For Immediate Release Chicago, IL – December 15, 2025 – Today, Zacks Equity Research Equity areAtmos Energy Corp. (ATO) , Brookfield Infrastructure Corp. (BIPC) and Spire Inc. (SR) .Industry: Utility - GasLink: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2803777/3-gas-distribution-stocks-to-buy-from-a-challenging-industryNatural gas distribution companies offer services to transport natural gas from the region of production to millions of consumers across the United States. The utilities under the Zacks Utility Gas Di ...

Natural gas distribution companies offer services to transport natural gas from the region of production to millions of consumers across the United States. The utilities under the Zacks Utility Gas Distribution industry control miles of underground pipeline network to provide natural gas services to customers. The rising demand for clean-burning natural gas will create more opportunities for natural gas distribution companies.Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) , with its widespread transmission and distribution ...

Group 1 - The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is expected to lower interest rates by at least 25 basis points in its upcoming meeting [1] - Dovish moves by the U.S. central bank lead fixed income investors to consider longer-dated bonds, but shorter duration ETFs like Neuberger Berman Short Duration Income ETF (NBSD) remain valuable [2][5] - The NBSD ETF, which has a weighted average duration of 2.08 years, offers a 30-day SEC yield of 5.01%, making it an attractive alternative to cash as interest rates decline [4] Group 2 - Short duration bonds provide potentially higher returns than cash, lower volatility, and liquidity, making them appealing to investors, especially in a declining interest rate environment [5] - Following a significant bond sell-off in 2022, investors are shifting focus to short duration bonds, which offer a safer option during market volatility [6] - Short duration bonds reflect central bank interest rate policies, providing more stability and predictability in yields [7]

Core Insights - The earnings season is approaching, with three blue-chip REITs set to report, providing a financial health check for dividend investors [1][2] - Each REIT faces unique challenges and opportunities, impacting their distribution sustainability and growth potential [2] CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) - CICT is reporting on 28 October 2025, managing S$26 billion in assets, with a focus on the contribution from ION Orchard [3] - For the first half of 2025, CICT's Distribution Per Unit (DPU) increased by 3.5% year-on-year to S$0.056, aided by ION's contribution and lower interest costs [3] - Key metrics to watch include rental reversion momentum, which showed 7.7% for retail and 4.8% for office in 1H'25, and the impact of the acquisition of a 55% stake in CapitaSpring [4][5] Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT) - MLT is also reporting on 28 October 2025, facing a 12.4% year-on-year DPU decline due to currency headwinds and challenges in China [6] - The trust manages S$13 billion in assets across 178 properties, with a critical focus on stabilizing distributions amid regional currency pressures [6] - Key signals to monitor include the negative 7.5% rental reversion in Mainland China and the overall occupancy rate of 93.0% [7][8] Mapletree Industrial Trust (MIT) - MIT is set to report on 30 October 2025, with a 4.7% DPU decline in 1Q'FY26, which is less severe when excluding divestment gains [9] - The trust, valued at S$9 billion, has a significant focus on data centers, with 54.8% of its portfolio allocated to this sector [10] - Important factors include the lease-up progress of the Osaka data center, Singapore's strong rental reversion of 8.2%, and the impact of capital recycling from recent divestments [11][12] Interest Rate Environment - All three REITs are positioned to benefit from falling interest rates, with CICT's borrowing costs dropping to 3.4% in 1H'25 [15] - The decline in interest rates is crucial for REITs with significant debt, as it can enhance distributable income [16][17] - Monitoring interest coverage ratios and the weighted average cost of debt will be essential in assessing the impact of this trend on future distributions [16][17]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Utility - Water Supply industry provides essential drinking water and wastewater services across the U.S., managing nearly 2.2 million miles of aging pipelines [3] - The industry is capital-intensive, benefiting from lower interest rates that reduce financing costs for infrastructure investments [3][5] Current Trends - The U.S. water industry is fragmented with over 50,000 community water systems, leading to inefficiencies; consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is necessary for improving service quality [4] - Aging infrastructure is a significant concern, with the American Society of Civil Engineers estimating a need for $1.25 trillion in investments over the next 20 years [6] Financial Performance - The Zacks Utility Water Supply industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the broader utility sector, gaining only 5% over the past 12 months compared to the sector's 9% and the S&P 500's 15.4% [10] - The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 10.55X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 17.7X and the sector's 15.15X [13] Company Highlights - California Water Service Group plans to invest $2.06 billion from 2025 to 2027 to strengthen its infrastructure [19] - Global Water Resources focuses on Total Water Management, optimizing the use of recycled water, with a long-term earnings growth rate pegged at 15% [23][24] - The York Water Company plans to invest $94.5 million from 2025 to 2026 and has seen a 1.5% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings per share [27][28]