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 811-06495 ---------------------------- FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720 PASADENA, CA 91101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Donald F. Crumrine Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated 301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 720 PASADENA, CA 91101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 626-795-7300 ------------- Date of fiscal year end: NOVEMBER 30, 2006 ------------------ Date of reporting period: FEBRUARY 28, 2006 ------------------ Form N-Q is to be used by management investment companies, other than small business investment companies registered on Form N-5 (ss.ss. 239.24 and 274.5 of this chapter), to file reports with the Commission, not later than 60 days after the close of the first and third fiscal quarters, pursuant to rule 30b1-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30b1-5). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-Q in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles. A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-Q, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-Q unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. ss. 3507. ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS. The Schedule(s) of Investments is attached herewith. FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND To the Shareholders of the Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund ("PFO"): The first fiscal quarter of 2006 was a mixed bag for PFO. On the plus side, for the three-month period ended February 28, 2006, the Fund produced a total return on net asset value of +3.7%. Despite this strong investment performance, net income available to shareholders has declined, and the Fund reduced its monthly dividend by 7.8% (from $0.0705/share to $0.065/share), beginning with the March distribution. The focus of the Fund is income, so the decision to reduce the dividend was difficult, but necessary. The total return calculation mentioned above has two basic components--net income earned and the change in principal value. Recently, the latter has done well while the former has come under some pressure. Net income earned, the amount of investment income left over after payment on the Fund's Money Market Preferred ("MMP(R)") shares and other expenses, is what the Fund can pay out in monthly distributions to common shareholders. Although investment income has increased recently, payments to MMP(R) shares have risen at a faster pace. As a result, the Fund could not continue to distribute common dividends at the same rate. The MMP(R) rate is closely correlated to other short-term interest rates, all of which have moved up in concert with the Federal Reserve's efforts to influence the pace of economic activity. The MMP(R) rate has risen from a low of 1.05% in May 2004 to 3.70% in March 2006. Despite this jump in rates, the use of MMP(R) leverage continues to add incremental income for common shares because the money we obtain from leverage is being invested in securities with much higher yields. The other component of total return, principal change, normally is not distributed to common shareholders, but instead is reflected by changes in the Fund's net asset value. During the fiscal period, the Fund's NAV rose 2.0%. One last comment on total return--whatever the breakdown between net income and principal change, the entire amount belongs to common shareholders. In addition, the two tend to "merge" over time. For example, if principal value increases and the Fund can realize gains, the Fund will have more money to invest and can generate additional income. Or, shareholders can use the income they receive to purchase additional shares via the Dividend Reinvestment Plan to increase the value of their investment. As readers may recall from previous discussions of market conditions, the preferred securities market has two main segments--issues that pay dividends and those that pay interest. We refer to the first type as "traditional" preferred stock and the second as "hybrid" preferred securities. Investor demand for traditional preferred stock has been consistently strong for some time now; however new issue supply has not kept up--during the last fiscal quarter there were only two new issues, totaling a meager $300 million. As a result of this imbalance, this segment has slowly and steadily outperformed other types of fixed-income securities. The solid performance of PFO reflects the portfolio's emphasis on traditional preferred stock. Although demand for hybrid securities has also been strong for some time, the supply of new hybrid preferred has greatly exceeded the supply of traditional preferred. During the period there were thirty new hybrid issues with a market value of $13.2 BILLION. As expected, many of these new issues were structured like the "ECAP" issues we discussed in our last letter (and on the Fund's website). Even with this sizable amount of new supply, the performance of this segment kept pace with most other types of fixed-income securities during the quarter. Many of the recent hybrid preferred securities have terms and features that require very close scrutiny. While the basic structure of the enhanced capital security is now fairly well established, with each new issue we are observing small but important differences. This evolutionary process is typical of new structures--our job is to dissect each issue until we fully understand every twist and turn. The Fund's hedge positions are intended to provide shareholders with some protection against significant increases in long-term interest rates. Over the course of the fiscal quarter, long-term interest rates barely moved, so the hedging strategy had little impact on the Fund's performance. The Fund's hedging strategy did benefit from the "flat" U.S. Treasury yield curve, since the cost of our hedges tends to be lower in this environment. We hope investors will take advantage of the Fund's website, WWW.PREFERREDINCOME.COM. It contains a wide range of useful and up-to-date information about the Fund. In addition, some of the topics mentioned above are analyzed in greater depth in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website. Sincerely, /s/ Donald F. Crumrine /s/ Robert M. Ettinger Donald F. Crumrine Robert M. Ettinger Chairman of the Board President April 17, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ FUND STATISTICS ON 2/28/06 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net Asset Value $ 12.38 Market Price $ 12.39 Premium 0.08% Yield on Market Price 6.83% Common Shares Outstanding 11,685,484 MOODY'S RATINGS % OF PORTFOLIO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AAA 1.3% AA 0.4% A 18.3% BBB 49.2% BB 18.9% Not Rated 10.8% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Below Investment Grade* 20.2% * BELOW INVESTMENT GRADE BY BOTH MOODY'S AND S&P. [THE FOLLOWING TABLE WAS REPRESENTED BY A PIE CHART IN THE PRINTED MATERIAL.] INDUSTRY CATEGORIES % OF PORTFOLIO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Utilities 39% Banks 23% Insurance 13% Financial Services 11% Oil and Gas 6% REITs 5% Other 3% TOP 10 HOLDINGS BY ISSUER % OF PORTFOLIO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interstate Power 5.3% Entergy Louisiana 4.1% Lehman Brothers 3.9% Xcel Energy 3.8% Principal Financial Group 3.5% Alabama Power 3.1% EOG Resources 3.0% Cobank 3.0% North Fork Bancorporation 2.9% UnumProvident 2.6% % OF PORTFOLIO** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holdings Generating Qualified Dividend Income (QDI) for Individuals 71% Holdings Generating Income Eligible for the Corporate Dividend Received Deduction (DRD) 68% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** THIS DOES NOT REFLECT YEAR-END RESULTS OR ACTUAL TAX CATEGORIZATION OF FUND DISTRIBUTIONS. THESE PERCENTAGES CAN, AND DO, CHANGE, PERHAPS SIGNIFICANTLY, DEPENDING ON MARKET CONDITIONS. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THEIR PERSONAL SITUATION. 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- 95.8% BANKING -- 22.0% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 3,000,000 Astoria Capital Trust I, 9.75% 11/01/29 Capital Security, Series B ................ $ 3,520,410 $ 250,000 Chase Capital I, 7.67% 12/01/26 Capital Security .................................. 263,605 Cobank, ACB: 45,000 7.00% Pfd., 144A**** ............................................................ 2,334,825* 75,000 Adj. Rate Pfd., 144A**** ........................................................ 4,110,000* $ 500,000 Comerica (Imperial) Capital Trust I, 9.98% 12/31/26 Capital Security, Series B .... 553,162 4,500 FBOP Corporation, Adj. Rate Pfd., 144A**** ........................................ 4,533,750* $ 2,250,000 First Hawaiian Capital I, 8.343% 07/01/27 Capital Security, Series B .............. 2,417,096(1) First Republic Bank: 200,000 6.25% Pfd. ...................................................................... 4,944,000* 5,000 6.70% Pfd. ...................................................................... 128,075* $ 4,349,000 GreenPoint Capital Trust I, 9.10% 06/01/27 Capital Security ....................... 4,724,514 $ 3,500,000 HBOS Capital Funding LP, 6.85% Pfd. ............................................... 3,533,758(1) 5,000 HSBC Series II, Variable Inverse Pfd., Pvt. ....................................... 5,450,000* 1,145 J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., 6.625% Pfd., Series H .................................... 58,017* $ 1,350,000 Keycorp Institutional Capital B, 8.25% 12/15/26 Capital Security .................. 1,433,268 $ 1,500,000 North Fork Capital Trust I, 8.70% 12/15/26 Capital Security ....................... 1,598,768 16,000 PFGI Capital Corporation, 7.75% Pfd. .............................................. 425,280 $ 1,700,000 RBS Capital Trust B, 6.80% Pfd. ................................................... 1,718,734**(1) 10 Roslyn Real Estate, 8.95% Pfd., Series C, 144A**** ................................ 1,112,685 33,800 USB Capital VIII, 6.35% Pfd., 12/29/65 ............................................ 856,154 $ 3,500,000 Washington Mutual Preferred Funding, Variable Rate Pfd. 03/29/49, 144A**** ........ 3,459,470 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47,175,571 ------------- FINANCIAL SERVICES -- 10.9% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 141,000 CIT Group, Inc., 6.35% Pfd., Series A ............................................. 3,701,955* 53,500 Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.20% Pfd., Series B ................................... 1,399,025* Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.: 5,150 5.67% Pfd., Series D ............................................................ 261,543* 159,505 5.94% Pfd., Series C ............................................................ 8,185,796* 3,000 Merrill Lynch Series II STRIPES Custodial Receipts, Pvt. .......................... 3,120,000* 60,000 Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VI, 6.60% Pfd. ....................................... 1,520,400 94,150 SLM Corporation, 6.97% Pfd., Series A ............................................. 5,244,155* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23,432,874 ------------- INSURANCE -- 12.6% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20,000 ACE Ltd., 7.80% Pfd., Series C .................................................... 522,800**(1) Aegon NV: 25,000 6.375% Pfd. ..................................................................... 633,500**(1) 25,000 6.50% Pfd. ...................................................................... 631,000**(1) 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) INSURANCE -- (CONTINUED) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29,750 Arch Capital Group Ltd., 8.00% Pfd. ............................................... $ 756,691**(1) Axis Capital Holdings: 22,850 7.25% Pfd., Series A ............................................................ 575,249**(1) 9,300 Variable Rate Pfd., Series B .................................................... 958,597(1) 16,000 Berkley W.R. Capital Trust II, 6.75% 07/26/45 ..................................... 399,280 22,000 Endurance Specialty Holdings, 7.75% Pfd. .......................................... 551,980**(1) 15,850 Everest Re Capital Trust II, 6.20% Pfd., Series B ................................. 371,128(1) 140,000 MetLife Inc., 6.50% Pfd., Series B ................................................ 3,677,100* 275,000 Principal Financial Group, 6.518% Pfd. ............................................ 7,585,875* $ 5,734,000 Provident Financing Trust I, 7.405% 03/15/38 Capital Security ..................... 5,664,189 Renaissancere Holdings: 6,000 7.30% Pfd., Series B ............................................................ 151,410**(1) 5,000 8.10% Pfd., Series A ............................................................ 125,900**(1) 123,000 Scottish Re Group Ltd., 7.25% Pfd. ................................................ 3,137,115**(1) $ 560,000 USF&G Capital, 8.312% 07/01/46 Capital Security, 144A**** ......................... 710,511 22,850 XL Capital Ltd., 8.00% Pfd. Series A .............................................. 594,100**(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27,046,425 ------------- UTILITIES -- 39.0% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alabama Power Company: 4,980 4.60% Pfd. ...................................................................... 440,605* 6,485 4.72% Pfd. ...................................................................... 588,741* 868 4.92% Pfd. ...................................................................... 82,139* 225,000 5.30% Pfd. ...................................................................... 5,601,375* 6,000 Baltimore Gas & Electric Company, 6.70% Pfd., Series 1993 ......................... 623,610* 1,628 Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, 4.35% Pfd., Series D, Pvt. ............. 142,369* 3,798 Central Maine Power Company, 4.75% Pfd. ........................................... 342,883* 11,119 Central Vermont Public Service Corporation, 8.30% Sinking Fund Pfd., Pvt. ......... 1,154,541* Connecticut Light & Power Company: 2,050 4.50% Pfd., Series 1956 ......................................................... 83,691* 25,000 5.28% Pfd., Series 1967 ......................................................... 1,202,875* 883 $2.04 Pfd., Series 1949 ......................................................... 32,689* 2,900 $2.20 Pfd., Series 1949 ......................................................... 115,768* 9,652 $3.24 Pfd. ...................................................................... 504,848* 2,000 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, 4.65% Pfd., Series C ..................... 179,930* 7,500 Dayton Power and Light Company, 3.90% Pfd., Series C .............................. 509,700* 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) UTILITIES -- (CONTINUED) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1,500,000 Dominion Resources Capital Trust III, 8.40% 01/15/31 .............................. $ 1,800,082 Duquesne Light Company: 15,030 3.75% Pfd. ...................................................................... 495,990* 25,775 6.50% Pfd. ...................................................................... 1,333,856* 5,000 Energy East Capital Trust I, 8.25% Pfd. ........................................... 127,400 Entergy Arkansas, Inc.: 2,840 4.56% Pfd. ...................................................................... 242,465* 3,050 4.56% Pfd., Series 1965 ......................................................... 260,394* 1,435 6.08% Pfd. ...................................................................... 141,412* 1,141 7.32% Pfd. ...................................................................... 118,932* 14,625 7.40% Pfd. ...................................................................... 1,519,318* 6,388 7.80% Pfd. ...................................................................... 667,131* 2,588 7.88% Pfd. ...................................................................... 269,683* 25,536 $1.96 Pfd. ...................................................................... 639,038* 2,441 Entergy Gulf States, Inc., 7.56% Pfd. ............................................. 240,109* Entergy Louisiana, Inc.: 299 5.16% Pfd. ...................................................................... 28,976* 943 6.44% Pfd. ...................................................................... 97,582* 36,000 6.95% Pfd., 144A**** ............................................................ 3,725,640* 4,174 7.36% Pfd. ...................................................................... 433,699* 175,000 8.00% Pfd., Series 92 ........................................................... 4,410,875* Entergy Mississippi, Inc.: 4,616 4.36% Pfd. ...................................................................... 335,006* 5,000 4.92% Pfd. ...................................................................... 409,450* 2,000 Florida Power Company, 4.75% Pfd. ................................................. 188,660* Great Plains Energy, Inc.: 1,625 4.20% Pfd. ...................................................................... 129,114* 2,000 4.35% Pfd. ...................................................................... 164,590* 24,000 Gulf Power Company, 6.00% Pfd., Series 1 .......................................... 2,490,480* Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.: 2,471 5.00% Pfd., Series D ............................................................ 46,949* 7,438 5.00% Pfd., Series E ............................................................ 141,322* 1,383 5.00% Pfd., Series I ............................................................ 26,277* $ 3,750,000 Houston Light & Power Capital Trust II, 8.257% 02/01/37 Capital Security .......... 3,973,781 30,500 Indianapolis Power & Light Company, 5.65% Pfd. .................................... 2,929,067* 340,000 Interstate Power & Light Company, 8.375% Pfd., Series B ........................... 11,316,900* 200 Narragansett Electric Company, 4.64% Pfd. ......................................... 9,424* 2,588 New York State Electric & Gas, $4.50 Pfd., Series 1949 ............................ 226,605* 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) UTILITIES -- (CONTINUED) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,265 Northern Indiana Public Service Company, Adj. Rate Pfd., Series A ................. $ 616,316* Ohio Power Company: 3,018 4.20% Pfd. ...................................................................... 251,475* 1,251 4.40% Pfd. ...................................................................... 109,206* Pacific Enterprises: 13,680 $4.36 Pfd. ...................................................................... 1,157,123* 24,985 $4.50 Pfd. ...................................................................... 2,181,191* 15,730 $4.75 Pfd., Series 53 ........................................................... 1,449,520* Pacific Gas & Electric Co.: 7,600 4.50% Pfd., Series H ............................................................ 151,924* 41,500 5.00% Pfd., Series D ............................................................ 882,913* 83,000 5.00% Pfd., Series E ............................................................ 1,827,245* PacifiCorp: 5,672 $4.56 Pfd. ...................................................................... 476,987* 6,708 $4.72 Pfd. ...................................................................... 583,898* 10,500 $7.48 Sinking Fund Pfd. ......................................................... 1,079,873* 1,250 PECO Energy Company, $4.30 Pfd., Series B ......................................... 102,206* 15,142 Portland General Electric, 7.75% Sinking Fund Pfd. ................................ 1,556,370* 14,020 Public Service Electric & Gas Company, 5.28% Pfd., Series E ....................... 1,399,196* 70,210 San Diego Gas & Electric Company, $1.70 Pfd. ...................................... 1,820,545* 8,900 Savannah Electric & Gas Company, 6.00% Pfd. ....................................... 238,832* South Carolina Electric & Gas Company: 14,226 5.125% Purchase Fund Pfd., Pvt. ................................................. 730,790* 7,774 6.00% Purchase Fund Pfd., Pvt. .................................................. 395,541* Southern California Edison: 57,646 4.08% Pfd. ...................................................................... 1,102,480* 5,000 4.24% Pfd. ...................................................................... 97,550* 60,000 Southern Union Company, 7.55% Pfd. ................................................ 1,585,200* $ 750,000 TXU Electric Capital V, 8.175% 01/30/37 Capital Security .......................... 792,109 5,700 Union Electric Company, 4.56% Pfd. ................................................ 517,047* Virginia Electric & Power Company: 1,665 $4.04 Pfd. ...................................................................... 130,586* 2,470 $4.20 Pfd. ...................................................................... 201,404* 1,673 $4.80 Pfd. ...................................................................... 157,429* 2,878 $6.98 Pfd. ...................................................................... 295,326* 12,500 $7.05 Pfd. ...................................................................... 1,278,688* 11,200 Virginia Power Capital Trust, 7.375% Pfd. 07/30/42 ................................ 286,608 2,262 Washington Gas & Light Company, $4.25 Pfd. ........................................ 191,557* 12,863 Wisconsin Power & Light, 6.20% Pfd. ............................................... 1,318,136* 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) UTILITIES -- (CONTINUED) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xcel Energy, Inc.: 15,000 $4.08 Pfd., Series B ............................................................ $ 1,226,850* 20,040 $4.10 Pfd., Series C ............................................................ 1,646,987* 35,510 $4.11 Pfd., Series D ............................................................ 2,925,669* 17,750 $4.16 Pfd., Series E ............................................................ 1,480,173* 10,000 $4.56 Pfd., Series G ............................................................ 914,100* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 83,705,021 ------------- OIL AND GAS -- 4.7% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8,000 Devon Energy Corporation, 6.49% Pfd., Series A .................................... 808,440* 6,125 EOG Resources, Inc., 7.195% Pfd., Series B ........................................ 6,446,624* $ 1,650,000 KN Capital Trust III, 7.63% 04/15/28 Capital Security ............................. 1,838,719 10,000 Lasmo America Limited, 8.15% Pfd., 144A**** ....................................... 1,084,900*(1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10,178,683 ------------- REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) -- 4.7% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31,000 AMB Property Corporation, 7.00% Pfd., REIT, Series O .............................. 788,020 20,000 BRE Properties, Inc., 6.75% Pfd., REIT, Series D .................................. 500,300 Duke Realty Corporation: 15,000 6.50% Pfd., REIT, Series K ...................................................... 369,375 20,000 6.625% Pfd., REIT, Series J ..................................................... 496,500 1,000 Equity Residential Properties, 8.29% Pfd., REIT, Series K ......................... 60,305 50,000 HRPT Properties Trust, 7.125% Pfd., REIT, Series C ................................ 1,252,750 PS Business Parks, Inc.: 10,000 7.00% Pfd., REIT, Series H ...................................................... 247,850 18,120 7.20% Pfd., REIT, Series M ...................................................... 447,292 Public Storage, Inc.: 11,100 6.18% Pfd., REIT, Series D ...................................................... 264,235 91,275 6.45% Pfd., REIT, Series F ...................................................... 2,221,177 22,500 6.75% Pfd., REIT, Series E ...................................................... 562,838 30,000 7.125% Pfd., REIT ............................................................... 778,650 40,000 Realty Income Corporation, 7.375% Pfd., REIT, Series D ............................ 1,032,400 Regency Centers Corporation: 6,000 6.70% Pfd., REIT ................................................................ 146,430 40,000 7.25% Pfd., REIT ................................................................ 1,004,600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10,172,722 ------------- 8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- PREFERRED SECURITIES -- (CONTINUED) MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIES -- 1.9% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13,600 E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, $4.50 Pfd., Series B ......................... $ 1,167,764* 35,000 Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., 6.25% Pfd., 144A**** ............................... 2,885,400* 26,000 Touch America Holdings, $6.875 Pfd. ............................................... --+* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4,053,164 ------------- TOTAL PREFERRED SECURITIES (Cost $190,728,413) ............................................................. 205,764,460 ------------- CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES -- 1.7% OIL AND GAS -- 1.2% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 97,900 Nexen, Inc., 7.35% Subordinated Notes ............................................. 2,532,673(1) ------------- UTILITIES -- 0.5% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 1,000,000 Duquesne Light Holdings, 6.25% 08/15/35 ........................................... 985,295 ------------- TOTAL CORPORATE DEBT SECURITIES (Cost $3,552,363) ............................................................... 3,517,968 ------------- COMMON STOCK -- 0.9% BANKING -- 0.9% ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 110,000 New York Community Bancorp, Inc. .................................................. 1,850,750* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL COMMON STOCK (Cost $1,917,807) ............................................................... 1,850,750 ------------- OPTION CONTRACTS -- 0.4% 210 April Put Options on June U.S. Treasury Bond Futures, Expiring 03/24/06 ........... 433,125+ 355 June Put Options on June U.S. Treasury Bond Futures, Expiring 05/26/06 ............ 66,563+ 810 June Put Options on June U.S. Treasury Bond Futures, Expiring 05/26/06 ............ 354,375+ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL OPTION CONTRACTS (Cost $1,038,801) ............................................................... 854,063 ------------- 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SHARES/$ PAR VALUE -------------- ------- MONEY MARKET FUND -- 2.1% 4,561,767 BlackRock Provident Institutional, TempFund ....................................... $ 4,561,767 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUND (Cost $4,561,767) ............................................................... 4,561,767 ------------- TOTAL INVESTMENTS (Cost $201,799,151***) ........................................... 100.9% 216,549,008 OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Net) ................................................. (0.9)% (1,866,818) -------- ------------- TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK ........................... 100.0%++ $ 214,682,190 -------- ------------- MONEY MARKET CUMULATIVE PREFERRED(TM) STOCK (MMP(R)) REDEMPTION VALUE ............................. (70,000,000) ------------- TOTAL NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK ........................................................ $ 144,682,190 ============= ---------- * Securities eligible for the Dividends Received Deduction and distributing Qualified Dividend Income. ** Securities distributing Qualified Dividend Income only. *** Aggregate cost of securities held. **** Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional buyers. These securities have been determined to be liquid under the guidelines established by the Board of Directors. (1) Foreign Issuer. + Non-income producing. ++ The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of that category as a percentage of net assets available to Common and Preferred Stock. ABBREVIATIONS: REIT -- Real Estate Investment Trust PFD. -- Preferred Securities PVT. -- Private Placement Securities 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK(1) FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2005 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- VALUE ------- OPERATIONS: Net investment income .................................................... $ 2,767,201 Net realized gain/(loss) on investments sold during the period ........... 454,603 Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments held during the period .................................................... 2,715,029 Distributions to Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock Shareholders from net investment income, including changes in accumulated undeclared distributions ................................. (610,216) ------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS ..................... 5,326,617 DISTRIBUTIONS: Dividends paid from net investment income to Common Stock Shareholders (2) (2,470,225) ------------- TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS ......................... (2,470,225) FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS: Increase from shares issued under the Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan ............................................... 109,275 ------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK RESULTING FROM FUND SHARE TRANSACTIONS ........................................ 109,275 ------------- NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK FOR THE PERIOD ........................................................... $ 2,965,667 ============= ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK: Beginning of period ...................................................... $ 141,716,523 Net increase in net assets during the period ............................. 2,965,667 ------------- End of period ............................................................ $ 144,682,190 ============= ---------- (1) These tables summarize the three months ended February 28, 2006 and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's audited financial statements, including footnotes, in its Annual Report dated November 30, 2005. (2) May include income earned, but not paid out, in prior fiscal year. 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(1) FOR THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2005 THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2006 (UNAUDITED) FOR A COMMON SHARE OUTSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. ----------------------------------------------------- PER SHARE OPERATING PERFORMANCE: Net asset value, beginning of period .................................................... $ 12.14 ------------ INVESTMENT OPERATIONS: Net investment income ................................................................... 0.24 Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments .................................. 0.26 DISTRIBUTIONS TO MMP(R)* SHAREHOLDERS: From net investment income .............................................................. (0.05) From net realized capital gains ......................................................... -- ------------ Total from investment operations ........................................................ 0.45 ------------ DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS: From net investment income .............................................................. (0.21) From net realized capital gains ......................................................... -- ------------ Total distributions to Common Stock Shareholders ........................................ (0.21) ------------ Net asset value, end of period .......................................................... $ 12.38 ============ Market value, end of period ............................................................. $ 12.39 ============ Common shares outstanding, end of period ................................................ 11,685,484 ============ RATIOS TO AVERAGE NET ASSETS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCK SHAREHOLDERS: Net investment income + ................................................................. 6.02%** Operating expenses ...................................................................... 1.56%** ----------------------------------------- SUPPLEMENTAL DATA:++ Portfolio turnover rate ................................................................. 21%*** Total net assets available to Common and Preferred Stock, end of period (in 000's) ...... $ 214,682 Ratio of operating expenses to total average net assets available to Common and Preferred Stock .......................................................... 1.04%** (1) These tables summarize the three months ended February 28, 2006 and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's audited financial statements, including footnotes, in its Annual Report dated November 30, 2005. * Money Market Cumulative Preferred(TM) Stock. ** Annualized. *** Not Annualized. + The net investment income ratios reflect income net of operating expenses and payments to MMP(R)* Shareholders. ++ Information presented under heading Supplemental Data includes MMP(R)*. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED) PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------- TOTAL DIVIDEND DIVIDENDS NET ASSET NYSE REINVESTMENT PAID VALUE CLOSING PRICE PRICE(1) --------- --------- ------------- ------------ December 31, 2005 ..... $0.0705 $12.24 $11.09 $11.43 January 31, 2006 ...... 0.0705 12.28 12.63 12.28 February 28, 2006 ..... 0.0705 12.38 12.39 12.38 ---------- (1) Whenever the net asset value per share of the Fund's Common Stock is less than or equal to the market price per share on the payment date, new shares issued will be valued at the higher of net asset value or 95% of the then current market price. Otherwise, the reinvestment shares of Common Stock will be purchased in the open market. 13 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund Incorporated NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. AGGREGATE INFORMATION FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES At February 28, 2006, the aggregate cost of securities for federal income tax purposes was $201,624,995, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of value over tax cost was $18,372,809 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there is an excess of tax cost over value was $3,448,796. 14 [This page intentionally left blank] [LOGO] Flaherty & Crumrine =================== PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND Quarterly Report February 28, 2006 www.preferredincome.com DIRECTORS Donald F. Crumrine, CFA Chairman of the Board David Gale Morgan Gust Karen H. Hogan Robert F. Wulf, CFA OFFICERS Donald F. Crumrine, CFA Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Ettinger, CFA President R. Eric Chadwick, CFA Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer Chad C. Conwell Chief Compliance Officer, Vice President and Secretary Bradford S. Stone Vice President and Assistant Treasurer Christopher D. Ryan, CFA Vice President Laurie C. Lodolo Assistant Compliance Officer, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary INVESTMENT ADVISER Flaherty & Crumrine Incorporated e-mail: flaherty@pfdincome.com QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR SHARES OF FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND? o If your shares are held in a Brokerage Account, contact your Broker. o If you have physical possession of your shares in certificate form, contact the Fund's Transfer Agent & Shareholder Servicing Agent -- PFPC Inc. P.O. Box 43027 Providence, RI 02940-3027 1-800-331-1710 THIS REPORT IS SENT TO SHAREHOLDERS OF FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED FOR THEIR INFORMATION. IT IS NOT A PROSPECTUS, CIRCULAR OR REPRESENTATION INTENDED FOR USE IN THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF SHARES OF THE FUND OR OF ANY SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT. ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. (a) The registrant's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)). (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) 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. Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are 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) FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE PREFERRED INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INCORPORATED -------------------------------------------------------------------- By (Signature and Title)* /S/ DONALD F. CRUMRINE ------------------------------------------------------- Donald F. Crumrine, Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) Date APRIL 12, 2006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ DONALD F. CRUMRINE ------------------------------------------------------- Donald F. Crumrine, Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) Date APRIL 12, 2006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- By (Signature and Title)* /S/ R. ERIC CHADWICK ------------------------------------------------------- R. Eric Chadwick, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Vice President (principal financial officer) Date APRIL 12, 2006 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.