UNITES STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 13F
Form 13F COVER PAGE
Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: December 31, 1999
Check here if Amendment [ ]; Amendment Number:
This Amendment (check only one.): [ ] is a restatement.
[ ] adds new holdings entries.
Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:
Name: Nicholas Company, Inc.
Address: 700 North Water Street
Suite 1010
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Form 13F File Number: 28-1226
The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by
whom it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is
authorized to submit it, that all information contained therein is true,
correct and complete, and that it is understood that all required items,
statements, schedules, list, and tables, are considered integral parts of
this form.
Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:
Name: Jeffrey T. May
Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Phone: 414-272-4650
Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:
/s/ Jeffrey T. May Milwaukee, WI 2/14/2000
[Signature] [City, State] [Date]
Report Type (check only one.):
[x] 13F HOLDINGS REPORT. (Check here if all holdings of this reporting
manager are reported in this report.)
[ ] 13F NOTICE. (Check here if no holdings reported are in this report,
and all holdings are reported by other reporting manager(s).)
[ ] 13F COMBINATION REPORT. (Check here if a portion of the holdings for
this reporting manager are reported in this report and a portion are
reported by other reporting manager(s).)
<PAGE>
FORM 13F
NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item 2: Item 4: Item 5: Item 6:
Item 1: Title Item 3: Fair Market Shares Investment Item 7: Item 8:
Name of of CUSIP Value or Principal Discretion Managers Voting Authority
Issuer Class Number (thousands) Amount (a)Sole See Instr.V (a)Sole (b)Shared (c)None
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
<C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Albertson's, Inc. COM 013104104 1,635 50,700 SH 50,700 30,700 20,000
Abbott Laboratories COM 002824100 65,339 1,799,360 SH 1,799,360 49,360 1,750,000
ADC Telecommunications, IncCOM 000886101 207,594 2,860,900 SH 2,860,900 170,400 2,690,500
American General CorporatioCOM 026351106 2,769 36,500 SH 36,500 29,500 7,000
American Home Products CorpCOM 026609107 81,336 2,062,400 SH 2,062,400 13,400 2,049,000
American International GrouCOM 026874107 100,936 933,515 SH 933,515 6,953 926,562
Assisted Living Concepts, ISUB DB CV 6%02 04543LAD1 1,043 1,750,000 PRN 1,750,000 0 1,750,000
Atlantic Richfield Company COM 048825103 87 1,000 SH 1,000 1,000 0
Associated Banc-Corp COM 045487105 25,079 732,231 SH 732,231 158,748 573,483
Artesyn Technologies, Inc. COM 043127109 41,924 1,996,400 SH 1,996,400 413,000 1,583,400
AutoZone, Inc. COM 053332102 88,439 2,737,000 SH 2,737,000 302,000 2,435,000
BioChem Pharma Inc. COM 09058T108 7,395 340,000 SH 340,000 0 340,000
General Cable Corporation COM 369300108 2,653 350,850 SH 350,850 350,850 0
Biogen, Inc. COM 090597105 20,280 240,000 SH 240,000 0 240,000
Bando McGlocklin Capital CoCOM 060003100 158 18,150 SH 18,150 18,150 0
Biomet, Inc. COM 090613100 24,040 601,000 SH 601,000 166,000 435,000
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.-Cl CL A 084670108 222,100 3,959 SH 3,959 0 3,959
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.-Cl CL B 084670207 70 38 SH 38 0 38
Brown & Brown, Inc. COM 115236101 18,787 490,350 SH 490,350 230,550 259,800
Boston Scientific CorporatiCOM 101137107 55,910 2,555,900 SH 2,555,900 59,500 2,496,400
Citigroup Inc. COM 172967101 126,571 2,278,000 SH 2,278,000 0 2,278,000
Cardinal Health, Inc. COM 14149Y108 109,443 2,286,013 SH 2,286,013 173,120 2,112,893
Chubb Corporation (The) COM 171232101 42 600 SH 600 600 0
Commerce Bancorp, Inc. COM 200519106 3,842 95,000 SH 95,000 0 95,000
CBS Corporation COM 12490K107 35,485 555,000 SH 555,000 0 555,000
Clear Channel CommunicationCOM 184502102 104,116 1,166,565 SH 1,166,565 75,100 1,091,465
Concord EFS, Inc. COM 206197105 5,697 221,250 SH 221,250 0 221,250
Crescent Real Estate EquitiCOM 225756105 843 35,500 SH 35,500 35,500 0
Community First Bankshares,COM 203902101 4,670 296,500 SH 296,500 0 296,500
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, InCOM 12541W100 17,037 428,600 SH 428,600 214,100 214,500
Cincinnati Financial CorporCOM 172062101 586 15,657 SH 15,657 15,657 0
CONMED Corporation COM 207410101 7,633 295,000 SH 295,000 0 295,000
Correctional Properties TruCOM 22025E104 549 44,850 SH 44,850 0 44,850
Cintas Corporation COM 172908105 123,225 2,319,524 SH 2,319,524 90,024 2,229,500
CVS Corporation COM 126650100 133,426 3,340,878 SH 3,340,878 185,930 3,154,948
DBT Online, Inc. COM 233044106 18,436 756,350 SH 756,350 0 756,350
Dean Foods Company COM 242361103 2,226 56,000 SH 56,000 36,000 20,000
Dollar General Corporation COM 256669102 455 20,000 SH 20,000 0 20,000
Walt Disney Company (The) COM 254687106 63,516 2,171,500 SH 2,171,500 71,500 2,100,000
Dover Downs Entertainment, COM 260086103 3,772 201,180 SH 201,180 0 201,180
Elan Corporation, plc ADR 284131208 55,696 1,888,000 SH 1,888,000 0 1,888,000
Emmis Communications CorporCL A 291525103 2,169 17,400 SH 17,400 0 17,400
Emeritus Corporation-CVT BDSDCV144A 6.25%06 291005AA4 5,236 8,781,000 PRN 8,781,000 0 8,781,000
Entercom Communications CorCL A 293639100 4,125 62,500 SH 62,500 0 62,500
Expeditors International ofCOM 302130109 32,115 733,000 SH 733,000 127,000 606,000
Fastenal Company COM 311900104 105,972 2,358,200 SH 2,358,200 174,200 2,184,000
Fleet Boston Financial CorpCOM 339030108 89 2,000 SH 2,000 2,000 0
Fiserv, Inc. COM 337738108 63,209 1,649,825 SH 1,649,825 304,200 1,345,625
Fifth Third Bancorp COM 316773100 194,794 2,654,778 SH 2,654,778 118,936 2,535,842
Firstmerit Corporation COM 337915102 7,751 337,000 SH 337,000 187,000 150,000
First National Bank of AnchCOM 322387101 16,821 17,706 SH 17,706 0 17,706
Fannie Mae COM 313586109 146,394 2,344,647 SH 2,344,647 44,647 2,300,000
Foremost Corporation of AmeCOM 345469100 85,004 2,995,731 SH 2,995,731 254,600 2,741,131
Sprint Corporation COM FON GROUP 852061100 67,313 1,000,000 SH 1,000,000 0 1,000,000
Freddie Mac COM 313400301 133,074 2,827,592 SH 2,827,592 56,392 2,771,200
Forest Laboratories, Inc. COM 345838106 20,299 330,400 SH 330,400 0 330,400
Firstar Corporation COM 33763V109 66,654 3,155,200 SH 3,155,200 79,000 3,076,200
Cedar Fair, L.P. DEPOSITRY UNIT 150185106 599 24,000 SH 24,000 24,000 0
Guidant Corporation COM 401698105 55,296 1,176,500 SH 1,176,500 0 1,176,500
G & K Services, Inc. - Cl ACL A 361268105 21,828 674,212 SH 674,212 101,000 573,212
General Motors Corporation COM 370442105 727 10,000 SH 10,000 0 10,000
General Motors Corporation CL H NEW 370442832 401,722 4,184,600 SH 4,184,600 202,600 3,982,000
Genuine Parts Company COM 372460105 934 37,650 SH 37,650 22,650 15,000
GTE Corporation COM 362320103 783 11,100 SH 11,100 5,100 6,000
Grainger (W.W.), Inc. COM 384802104 258 4,800 SH 4,800 4,800 0
Manor Care, Inc. COM 564055101 33,809 2,113,050 SH 2,113,050 214,300 1,898,750
Home Depot, Inc. (The) COM 437076102 48,504 707,448 SH 707,448 42,648 664,800
Harley-Davidson, Inc. COM 412822108 47,009 733,800 SH 733,800 14,300 719,500
HomeFed Corporation COM 43739D208 666 760,625 SH 760,625 0 760,625
Homestead Savings - CNV PFDPFD A CV $2.95 437843204 5 5,000 SH 5,000 0 5,000
Household International, InCOM 441815107 1,110 29,800 SH 29,800 13,800 16,000
Health Management AssociateCL A 421933102 149,708 11,193,088 SH 11,193,088 912,568 10,280,520
Glacier Water Trust I PFD A 376398202 3,776 265,000 SH 265,000 0 265,000
Healthcare Realty Trust IncCOM 421946104 1,875 120,000 SH 120,000 0 120,000
Heartland Express, Inc. COM 422347104 21,347 1,355,376 SH 1,355,376 386,707 968,669
Hearst-Argyle Television, ICOM 422317107 20,550 771,819 SH 771,819 0 771,819
Hewlett-Packard Company COM 428236103 48,423 425,000 SH 425,000 0 425,000
International Business MachCOMM 459200101 50,836 470,700 SH 470,700 20,700 450,000
Intel Corporation COM 458140100 49,453 600,800 SH 600,800 15,300 585,500
InvestorsBancorp COM 461833105 28 3,756 SH 3,756 3,756 0
Interim Services Inc. COM 45868P100 3,520 142,222 SH 142,222 0 142,222
International Speedway CorpCL A 460335201 26,871 533,426 SH 533,426 0 533,426
International Speedway CorpCL B 460335300 10,966 219,310 SH 219,310 0 219,310
ITC/\DeltaCom, Inc. COM 45031T104 3,039 110,000 SH 110,000 0 110,000
J.C. Penny Company, Inc. COM 708160106 199 10,000 SH 10,000 0 10,000
Keane, Inc. COM 486665102 21,346 672,300 SH 672,300 211,000 461,300
Knight Transportation, Inc.COM 499064103 11,469 669,751 SH 669,751 270,501 399,250
Kohl's Corporation COM 500255104 69,870 967,890 SH 967,890 11,390 956,500
Landauer, Inc. COM 51476K103 875 40,000 SH 40,000 10,000 30,000
Leggett & Platt, IncorporatCOM 524660107 34,139 1,592,512 SH 1,592,512 82,512 1,510,000
Eli Lilly and Company COM 532457108 37,573 565,000 SH 565,000 0 565,000
Loral Space & CommunicationCOM G56462107 33,967 1,397,100 SH 1,397,100 40,000 1,357,100
LaSalle Re Holdings LimitedORD G5383Q101 264 16,000 SH 16,000 0 16,000
McDonald's Corporation COM 580135101 61,291 1,520,388 SH 1,520,388 20,388 1,500,000
Mercury General CorporationCOM 589400100 97,849 4,397,692 SH 4,397,692 150,292 4,247,400
Medtronic, Inc. COM 585055106 38,592 1,059,130 SH 1,059,130 35,334 1,023,796
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. COM 590188108 58,450 700,000 SH 700,000 0 700,000
Marshall & Ilsley CorporatiCOM 571834100 256,282 4,080,113 SH 4,080,113 113,350 3,966,763
Metro Information Services,COM 59162P104 4,536 189,000 SH 189,000 0 189,000
Mutual Risk Management Ltd.COM 628351108 29,367 1,746,720 SH 1,746,720 318,720 1,428,000
Marsh & McLennan Companies,COM 571748102 1,148 12,000 SH 12,000 6,000 6,000
Motorola, Inc. COM 620076109 128,583 873,228 SH 873,228 23,228 850,000
Microsoft Corporation COM 594918104 29,188 250,000 SH 250,000 0 250,000
Monsanto Company COM 611662107 65,390 1,835,500 SH 1,835,500 35,500 1,800,000
MGIC Investment CorporationCOM 552848103 78 1,600 SH 1,600 1,600 0
National Commerce BancorporCOM 635449101 16,675 735,000 SH 735,000 255,000 480,000
National City BancorporatioCOM 635312101 3,711 221,580 SH 221,580 0 221,580
Nationwide Financial ServicCL A 638612101 2,353 52,000 SH 52,000 52,000 0
National HealthCare CorporaCOM 636906100 5,825 1,109,452 SH 1,109,452 10,000 1,099,452
National Health Investors, COM 63633D104 28,434 1,911,500 SH 1,911,500 55,400 1,856,100
National Health Realty, IncCOM 635905102 5,856 709,828 SH 709,828 28,000 681,828
NOVA Corporation COM 669784100 6,628 210,000 SH 210,000 0 210,000
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. COM 651229106 698 24,076 SH 24,076 24,076 0
Omnicare, Inc. COM 681904108 2,576 204,000 SH 204,000 204,000 0
Omega Healthcare Investors,COM 681936100 2,030 160,000 SH 160,000 0 160,000
O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. COM 686091109 25,942 1,206,600 SH 1,206,600 271,600 935,000
Osteotech, Inc. COM 688582105 3,676 274,838 SH 274,838 0 274,838
Paychex, Inc. COM 704326107 12,600 315,000 SH 315,000 0 315,000
Pitney Bowes Inc. COM 724479100 483 10,000 SH 10,000 0 10,000
Patterson Dental Company COM 703412106 30,909 725,140 SH 725,140 124,990 600,150
PepsiCo, Inc. COM 713448108 31 800 SH 800 800 0
Pfizer Inc. COM 717081103 38,925 1,200,000 SH 1,200,000 0 1,200,000
Progressive Corporation (ThCOM 743315103 67,948 929,200 SH 929,200 10,900 918,300
Protective Life CorporationCOM 743674103 129,542 4,072,040 SH 4,072,040 305,040 3,767,000
Plantronics, Inc. COM 727493108 5,725 80,000 SH 80,000 0 80,000
Pharmacia & Upjohn, Inc. COM 716941109 585 13,000 SH 13,000 0 13,000
Province Healthcare CompanyCOM 743977100 6,365 335,000 SH 335,000 0 335,000
PSS World Medical, Inc. COM 69366A100 18,272 1,936,125 SH 1,936,125 355,500 1,580,625
Qwest Communications InternCOM 749121109 131,667 3,062,026 SH 3,062,026 180,554 2,881,472
Reckson Associates Realty CCOM 75621K106 1,304 55,500 SH 55,500 55,500 0
Reckson Associates Realty CPFD CV SER A% 75621K205 407 20,500 SH 20,500 0 20,500
Renal Care Group, Inc. COM 759930100 31,282 1,338,250 SH 1,338,250 211,000 1,127,250
Regions Financial CorporatiCOM 758940100 1,673 43,960 SH 43,960 43,960 0
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.COM G7496G103 327 8,000 SH 8,000 0 8,000
RPM, Inc. COM 749685103 4,988 489,579 SH 489,579 409,579 80,000
Res-Care, Inc. COM 760943100 4,657 365,250 SH 365,250 0 365,250
Republic Services, Inc. CL A 760759100 9,863 398,500 SH 398,500 398,500 0
IMS Health Incorporated COM 449934108 22,655 833,300 SH 833,300 140,800 692,500
Salem Communications CorporCL A 794093104 3,750 165,740 SH 165,740 0 165,740
Asia Satellite TelecommunicSPONSORED ADR 04516X106 7,728 220,800 SH 220,800 0 220,800
SunGard(R) Data Systems IncCOM 867363103 6,804 286,500 SH 286,500 121,500 165,000
StanCorp Financial Group, ICOM 852891100 4,030 160,000 SH 160,000 0 160,000
Shire Pharmaceuticals GroupSPONSORED ADR 82481R106 4,223 145,000 SH 145,000 0 145,000
Sonoco Products Company COM 835495102 671 22,407 SH 22,407 22,407 0
PanAmSat Corporation COM 697933109 26,481 446,000 SH 446,000 108,500 337,500
St. Jude Medical, Inc. COM 790849103 21,896 713,500 SH 713,500 0 713,500
ServiceMaster Company (The)COM 81760N109 45,617 3,704,900 SH 3,704,900 396,100 3,308,800
Sybron International CorporCOM 87114F106 126,007 5,104,100 SH 5,104,100 325,400 4,778,700
Stryker Corporation COM 863667101 124,691 1,790,890 SH 1,790,890 90,890 1,700,000
Medallion Financial Corp. COM 583928106 5,650 315,000 SH 315,000 0 315,000
Thermo BioAnalysis CorporatCOM 88355H108 9,961 542,100 SH 542,100 0 542,100
TESSCO Technologies IncorpoCOM 872386107 6,584 353,500 SH 353,500 116,500 237,000
Thermo Instrument Systems ICOM 883559106 7,781 699,400 SH 699,400 144,000 555,400
Tellabs, Inc. COM 879664100 48,962 762,800 SH 762,800 42,800 720,000
Thermedics Inc. COM 883901100 3,046 560,200 SH 560,200 297,000 263,200
Thermo Electron CorporationCOM 883556102 24,132 1,608,825 SH 1,608,825 207,000 1,401,825
ThermoQuest Corporation COM 883655102 5,246 508,700 SH 508,700 0 508,700
True North Communications ICOM 897844106 447 10,000 SH 10,000 0 10,000
Thermo Optek Corporation COM 883582108 4,778 420,000 SH 420,000 0 420,000
Tootsie Roll Industries, InCOM 890516107 38,775 1,177,223 SH 1,177,223 174,100 1,003,123
Time Warner Telecom Inc. CL A 887319101 3,745 75,000 SH 75,000 0 75,000
U.S. Foodservice COM 90331R101 22,596 1,349,000 SH 1,349,000 329,000 1,020,000
USA Networks, Inc. COM 902984103 108,229 1,958,900 SH 1,958,900 66,400 1,892,500
U.S. Bancorp COM 902973106 26,449 1,110,700 SH 1,110,700 0 1,110,700
Valspar Corporation (The) COM 920355104 92,619 2,211,800 SH 2,211,800 168,000 2,043,800
Thermo Vision Corporation COM 883600108 2,835 408,580 SH 408,580 0 408,580
Vulcan Materials Company COM 929160109 68,521 1,715,700 SH 1,715,700 54,700 1,661,000
Walgreen Co. COM 931422109 73,041 2,497,112 SH 2,497,112 97,112 2,400,000
Waddell & Reed Financial, ICL A 930059100 3,334 122,900 SH 122,900 92,900 30,000
Wisconsin Energy CorporatioCOM 976657106 193 10,000 SH 10,000 0 10,000
Wells Fargo & Company COM 949746101 812 19,000 SH 19,000 19,000 0
Watson Pharmaceuticals, IncCOM 942683103 76,946 2,148,593 SH 2,148,593 162,500 1,986,093
Tricon Global Restaurants, COM 895953107 9,270 240,000 SH 240,000 0 240,000
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6,360,413
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Form 13F SUMMARY PAGE
Report Summary:
Number of Other Included Managers: 0
Form 13F Information Table Entry Total: 173
Form 13F Information Table Value Total (thousands): $6,360,413
List of Other Included Managers: NONE
Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all
institutional investment managers with respect to which this report is
filed, other than the manager filing this report.
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