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)
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 25 2025
0mins
Source: Globenewswire
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.
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Analyst Views on WES
Wall Street analysts forecast WES stock price to fall
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 41.780
Low
39.00
Averages
40.50
High
42.00
Current: 41.780
Low
39.00
Averages
40.50
High
42.00
About WES
Western Midstream Partners, LP acquires, owns, develops and operates midstream assets. It is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil, and gathering and disposing of produced water. Its core assets provide services for customers in the Delaware Basin in West Texas and New Mexico, and the DJ Basin in northeastern Colorado, and the Powder River Basin in Northeast Wyoming. Additional assets and investments are in South Texas, Utah, and Southwest Wyoming. In its capacity as a natural gas processor, the Company also buys and sells natural gas, NGLs, and condensate on its behalf and its customers under certain gas processing contracts. Its subsidiaries include Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, Western Midstream Services, LLC, Western Midstream Services Holdings, LLC, Western Midstream Operating, LP, and Aris Water Solutions, Inc.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Enterprise Products Partners Performance: Enterprise Products Partners has delivered 27 consecutive years of distribution growth, with a current quarterly distribution of $0.55 per unit, annualizing to a yield of 5.88%, and is expected to further increase revenue as oil prices rebound to $99.
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- Energy Transfer's Infrastructure Advantage: Energy Transfer reported $85.54 billion in revenue for 2025, with a distribution yield of 7.07%, and has strengthened its infrastructure scale through natural gas supply agreements with Oracle, positioning itself favorably amid the Iranian geopolitical situation.
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- Market Data: Benzinga's Analyst Ratings page allows traders to sort through a comprehensive database by analyst accuracy, enhancing investors' understanding and responsiveness to market dynamics.
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Midstream Pipeline Partnerships Benefit from Oil Price Surge
- Oil Price Surge Impact: WTI crude oil has surged 50% in a month, exceeding $100 multiple times and currently settling at $99, benefiting midstream pipeline companies whose revenue model is insulated from oil price fluctuations.
- Enterprise Products Partners Performance: Enterprise Products Partners has delivered 27 consecutive years of distribution growth, with a current quarterly distribution of $0.55 per unit, annualizing to a yield of 5.88%, and is expected to further increase revenue as oil prices rebound to $99.
- Energy Transfer's Market Position: Energy Transfer boasts a revenue base of $85.54 billion, with a distribution yield of 7.07%, and has secured natural gas supply agreements with Oracle data centers covering 900 MMcf/d, enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
- MPLX's Growth Potential: MPLX has raised its quarterly distribution to $1.0765 per unit, a 12.5% year-over-year increase, and plans to launch the 2.5 Bcf/d Blackcomb Pipeline in 2026, further solidifying its position in export infrastructure.
See More
Comparison of Four Major Midstream Pipeline Partnerships
- Enterprise Products Performance: Enterprise Products Partners has achieved 27 consecutive years of distribution growth, with a current quarterly distribution of $0.55 per unit, annualizing to $2.20, and a yield of 5.88%, establishing its gold standard position in midstream income.
- Energy Transfer's Infrastructure Advantage: Energy Transfer reported $85.54 billion in revenue for 2025, with a distribution yield of 7.07%, and has strengthened its infrastructure scale through natural gas supply agreements with Oracle, positioning itself favorably amid the Iranian geopolitical situation.
- MPLX's Growth Potential: MPLX raised its quarterly distribution to $1.0765 per unit, a 12.5% year-over-year increase, and is set to complete the 2.5 Bcf/d Blackcomb Pipeline by 2026, enhancing its competitiveness in the global energy market.
- Western Midstream's High Yield: Western Midstream offers the highest yield at 8.97%, with a recent distribution of $0.93 per unit, and despite facing concentration risks, its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance indicates strong growth potential.
See More
Energy Midstream Stocks Offer Stable Income
- Energy Transition Potential: Energy Transfer (ET) currently boasts a 7.1% dividend yield and plans to increase distributions by 3% to 5% moving forward, leveraging its extensive midstream operations and stable fee-based business to provide long-term passive income for investors.
- Consistent Growth Performance: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years, with a current yield of 5.9%, and is projected to achieve double-digit growth in adjusted EBITDA and cash flow by 2027, demonstrating its reliability and resilience in uncertain markets.
- High Yield Appeal: Western Midstream (WES) offers an 8.6% yield, ranking among the highest in the midstream sector, and while facing some short-term challenges, it expects a 3% increase in distributions in 2026 and maintains financial stability through a restructured fixed-fee agreement with Occidental.
- Strategic Diversification: Western Midstream is actively expanding its footprint in the produced water business through acquisitions like Aris Water Solutions and the Pathfinder Pipeline project, and despite the transition period, it is still poised for adjusted EBITDA growth, enhancing its competitive position in the market.
See More
Dividend Stocks Gaining Favor Amid Market Turbulence
- 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 desire for stable returns.
- Analyst Ratings: Benzinga provides the latest analyst ratings for three high-yielding energy stocks, including Kimbell Royalty Partners LP, Evolution Petroleum Corp, and Western Midstream Partners LP, assisting investors in making more informed decisions.
- Market Data: Benzinga's Analyst Ratings page allows traders to sort through a comprehensive database by analyst accuracy, enhancing investors' understanding and responsiveness to market dynamics.
- Dividend Appeal: High-dividend stocks become particularly attractive in uncertain market environments, as investors seek to secure stable cash flows through these selections, thereby protecting their portfolios amidst market volatility.
See More
High-Yield Stocks Boost Passive Income Potential
- AGNC Investment Returns: With a dividend yield of 12.6%, investing $1,000 in AGNC generates $125.80 in annual income, showcasing its strength in low-risk fixed-income investments, and it is expected to continue paying high dividends.
- Ares Capital Growth Potential: Ares Capital offers a 10% dividend yield, providing $100.30 in annual income from a $1,000 investment, and with a $29.5 billion portfolio and stable earnings, it is likely to maintain its 16-year record of stable dividend payments.
- Western Midstream Cash Flow: With an 8.9% dividend yield, a $1,000 investment in Western Midstream yields $88.60 annually, and last year, its cash flow was sufficient to cover distributions and capital expenditures, indicating future distribution increases.
- Market Appeal: The stable dividend payment records of these three high-yield stocks make them attractive options for investors looking to turn $3,000 into hundreds of dollars in annual passive income, especially in the current market environment.
See More
High-Yield Stocks Maintain Strong Dividend Performance
- AGNC's Stable Dividends: AGNC Investment has maintained its monthly dividend of 12.6% for over five years, with a 16% return on equity in Q4 2022, ensuring sustainability and attracting income-seeking investors.
- Ares Capital's Growth Potential: As the largest business development company, Ares Capital has delivered stable or increasing dividends for over 16 years, with a weighted average yield of 9.3%, and committed $5.8 billion in new investments last quarter, showcasing strong capital growth capabilities.
- Western Midstream's Cash Flow Advantage: Western Midstream Partners generated enough cash flow last year to cover its distributions and capital expenditures, with $95 million in excess free cash flow enhancing financial flexibility, and plans to achieve a 2.2% distribution increase by 2026 to support future payouts.
- Demand for High-Yield Stocks: With the S&P 500's dividend yield at a mere 1.1%, companies like AGNC, Ares, and Western Midstream offer yields above market averages, allowing investors to generate $314.7 in annual passive income from a $3,000 investment, appealing to those seeking high returns.
See More
