary 2014-2015,
   network administrator

 Assistant Corporate Secretary 
    of the Company effective 
   2019, Human Resources/ 
   Benefits Manager 

All information is as of December 31, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
All Officers serve for a term of one year and are elected by the Board of Directors at the time of its annual meeting in April.
The address for each officer is the Company’s office.  

S E R V I C E   O R G A N I Z A T I O N S  

  COUNSEL

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP

  CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank and 
Trust Company

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
  American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
  6201 15th Avenue
  Brooklyn, NY  11219
  1-800-413-5499
  www.amstock.com

Previous  purchases  of  the  Company’s  Common  and  Preferred  Stock  are  set  forth  in  Note  5,  on  pages  15  and  16.  
Prospective purchases of Common and Preferred Stock may be made at such times, at such prices, in such amounts 
and in such manner as the Board of Directors may deem advisable. 
The policies and procedures used by the Company to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities 
and the Company’s proxy voting record for the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2018 are available: (1) without 
charge, upon request, by calling us at our toll-free telephone number (1-800-436-8401), (2) on the Company’s website 
at www.generalamericaninvestors.com and (3) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. 
In  addition  to  distributing  financial  statements  as  of  the  end  of  each  quarter,  General  American  Investors  filed  a 
Quarterly  Schedule  of  Portfolio  Holdings  (Form  N-Q)  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (“SEC”)  as  of 
the end of the first and third calendar quarters.  The Company’s Forms N-Q are available at www.generalamerican-
investors.com and on the SEC’s website: www.sec.gov.  Copies of Forms N-Q may also be obtained and reviewed at 
the  SEC’s  Public  Reference  Room  in  Washington,  D.C.  or  through  the  Company  by  calling  us  at  1-800-436-8401.  
Information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.  

On April 26, 2018, the Company submitted a CEO annual certification to the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on 
which the Company’s principal executive officer certified that he was not aware, as of that date, of any violation by 
the Company of the NYSE’s Corporate Governance listing standards.  In addition, as required by Section 302 of the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related SEC rules, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officer 
made  quarterly  certifications,  included  in  filings  with  the  SEC  on  Forms  N-CSR  and  N-Q  relating  to,  among  other 
things, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, as applicable.

 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D I R E C T O R S
G e n e r a l   A m e r i c a n   I n v e s t o r s  

  NAME (AGE) 
  DIRECTOR SINCE 

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION 
DURING PAST 5 YEARS 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

  Arthur G. Altschul, Jr. (54) 

1995 

  Rodney B. Berens (73) 

2007 

Founder and Managing Member 
  Diaz & Altschul Capital 
    Management, LLC 
    (investment advisory) 
Chairman 
  Overbrook Management Corporation
    (investment advisory)
Co-Founder and Chairman
  Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    (pharmaceuticals) (until 2016)

Partner and Co-Chief Investment Officer, 
  Berens Global Value Fund, Alternative 
     Investment Group (since 2018;  
     investment advisory) 
Founder, Chairman and Senior  
Investment Strategist 
  Berens Capital Management, LLC
    (2000-2018; investment advisory)

CURRENT DIRECTORSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

Child Mind Institute, Director
Delta Opportunity Fund, Ltd., Director
Neurosciences Research Foundation, Trustee
Overbrook Foundation, Chairman

The Morgan Library and Museum, Life Trustee, Chairman of
  Investment Sub-Committee and Member of Finance, Compensation
  and Nomination Committees 
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Trustee and Member of
  Investment Committee 

  Lewis B. Cullman (100) 

Philanthropist 

1961 

Chess-in-the-Schools, Chairman Emeritus
Metropolitan Museum of Art, Honorary Trustee
Museum of Modern Art, Honorary Trustee
The New York Botanical Garden, Life Trustee
The New York Public Library, Trustee

Spencer Davidson (76) 
1995 

  Clara E. Del Villar (60) 

2017 

John D. Gordan, III (73) 
1986 

  Betsy F. Gotbaum (80) 

2010 

Chairman of the Board of Company 

Neurosciences Research Foundation, Trustee

Tribecca Innovation Awards Foundation, Fellow
Women’s Health Symposium, Weill Cornell Medicine, Member 
  of Executive Steering Committee

Strategic Consultant 
Advisor, Strategic Partnerships, 
  Trialogies, Inc. (until 2016; 
    information technology) 
Founder, Chief Executive Officer 
  and Editor-in-Chief,
  Hispanic Post 
    (2011-2016; digital media)

Attorney
  Beazley USA Services, Inc.
    (insurance)

Executive Director 
  Citizens Union (since 2017) 
    (nonprofit democratic reform)  
Consultant 

Center for Community Alternatives, Director
Community Service Society, Trustee
Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, Trustee
Visiting Nurse Service of New York, Director

Addison Gallery of American Art, Board of Governors
The Frick Collection, Trustee
Phillips Academy, Charter Trustee Emeritus
Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Dean's Council
The Rogosin Institute, Director
Wellesley College, Trustee Emeritus

Steven Madden, Ltd., Director
Concord Academy, Trustee 
Princeton University Varsity Club, Director
Women and Foreign Policy Advisory Council, Council of 
  Foreign Relations, Member

Results for Development Institute, Director

Sidney R. Knafel (88) 
1994 

Managing Partner 
  SRK Management Company 
    (investment company) 

  Rose P. Lynch (68) 
  Director since May 2017 

Founder and President 
  Marketing Strategies, LLC 
   (consulting firm) 

  Henry R. Schirmer (54) 

2015 

Chief Financial Officer and Member of 
Executive Board
  Randstad (since 2018; human resources)
Chief Financial Officer/Executive
Vice-President
  Unilever Europe (2016-2018)
Chief Financial Officer/Senior 
Vice-President Finance
  Unilever North America (2012-2016;
    consumer products)

  Raymond S. Troubh (92) 

Financial Consultant 

1989 

      INTERESTED DIRECTOR               

Jeffrey W. Priest (56) 
2013 

President and Chief Executive Officer
  of Company

  The Company is a stand-alone fund.  All Directors serve for a term of one year and are elected by Stockholders at the time of the annual
  meeting.  The address for each Director is the Company’s office.  All information is as of December 31, 2018.