NEWARK, Del., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artesian Resources Corporation (Nasdaq: ARTNA) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend on the company's Class A and Class B Common Stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.3014 is payable February 21, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2025, providing a $1.2056 annualized dividend rate. This is Artesian's 129th consecutive quarterly dividend paid to shareholders.

Global warming isn't just a "woke" issue; it has real financial implications for energy investments. DOGE has lofty and worthy goals, but the reality is that Congress controls the purse strings. Delayed Onset Tariff Syndrome (DOTS) will impact global trade and investment strategies. Exactly how remains in question.

There is an often overlooked difference between income investing and dividend growth investing. The two are not the same. Timely charts showing that inflation is even more subdued than the official CPI metrics show, but also what threatens to disrupt the disinflationary trend. A discussion of three books dividend growth investors would benefit from reading. Only one is specifically about dividend growth investing.

Interest rate peaks often cause short-term S&P 500 selloffs, especially for REITs. I retain hope that REITs may decouple from 10-year Treasury yields once rates stabilize. Baby Boomers' economic impact is profound, influencing inflation, wages, and consumption patterns, with Millennials having a smaller effect at later ages in life. Debating whether dividend growth investors should buy Magnificent 7 stocks, I find GOOGL compelling for its reasonable valuation and growth potential.

Artesian Resources just upped its quarterly dividend paid to shareholders. Customer growth and new water rates pushed revenue and diluted EPS higher in Q3. ARTNA's debt-to-capital ratio implies that it is financially secure.

The recent market selloff, driven by the Fed's revised rate-cut forecast, has made high-quality REITs attractively priced for long-term dividend growth investors. Despite poor stock price performance, REITs have strong fundamentals, with favorable earnings yield spreads and dividend yields compared to the broader market. REITs are undervalued due to being treated as bond proxies, but their strong commercial real estate fundamentals and historical outperformance post-Fed rate cuts suggest a buying opportunity.

The U.S. stock market is highly valued, driven by Big Tech and AI investments, with speculative fervor reminiscent of the late 1990s. Some REITs, like W.P. Carey, face challenges due to poor capital allocation and strategic missteps, leading to underperformance compared to tech stocks. Many other REITs, however, have been beaten down due to short-term supply headwinds and their treatment as bond proxies.

The market outlook for 2025 is uncertain, with a wide range of possibilities in GDP growth, inflation, and job growth. Government spending cuts led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's DOGE initiative are unlikely to meet their ambitious $2 trillion goal due to mandatory spending constraints. Significant cash reserves, like Berkshire Hathaway's $325 billion, suggest potential market caution, but a drop in the Fed Funds Rate below 4% could boost REITs and bonds.

Some stock sectors exhibit dangerous euphoria, reminiscent of Icarus flying too close to the sun, risking a significant correction. Post-election optimism has inflated valuations in midstream energy, regional banks, investment banks, and insurance companies, raising concerns about sustainability. The threat of mass deportations could impact agricultural REITs like Gladstone Land, affecting labor supply and lease structures.

Artesian Resources (ARTNA) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.61 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.49 per share a year ago.