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CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC

Regulatory Filings May 26, 2016

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N-Q 1 fp0019415_nq.htm Licensed to: FilePoint Document created using EDGARfilings PROfile 4.0.0.0 Copyright 1995 - 2016 Summit Financial Printing, LLC. All rights reserved.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-02363

Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

48 Wall Street New York, NY 10005
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Frank J. Maresca

AST Fund Solutions, LLC 48 Wall Street New York, NY 10005

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (866) 668-6558

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2016

Item 1. Schedule of Investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description Value
EQUITY SECURITIES - 99.06%
CLOSED-END FUNDS - 24.75%
CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES - 1.45%
AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund 57,301 $ 317,448
AllianzGI Convertible & Income Fund II 260,000 1,268,800
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. 1,330 10,108
1,596,356
CORE - 2.63%
General American Investors Company, Inc. 42,500 1,327,275
Guggenheim Equal Weight Enhanced Equity Income Fund 10,800 174,420
Liberty All-Star Equity Fund 136,300 677,411
Royce Micro-Cap Trust, Inc. 97,800 684,600
Sprott Focus Trust, Inc. 3,500 21,315
2,885,021
DEVELOPED MARKET - 0.31%
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. 61,289 340,767
EMERGING MARKETS - 0.04%
Aberdeen Chile Fund, Inc. 753 4,525
Turkish Investment Fund, Inc. (The) 4,455 40,852
45,377
GENERAL BOND - 0.09%
Deutsche Multi-Market Income Trust 12,493 99,069
GLOBAL - 6.06%
Alpine Global Dynamic Dividend Fund 48,211 411,240
Alpine Global Total Dynamic Dividend Fund 262,952 1,972,140
Clough Global Allocation Fund 800 9,280
Clough Global Equity Fund 23,043 250,708
Clough Global Opportunities Fund 3,800 36,404
Gabelli Global Small and Mid Cap Value Trust (The) * 25,580 270,125
Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (The) 17,839 319,318
GDL Fund (The) 49,446 493,966
Lazard Global Total Return and Income Fund, Inc. 24,435 303,727
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund, Inc. 65,509 591,546
Royce Global Value Trust, Inc. 2,685 19,788
Voya Infrastructure, Industrials and Materials Fund 125,259 1,561,980
Wells Fargo Advantage Global Dividend Opportunity Fund 71,600 427,452
6,667,674
INCOME & PREFERRED STOCK - 0.71%
LMP Capital and Income Fund Inc. 62,830 777,207
NATURAL RESOURCES - 1.98%
BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust 266,250 1,919,663
Tortoise Energy Independence Fund, Inc. 11,620 132,817
Voya Natural Resources Equity Income Fund 21,600 121,824
2,174,304

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description No. of Shares
OPTION ARBITRAGE/OPTIONS STRATEGIES - 2.25%
AllianzGI NFJ Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund 189,900 $ 2,328,174
Voya Asia Pacific High Dividend Equity Income Fund 2,612 24,135
Voya International High Dividend Equity Income Fund 18,671 120,241
2,472,550
PACIFIC EX JAPAN - 0.04%
Aberdeen Greater China Fund, Inc. 1,408 11,686
The Thai Fund, Inc. 4,123 30,923
42,609
REAL ESTATE - 5.47%
Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund 220,193 1,230,879
CBRE Clarion Global Real Estate Income Fund 146,008 1,140,322
Cohen & Steers Preferred Securities and Income Fund, Inc. 112,200 2,122,824
Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund, Inc. 8,000 99,280
Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc. 191,405 974,251
Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund 5,957 65,170
Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund 6,200 67,208
RMR Real Estate Income Fund 16,381 317,136
6,017,070
SECTOR EQUITY - 0.85%
Gabelli Healthcare & Wellness Rx Trust (The) 18,781 184,805
GAMCO Natural Resources, Gold & Income Trust 63,130 415,395
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund 22,013 338,340
938,540
UTILITY - 2.87%
Cohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund, Inc. 53,416 1,058,171
Duff & Phelps Global Utility Income Fund Inc. 87,400 1,390,534
Macquarie Global Infrastructure Total Return Fund Inc. 35,295 709,077
3,157,782
TOTAL CLOSED-END FUNDS 27,214,326
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 10.05%
Amazon.com, Inc. * 2,000 1,187,280
Comcast Corporation - Class A 27,262 1,665,163
Dollar General Corporation 3,000 256,800
D.R. Horton, Inc. 2,500 75,575
Home Depot, Inc. (The) 13,500 1,801,305
L Brands, Inc. 2,000 175,620
Lowe's Companies, Inc. 9,000 681,750
Marriott International, Inc. - Class A 3,000 213,540
Nike, Inc. - Class B 8,000 491,760
O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. * 1,000 273,660
Priceline Group Inc. (The) * 500 644,480
Ross Stores, Inc. 4,000 231,600
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 2,000 164,300
Starbucks Corporation 14,000 835,800
TJX Companies, Inc. (The) 7,000 548,450
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. 2,500 70,500
Walt Disney Company (The) 17,500 1,737,925
11,055,508

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description No. of Shares
CONSUMER STAPLES - 8.37%
Altria Group, Inc. 21,000 $ 1,315,860
Colgate-Palmolive Company 3,000 211,950
ConAgra Foods, Inc. 2,000 89,240
Constellation Brands, Inc. 2,500 377,725
Costco Wholesale Corporation 5,000 787,900
CVS Caremark Corporation 13,200 1,369,236
General Mills, Inc. 3,000 190,050
Kimberly-Clark Corporation 2,000 269,020
Kroger Co. (The) 10,000 382,500
Mondelēz International, Inc. - Class A 9,800 393,176
Monster Beverage Corporation * 2,000 266,760
PepsiCo, Inc. 3,000 307,440
Reynolds American Inc. 14,000 704,340
Sysco Corporation 2,000 93,460
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 12,000 1,010,880
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. 21,000 1,438,290
9,207,827
ENERGY - 4.10%
Chevron Corporation 9,000 858,600
Exxon Mobil Corporation 26,000 2,173,340
Occidental Petroleum Corporation 3,900 266,877
Phillips 66 6,000 519,540
Schlumberger Limited 4,500 331,875
Valero Energy Corporation 5,500 352,770
4,503,002
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS - 0.56%
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 3,000 616,680
FINANCIALS - 11.73%
Aflac Incorporated 3,000 189,420
Allstate Corporation (The) 4,000 269,480
American Express Company 10,000 614,000
American International Group, Inc. 6,000 324,300
American Tower Corporation 4,000 409,480
Aon plc 3,500 365,575
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. - Class B * 14,000 1,986,320
BlackRock, Inc. - Class A 2,000 681,140
Capital One Financial Corporation 5,500 381,205
Charles Schwab Corporation (The) 13,000 364,260
Chubb Limited 5,203 619,937
Discover Financial Services 4,000 203,680
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 1,000 235,140
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 22,200 1,314,684
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. 5,000 303,950
McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. 3,000 296,940
Moody’s Corporation 2,000 193,120
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (The) 5,000 422,850

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description No. of Shares
State Street Corporation 4,000 $ 234,080
SunTrust Banks, Inc. 5,000 180,400
Travelers Companies, Inc. (The) 3,000 350,130
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. 2,500 183,650
U.S. Bancorp 17,000 690,030
Wells Fargo & Company 43,000 2,079,480
12,893,251
HEALTH CARE - 10.73%
Abbott Laboratories 10,000 418,300
AbbVie Inc. 11,000 628,320
Aetna Inc. 3,000 337,050
Allergan plc * 3,104 831,965
AmerisourceBergen Corporation 2,000 173,100
Amgen Inc. 7,000 1,049,510
Anthem, Inc. 2,000 277,980
Baxter International Inc. 4,000 164,320
Becton, Dickinson and Co. 2,000 303,640
Biogen Inc. * 1,500 390,480
Cardinal Health, Inc. 4,000 327,800
Celgene Corporation * 7,000 700,630
Cerner Corporation * 4,000 211,840
Cigna Corporation 2,000 274,480
Gilead Sciences, Inc. 2,000 183,720
Johnson & Johnson 8,500 919,700
McKesson Corporation 3,000 471,750
Merck & Company, Inc. 27,000 1,428,570
Mylan N.V. * 4,000 185,400
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. * 1,000 360,440
Stryker Corporation 4,000 429,160
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 4,000 566,360
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated 9,000 1,160,100
11,794,615
INDUSTRIALS - 7.03%
3M Company 6,000 999,780
Danaher Corporation 7,000 664,020
Delta Air Lines, Inc. 8,000 389,440
FedEx Corporation 3,000 488,160
General Dynamics Corporation 3,000 394,110
General Electric Company 20,000 635,800
Honeywell International Inc. 8,000 896,400
Illinois Tool Works Inc. 4,000 409,760
Lockheed Martin Corporation 3,500 775,250
Northrop Grumman Corporation 2,000 395,800
Raytheon Company 3,000 367,890
Southwest Airlines Co. 7,000 313,600
United Parcel Service, Inc. 6,100 643,367
Waste Management, Inc. 6,000 354,000
7,727,377

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description No. of Shares
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 15.73%
Accenture plc - Class A 2,000 $ 230,800
Adobe Systems Incorporated 4,000 375,200
Alphabet Inc. - Class A * 1,000 762,900
Alphabet Inc. - Class C * 7,002 5,216,140
Apple Inc. 26,000 2,833,740
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. 4,500 403,695
Broadcom Limited 1,000 154,500
Cisco Systems, Inc. 20,000 569,400
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation * 6,000 376,200
eBay Inc. * 4,000 95,440
Facebook, Inc. * 8,000 912,800
Fiserv, Inc. * 3,000 307,740
Intel Corporation 30,000 970,500
MasterCard Incorporated 4,000 378,000
Microsoft Corporation 24,000 1,325,520
Oracle Corporation 28,700 1,174,117
PayPal Holdings, Inc. * 4,000 154,400
salesforce.com, inc. * 5,000 369,150
Visa Inc. - Class A 9,000 688,320
17,298,562
MATERIALS - 2.38%
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. 2,000 288,100
Dow Chemical Company (The) 11,000 559,460
Ecolab Inc. 3,000 334,560
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 4,000 253,280
International Paper Company 3,300 135,432
LyondellBasell Industries N.V. 5,000 427,900
PPG Industries, Inc. 3,000 334,470
Sherwin-Williams Company (The) 1,000 284,670
2,617,872
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES - 1.75%
AT&T, Inc. 16,103 630,755
Verizon Communications, Inc. 24,000 1,297,920
1,928,675
UTILITIES - 1.88%
American Electric Power Company, Inc. 5,000 332,000
Dominion Resources, Inc. 3,000 225,360
Duke Energy Corporation 3,600 290,448
Edison International 2,000 143,780
NextEra Energy, Inc. 4,000 473,360
PPL Corporation 5,000 190,350
Public Service Enterprises Group, Inc. 4,000 188,560
Xcel Energy Inc. 5,500 230,010
2,073,868
TOTAL EQUITY SECURITIES (cost - $95,723,454) 108,931,563

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS - MARCH 31. 2016 (Unaudited)

Description No. of Shares
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT - 0.87%
MONEY MARKET FUND - 0.87%
Fidelity Institutional Money Market Government Portfolio - Class I, 0.23%^ (cost - $953,561) 953,561 $ 953,561
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 99.93% (cost - $96,677,015) 109,885,124
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 0.07% 76,338
NET ASSETS - 100.00% $ 109,961,462
  • Non-income producing security.

^ The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of March 31, 2016.

See accompanying notes to schedule of investments.

CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND, INC.

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2016 (UNAUDITED)

Federal Income Tax Cost: The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of March 31, 2016 :

Cost of portfolio investments $
Gross unrealized appreciation $ 16,623,385
Gross unrealized depreciation (3,451,850 )
Net unrealized appreciation $ 13,171,535

The difference between the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments and the Schedule of Investments cost for the Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains or losses under income tax regulations and generally accepted accounting principles. These "book/tax" differences are temporary in nature and are due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.

As required by the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification, the Fund has performed an analysis of all assets and liabilities measured at fair value to determine the significance and character of all inputs to their fair value determination.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into the following three broad categories.

· Level 1 - quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Fund has access at the date of measurement.

· Level 2 - quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets. Level 2 inputs are those in markets for which there are few transactions, the prices are not current, little public information exists or instances where prices vary substantially over time or among brokered market makers.

· Level 3 - model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Fund's own assumptions that market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of March 31, 2016 in valuing the Fund's investments carried at value:

VALUATION INPUTS INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES OTHER FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS*
Level 1 – Quoted Prices
Equity Investments $ 108,931,563 $ -
Short-Term Investments - -
Level 2 – Other Significant Observable Inputs - -
Level 3 – Significant Unobservable Inputs - -
Total $ 108,931,563 $ -
  • Other financial instruments include futures, forwards and swap contracts, if any.

The breakdown of the Fund's investments into major categories is disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.

As of March 31, 2016, the Fund did not have any transfers in and out of any Level.

The Fund did not have any assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at March 31, 2016.

In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07 “Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value (“NAV”) per Share (or Its Equivalent).” The amendments in ASU No. 2015-07 remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy investments measured using the NAV practical expedient. The ASU also removes certain disclosure requirements for investments that qualify, but do not utilize, the NAV practical expedient. The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Fund's investment in Fidelity Institutional Money Market Government Portfolio - Class I has been removed from Level 1 disclosure under the guidance provided by the amendment to such ASU.

The Fund is exposed to financial market risks, including the valuations of its investment portfolio. During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Fund did not engage in derivative instruments and other hedging activities.

The Fund has evaluated the need for additional disclosures and/or adjustments resulting through the date its financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, no additional disclosures or adjustments were required to such Schedule of Investments.

Securities valuation policies and other investment related disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference to the Fund's annual report previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form N-CSR on March 2, 2016 with a file number 811-02363.

Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent annual report. This information is also available on the Fund’s website at www.cornerstonetotalreturnfund.com; or on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

Item 2. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that such information is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3. Exhibits.

File as exhibits as part of this Form a separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto.

SIGNATURES

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

(Registrant) Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc.

By (Signature and Title)*
Ralph W. Bradshaw, President and Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date May 26, 2016
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Ralph W. Bradshaw
Ralph W. Bradshaw, President and Chairman
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date May 26, 2016
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Frank J. Maresca
Frank J. Maresca, Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
Date May 26, 2016
  • Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.

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