Core Viewpoint - Equinor ASA announced a cash dividend of USD 0.37 per share for the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders [1]. Group 1: Dividend Announcement - The cash dividend per share for the first quarter of 2025 is set at USD 0.37 [1]. - The NOK cash dividend per share is calculated based on the average USDNOK fixing rate from Norges Bank, which was 10.1999 during the relevant period [1]. - Consequently, the total cash dividend for the first quarter of 2025 amounts to NOK 3.7740 per share [1]. Group 2: Payment Details - The cash dividend will be paid to shareholders on Oslo Børs and to holders of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the New York Stock Exchange on 29 August 2025 [2]. - This announcement complies with the Continuing Obligations and the disclosure requirements of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act [2].

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's decision to step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has surprised analysts, with expectations of significant changes under his successor, Greg Abel [1][2][3] Group 1: Buffett's Resignation - The resignation was unexpected as Buffett had expressed a desire to remain in his role for as long as possible, showcasing his mental acuity during recent meetings [2] - The announcement indicates that the decision was voluntary, allowing Buffett to leave on his own terms and maintain his legacy [3] Group 2: Financial Strategy and Changes Under Abel - Berkshire Hathaway currently holds a record cash reserve of $344 billion as of June 30, prompting discussions about the potential for returning cash to shareholders through dividends, which has been rare during Buffett's tenure [4] - A dividend payment is considered likely under Abel's leadership, contrasting with Buffett's preference for allowing shareholders to decide their income [5] - There may be increased employee turnover as staff adjust to a new leadership style under Abel [5] Group 3: Market Perception and Management Style - Analysts predict a shift in Wall Street's perception of Berkshire Hathaway, with increased skepticism as the company transitions from Buffett, known as "The Oracle of Omaha" [10] - Abel is not expected to manage subsidiaries more directly than Buffett, maintaining the decentralized structure that has characterized Berkshire's operations [10][11] - There may be a need for improved financial disclosures from Berkshire, as the company could face pressure to conform to industry standards without Buffett's influence [12]

Core Viewpoint - SFL Corporation Ltd. announced preliminary financial results for Q2 2025, reporting a net income of $1.5 million and a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen its charter backlog and improve operational efficiency [1][4][5]. Financial Performance - The company reported a net income of $1.5 million, equating to $0.01 per share for the second quarter [7]. - Charter hire received in the quarter totaled $194 million, with approximately 87% from shipping and 13% from energy [7]. - Adjusted EBITDA from consolidated subsidiaries was $104 million, with $97 million from shipping and $7 million from energy, plus an additional $8 million from associated vessel owning companies [7]. Strategic Actions - SFL has taken decisive steps to enhance its charter backlog by securing agreements with strong counterparties and investing in cargo-handling and fuel-efficiency upgrades [3]. - The company has divested older, less efficient vessels, which has improved the operational and fuel consumption efficiency of its fleet [3]. - A five-year time charter extension for three 9,500 TEU container vessels with Maersk is expected to add approximately $225 million to the backlog from 2026 through 2031 [7]. Dividend Information - The Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, to be paid on or around September 29, 2025, with a record date of September 12, 2025 [5][6]. - Since its inception in 2004, SFL has distributed a total of $2.9 billion to shareholders through 86 consecutive quarterly cash dividends [5]. Market Conditions - The market for the legacy drilling rig Hercules remains challenging due to recent market uncertainty and oil price volatility, which has delayed new employment opportunities [4]. - The company is optimistic about finding new employment for the rig while exploring strategic opportunities [4].

Core Points - NL Industries, Inc. has declared a special cash dividend of $0.21 per share and a quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share [1] - The special dividend will be funded from excess cash flows and is payable on August 28, 2025, to shareholders of record as of August 18, 2025 [1] - The quarterly dividend is payable on September 23, 2025, to shareholders of record as of September 5, 2025 [1] Company Overview - NL Industries, Inc. operates in the component products sector, specifically in security products and recreational marine components, as well as in the chemicals sector, focusing on TiO2 [2]

Group 1 - CompX International Inc. declared a special cash dividend of $1.00 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share on its class A common stock [1] - The special cash dividend is payable on August 27, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 18, 2025 [1] - The regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share is payable on September 16, 2025, to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 5, 2025 [1] Group 2 - CompX is focused on balancing investment in business growth with stockholder distributions [2] - The company's strategy emphasizes generating consistent healthy cash flow and maintaining a strong balance sheet, allowing for additional cash returns to stockholders while ensuring long-term investment capability [2] Group 3 - CompX is recognized as a leading manufacturer of security products and recreational marine components [3]

Core Points - Huntsman Corporation declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock, payable on September 30, 2025, to stockholders of record as of September 15, 2025 [1] - Huntsman Corporation reported approximately $6 billion in revenues for 2024, indicating a strong market presence in the specialty chemicals sector [2] - The company operates over 60 manufacturing, R&D, and operations facilities across approximately 25 countries, employing around 6,300 associates [2]

Group 1 - The Middlefield Global Infrastructure Dividend ETF (TSX: MINF) announced its third-quarter 2025 distributions, with a consistent payout of $0.04167 per trust unit for each month from July to September 2025 [1] - The record and payable dates for the distributions are July 31, August 31, and September 30, 2025, with corresponding payable dates of August 15, September 15, and October 15, 2025 [1] Group 2 - The Fund offers a Distribution Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) that allows unitholders to automatically reinvest distributions without commission, facilitating compound growth [2] - Unitholders can enroll in the DRIP program by contacting their investment advisor [2] Group 3 - Middlefield, founded in 1979, is a specialist equity income asset manager with offices in Toronto and London, focusing on high-quality global companies across various sectors [3] - The investment team employs active management strategies and offers a range of dividend-focused products, including ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Split-Share Funds, and Flow-through LPs [3]

Core Points - Equinor (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR) has announced a cash dividend of 0.37 USD for the second quarter of 2025 [1] - The last day to include rights for the dividend is 12 November 2025 [1] - The ex-date for Oslo Børs is 13 November 2025, and for the New York Stock Exchange, it is 14 November 2025 [1] - The record date for the dividend is set for 14 November 2025 [1] - The payment date for the dividend is scheduled for 26 November 2025 [1] - The approval date for the dividend was 22 July 2025 [1] - The cash dividend per share in NOK will be communicated on 20 November 2025 [1] Regulatory Compliance - The information is published in accordance with the Euronext Oslo Børs Continuing Obligations [2] - It is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act [2]

Core Viewpoint - J.B. Hunt Transport Services' stock has reached a bottom earlier this year, indicating potential for significant gains over the next three to five years, although a bullish shift will take time [1] Financial Performance - The FQ2 2025 earnings exceeded expectations, with revenue reported at $2.93 billion, remaining flat year-over-year [6] - Operating income decreased by 4% to $197.3 million, with plans to cut costs by an additional $100 million annually [8] - The dividend remains safe at less than 30% of the earnings outlook, with expectations for annual increases [5] Business Segments - Strengths include a 6% increase in Intermodal loads, a 3% productivity improvement in Dedicated Capacity Solutions, and a 13% increase in JBT loads [6] - Weaknesses include a 10% decline in Final Mile Services, a 9% decrease in ICS volume, and a reduction in revenue per load in JBI and JBT segments [7] Capital Return and Share Buybacks - Risks to capital return are significant, with increased debt compared to the previous year due to insufficient income and free cash flow to cover CAPEX, dividends, and buybacks [4] - Share buybacks set a quarterly record in FQ2 2025, but liabilities are rising while equity fell nearly 10% year-to-date [9] Market Outlook - Analysts have a 12-month stock price forecast of $164.90, indicating a potential upside of 10.76% [6] - The stock is currently rated as a Moderate Buy, but there are concerns about price target reductions that could cap market movement [11][12]

Distribution Announcement - Canadian Banc Corp. declares a monthly distribution of $0.14675 for each Class A share and $0.05375 for each Preferred share, payable on July 10, 2025, to shareholders on record as of June 30, 2025 [1][5] Dividend Policy - The monthly dividend for Class A shares is determined by a 15% annualized rate based on the volume weighted average market price (VWAP) over the last 3 trading days of the preceding month, resulting in a dividend of $0.14675 per share based on a VWAP of $11.74 [2] Preferred Shareholder Returns - Preferred shareholders will receive a return of prime plus 1.50%, with a minimum rate of 5.00% and a maximum rate of 8.00% [3] Historical Returns - Since inception, Class A shareholders have received a total of $23.95 per share, while Preferred shareholders have received a total of $11.22 per share, amounting to a combined total of $35.17 [3] Investment Portfolio - The Company invests in a portfolio of six publicly traded Canadian banks, including Bank of Montreal, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Toronto-Dominion Bank, with share weights expected to range between 5-20% [4] Additional Return Strategy - To generate additional returns above the dividend income, the Company engages in a selective covered call writing program [4]