BRODSKY & SMITH INVESTOR ALERT: Updates on Investigations Involving First Savings Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq – FSFG), 1st Colonial Bancorp, Inc. (OTCPK - FCOB), and Aris Water Solutions, Inc. (NYSE - ARIS)
Investigation Announcements: Brodsky & Smith is reminding investors about ongoing investigations related to several companies, including First Savings Financial Group, 1st Colonial Bancorp, and Aris Water Solutions, regarding potential breaches of fiduciary duties by their boards during merger agreements.
First Savings Financial Group Merger: First Savings will be acquired by First Merchants Corporation, with shareholders receiving 0.85 shares of First Merchants for each share of First Savings, raising concerns about the fairness of the deal's valuation.
1st Colonial Bancorp Merger: 1st Colonial will be acquired by Mid Penn Bancorp, offering shareholders a choice between stock or cash, with an investigation into whether the board acted in the best interest of shareholders during the merger process.
Aris Water Solutions Merger: Aris will be acquired by Western Midstream Partners, with shareholders receiving either common units or cash, prompting an investigation into the board's fiduciary duties and the fairness of the transaction's terms.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on WES
About WES
About the author

- Increased Market Volatility: Last week, stocks in software, real estate, financial services, and logistics faced selling pressure due to concerns over AI-related disruptions, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 0.2% and a weekly loss of 2.1%, indicating market sensitivity to AI impacts.
- Consumer Spending Data Focus: This week's highlight will be the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report on Friday, which will provide insights into consumer spending in December and inflation trends, especially following last week's unexpected slowdown in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Corporate Earnings in Spotlight: Walmart (WMT) is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, marking the first report under new CEO John Furner, making it a key indicator of consumer spending that the market is eagerly anticipating.
- Ongoing AI Impact: As AI tools' potential effects intensify across various sectors, software stocks like Salesforce (CRM) and ServiceNow (NOW) have seen significant declines, reflecting the market's heightened vigilance regarding AI disruptions, necessitating close monitoring of future industry developments.
- AGNC Investment Advantage: AGNC Investment Corp leads with a 12.5% dividend yield, appealing to passive income investors with its monthly payments, having maintained this rate for over five years post-pandemic, indicating strong profitability in the robust Agency MBS market.
- Ares Capital's Stability: Ares Capital currently offers a 10% dividend yield, with its business model of direct loans to middle-market companies generating core earnings that exceed dividend payments, maintaining or increasing dividends for 16 consecutive years, showcasing strong financial stability and growth potential.
- Western Midstream's Growth Potential: Western Midstream Partners yields 8.9%, with stable cash flows and a strong balance sheet allowing it to cover distributions and capital expenditures, while planning to enhance dividends through acquisitions and organic expansion.
- Attracting Risk-Tolerant Investors: With dividend yields significantly higher than the S&P 500, AGNC, Ares Capital, and Western Midstream appeal to income-seeking investors despite potential market volatility risks, making them attractive options for those willing to take on more risk.
- Oil Price Rebound: In January 2026, Occidental Petroleum's shares surged 10.4%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 1.4% increase, primarily driven by a 16% rise in Brent crude and a 14% increase in WTI, showcasing the company's strong performance amid recovering oil prices.
- Asset Sale Boosts Cash Flow: Occidental sold its chemicals business, OxyChem, to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7 billion in early January, with plans to use $6.5 billion of that cash to reduce debt, thereby lowering its debt level below $15 billion and enhancing financial flexibility.
- Contract Structure Optimization: The company amended its Delaware Basin natural gas gathering contract with Western Midstream Partners, transitioning from a cost-of-service agreement to a fixed-fee structure, which is expected to save costs and improve flexibility in developing oil and gas assets while reducing its ownership stake from 42% to 40%.
- Improved Financial Position: With rising oil prices and reduced debt, Occidental is poised to generate more cash flow in 2026, further strengthening its balance sheet and enhancing long-term investment appeal, even after last month's significant share price rally.
- Investor Preference: During turbulent and uncertain market conditions, many investors are turning to dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with substantial dividends, indicating a strong demand for stable income.
- Analyst Ratings: Benzinga provides the latest analyst ratings for three high-yielding energy stocks, including Nordic American Tankers Ltd (NYSE:NAT), Kimbell Royalty Partners LP (NYSE:KRP), and Western Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:WES), offering decision-making support for investors.
- Market Trends: As market volatility increases, the appeal of dividend stocks rises, with investors seeking to mitigate investment risks through stable cash flows, potentially driving demand and prices for these stocks higher.
- Analyst Accuracy: Benzinga's analyst ratings page allows traders to sort ratings by analyst accuracy, helping investors identify the most promising high-yield stocks and enhancing the scientific basis of their investment decisions.
- Ares Capital Stability: Ares Capital currently boasts a 9.5% dividend yield, and as a registered investment company, it must distribute at least 90% of its taxable income, ensuring its stability and attractiveness in middle-market financing.
- Starwood Property Trust Success: Leading with a 10.7% dividend yield, Starwood Property Trust has maintained its dividend without cuts for over a decade, successfully diversifying its portfolio to enhance its competitive edge in the real estate market.
- Western Midstream Partners Growth Potential: With a distribution yield of 9%, Western Midstream Partners has rebounded its payout to pre-pandemic levels after a reset during the pandemic, and it plans to further increase distributions through acquisitions and infrastructure investments.
- Attracting Passive Income Investors: Ares Capital, Starwood Property Trust, and Western Midstream Partners all offer yields up to 10.7%, appealing to investors seeking stable passive income and demonstrating strong future distribution potential.

- Dividend Declaration: Western Midstream Partners has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's stable cash flow and shareholder return strategy.
- Yield Highlight: The forward yield of 8.92% not only attracts income-seeking investors but also reflects the company's competitiveness in the current market environment.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend will be payable on February 13, with a record date of February 2 and an ex-dividend date also set for February 2, ensuring shareholders receive their returns promptly.
- Contract Renegotiation: Western Midstream has reached an agreement with Occidental to renegotiate Delaware Basin contracts, securing $610 million in unit transfers, which further enhances the company's financial flexibility and market position.









