wild casino affiliates ChatGPT's $200 Pro Tier Unlocks the Full Power of o1All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gibson Energy Inc. ("Gibson" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the extension and amendment of a long-term contract at its Gateway Terminal ("Gateway" or the "Terminal") with an existing customer that refreshes the initial contract term, with further renewal options beyond that date. The extension includes contracting additional loading windows and increasing contracted capacity per loading window, resulting in fixed Gateway revenue from this customer increasing by approximately 40%. Gibson has also sanctioned dredging at Gateway, to be completed in early 2025, which will enable customers to load 10%+ more volume, the maximum allowable in Corpus Christi, directly on Very Large Crude Carriers and Suezmax vessels thereby reducing customer shipping time and cost. "Today's announcement marks a significant milestone for Gibson as we deliver upon our key Gateway acquisition objectives," said Curtis Philippon, President & Chief Executive Officer. "It is exciting to see our original customers renewing and expanding their position while welcoming new customers at the Terminal, demonstrating the strong demand for Gateway's attractive export capabilities. Customer demand, combined with excellent operational performance and the benefits of capital improvements, including the Cactus II connection and dredging projects, has Gibson on track to achieve our previously provided guidance on EBITDA growth earlier than anticipated. We now expect Gateway to achieve its EBITDA run rate growth target of 15 – 20% by Q4 2025." Growth Capital Guidance The Company also announced its 2025 growth capital guidance of up to $150 million, including $100 million of growth capital to be deployed predominantly at Gateway, and the remainder focused on other projects at and around other Gibson facilities currently being assessed in a disciplined manner. Gibson would also note that it has completed its assessment of the previously announced Waste-to-Energy Project proposal and has reached a negative final investment decision. Replacement Capital Guidance Gibson's Board of Directors approved the allocation of $60 million of replacement capital expenditures, including $20 million of capital related to turnarounds at both the Moose Jaw facility and select terminal assets. Cost Focus Campaign Gibson has also commenced an ambitious cost focus campaign to decrease costs on a run rate basis by the end of 2025 by greater than $25 million to ensure the Company is efficient and competitive, and well positioned for growth moving forward. To date, approximately $5 million of savings have already been realized. Funding Position With this capital budget, Gibson is fully-funded and expects to remain within its Financial Governing Principles with the benefit of growing stable Infrastructure cash flows in 2025. At the end of the third quarter of 2024, the Company's Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio ( 1) of 3.2x was just below the midpoint of its 3.0x – 3.5x target range and its Dividend Payout ratio (1) of 65% was below its 70% – 80% target range. "We will remain focused on the disciplined deployment of growth capital in 2025, as well as adhering to our key governing principles and capital allocation philosophy", said Sean Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We expect to deploy up to $200 million between growth capital and share repurchases. With a growth capital program of $100 to $150 million, anticipated repurchases are between $50 and $100 million in 2025." About Gibson Gibson is a leading liquids infrastructure company with its principal businesses consisting of the storage, optimization, processing, and gathering of liquids and refined products. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, the Company's operations are located across North America, with core terminal assets in Hardisty and Edmonton, Alberta, Ingleside and Wink, Texas, and a facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Gibson shares trade under the symbol GEI and are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.gibsonenergy.com . (1) Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio and dividend payout ratio are non-GAAP financial ratios. See the "Specified Financial Measures" section of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information and statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) including, but not limited to, statements concerning Gibson's expectations of growth capital expenditures and replacement capital expenditures in 2025 and the location and use of such deployment, Gibson's ability to sanction projects that are in support of such expenditures and the timing thereof, Gibson's ability to grow Infrastructure cashflows throughout 2025, adherence to Gibson's current governing principles and capital allocation philosophy, Gibson's share repurchase program and expectation to repurchase shares in 2025, Gibson's expectations regarding the return of capital to shareholders, the timing thereof and conditions upon which Gibson would do so, the forecast operating and financial results of Gibson, where applicable, the resulting commercial capabilities of the dredging project and Cactus II connection project, Gibson's cost reduction capabilities and ability to realize cost reductions and expectations and targets for EBITDA, cash flows, distributable cash flow, debt and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA and Dividend Payout ratios. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words ‘‘anticipate'', ‘‘plan'', ‘‘contemplate'', ‘‘continue'', ‘‘estimate'', ‘‘expect'', ‘‘intend'', ‘‘propose'', ‘‘might'', ‘‘may'', ‘‘will'', ‘‘shall'', ‘‘project'', ‘‘should'', ‘‘could'', ‘‘would'', ‘‘believe'', ‘‘predict'', ‘‘forecast'', ‘‘pursue'', ‘‘potential'' and ‘‘capable'' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect Gibson's beliefs and assumptions with respect to, among other things, future market conditions, the accuracy of financial and operational projections of Gibson, Gibson's future operating and financial results, ability to meet growth capital and replacement capital expenditure targets, continued adherence to Gibson's governing principles and capital allocation philosophy, the ability to place incremental infrastructure projects into service and the timing thereof and the ability to return capital to shareholders and the timing thereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks inherent to Gibson's business generally and risks relating to historical and future financial results as it relates to Gibson's financial condition or results. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by securities law. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" included in the Company's Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), each dated February 20, 2024 and the Company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, each as filed on SEDAR+ and available on the Gibson website at www.gibsonenergy.com . Specified Financial Measures This press release refers to certain financial measures that are not determined in accordance with GAAP, including non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP financial ratios. Readers are cautioned that non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP financial ratios do not have standardized meanings prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. Management considers these to be important supplemental measures of the Company's performance and believes these measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in industries with similar capital structures. For further details on these specified financial measures, including relevant reconciliations, see the "Specified Financial Measures" section of the Company's MD&A for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein and is available on Gibson's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and Gibson's website at www.gibsonenergy.com . a) Adjusted EBITDA Noted below is the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measures of the Company's segmented and consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023: Three months ended September 30, Infrastructure Marketing Corporate and Adjustments Total ($ thousands) 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 Segment profit 150,271 137,727 14,183 17,900 — — 164,454 155,627 Unrealized (gain) loss on derivative financial instruments (1,553 ) 740 25 6,059 — — (1,528 ) 6,799 General and administrative — — — — (13,004 ) (14,258 ) (13,004 ) (14,258 ) Adjustments to share of profit from equity accounted investees 1,166 1,432 — — — — 1,166 1,432 Executive transition costs — — — — 251 — 251 — Renewable power purchase agreement — — — — (175 ) — (175 ) — Adjusted EBITDA 149,884 139,899 14,208 23,959 (12,928 ) (14,258 ) 151,164 149,600 Nine months ended September 30, Infrastructure Marketing Corporate and Adjustments Total ($ thousands) 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 Segment profit 446,566 336,483 69,391 123,962 — — 515,957 460,445 Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments 3,746 740 (1,884 ) (6,872 ) — — 1,862 (6,132 ) General and administrative — — — — (51,920 ) (38,677 ) (51,920 ) (38,677 ) Adjustments to share of profit from equity accounted investees 4,071 4,293 — — — — 4,071 4,293 Executive transition costs — — — — 10,665 — 10,665 — Renewable power purchase agreement — — — — (175 ) — (175 ) — Other — — — — — 218 — 218 Adjusted EBITDA 454,383 341,516 67,507 117,090 (41,430 ) (38,459 ) 480,460 420,147 b) Distributable Cash Flow The following is a reconciliation of distributable cash flow from operations to its most directly comparable GAAP measure, cash flow from operating activities: Three months ended September 30, Nine months ended September 30, ($ thousands) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Cash flow from operating activities 404,794 190,015 531,178 419,254 Adjustments: Changes in non-cash working capital and taxes paid (258,264 ) (61,420 ) (64,620 ) (14,921 ) Replacement capital (13,023 ) (12,876 ) (24,260 ) (25,702 ) Cash interest expense, including capitalized interest (34,045 ) (32,290 ) (102,405 ) (65,677 ) Acquisition and integration costs (1) — 19,959 1,371 19,959 Executive transition costs 7,433 — 10,665 — Lease payments (8,144 ) (8,575 ) (24,178 ) (26,268 ) Current income tax (10,582 ) (1,860 ) (23,633 ) (23,800 ) Distributable cash flow 88,169 92,953 304,118 282,845 (1) Acquisition and integration costs adjusted on an incurred basis. c) Dividend Payout Ratio Twelve months ended September 30, 2024 2023 Distributable cash flow 407,063 371,305 Dividends declared 263,050 226,755 Dividend payout ratio 65 % 61 % d) Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA Ratio Twelve months ended September 30, 2024 2023 Current and long-term debt 2,528,454 2,645,904 Lease liabilities 50,246 67,862 Less: unsecured hybrid notes (450,000 ) (450,000 ) Less: cash and cash equivalents (55,584 ) (54,464 ) Net debt 2,073,116 2,209,302 Adjusted EBITDA 650,141 557,481 Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio 3.2 4.0 For further information, please contact: Investor Relations: (403) 776-3077 investor.relations@gibsonenergy.com Media Relations: (403) 476-6334 communications@gibsonenergy.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Israel has ordered the forced evacuation of one of the last functioning health facilities in northern Gaza, claiming the Kamal Adwan Hospital is a "Hamas terrorist stronghold." The besieged hospital in Beit Lahiya has been the target of repeated strikes and raids by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in recent months , as Israel's bombardment of northern Gaza intensified. In a series of posts on social media the director of Kamal Adwan, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya detailed the latest Israeli attack on his hospital, saying staff and patients were being evacuated. "The occupation army is burning all the operating departments in the hospital while we are still there," he posted on Instagram. "The army evacuated the entire medical staff and the displaced people and arrested a number of the medical staff. "There are a large number of injuries among the medical staff." Hours earlier, Dr Abu Safiya said around 50 people had been killed in Israeli strikes in the area around the hospital, including five staff — a paediatrician, two paramedics, a lab technician and a maintenance worker. "Another dark day in the series of crimes against Kamal Adwan Hospital and its staff," he posted. The IDF said Hamas militants were operating from Kamal Adwan. "It has once again become a key stronghold for terrorist organisations and continues to be used as a hideout for terrorist operatives," it said. "This is despite repeated calls by the IDF to refrain from exploiting the hospital for military activities. "The troops are conducting targeted operations in the area while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel." The IDF accused Hamas of violating international law by "abusing civilian infrastructure and the Gazan population as shields for its terrorist activities." International law dictates hospitals are protected during wars, unless used for purposes other than providing medical care. Israel said it would be transferring patients to other hospitals in Gaza. It did not specify which facilities would take them, and there are significant concerns about the ability of other medical centres to deal with their existing patients, let alone others from Kamal Adwan. In a statement, the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Kamal Adwan was experiencing a "suffocating siege", and that patients were being transferred at gunpoint to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza. The ministry said there were only three hospitals in the area. "Beit Hanoun hospital was completely destroyed, and the Indonesian Hospital was completely out of order after all infrastructure was destroyed," it said. "The only hospital that was partially functioning ... is Kamal Adwan Hospital." Israel's siege of northern Gaza stretches into third month For almost three months, the IDF has laid siege to northern Gaza — targeting what it described as Hamas militants regrouping in the area. Towns such as Beit Lahiya, where Kamal Adwan Hospital is, and Jabalia are now little more than rubble after the relentless bombardment. More than 100,000 Palestinians have been forced out of the area during the campaign. The IDF has denied allegations it is trying to starve the population and cut northern Gaza off from the rest of the territory. It insists aid can get in to the area, despite humanitarian organisations arguing it is too dangerous to send much needed food and medical supplies into northern Gaza while the intense fighting continues. ABC

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Eric Bieniemy's return to UCLA lasted only one season. The Bruins let go of Bieniemy on Thursday after fielding one of the nation's worst offenses this season. It didn't take head coach DeShaun Foster long to find a replacement. Indiana quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri will become the new Bruins offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Bruins had not yet announced the decision. Sunseri spent one season at Indiana after following Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison. Cignetti and Sunseri worked together for four seasons, the first three with the Dukes, who made the most successful transition from FCS to FBS in history. Bieniemy was hired as associate head coach and offensive coordinator shortly after Foster was hired as head coach in February. Bieniemy was also on the Bruins staff from 2003-05 as running backs coach. Jason Fletcher, Bieniemy's agent, said in a statement that Bieniemy planned to stay only one season in Westwood and termed it a “mutual parting of the ways.” However, Bieniemy signed a two-year contract at UCLA and did have a retention bonus if he was on staff for the 2025 season. "After interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, he wanted to stay active and busy," Fletcher said. “So, he decided to go help out Deshaun Foster, who is like his little brother, at UCLA as opposed to sitting out a year.” Out of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, UCLA was 117th in total offense (328.8 yards per game), 126th in scoring (18.4 points per game) and had the nation's fifth-worst rushing attack (86.6 yards per game). The Bruins — 5-7 in their first season in the Big Ten after qualifying for a bowl the last three years — were the sixth Power Five team since 2000 that didn't score at least 20 points in their first six games. Players also said early in the season that Bieniemy's scheme was difficult to grasp and that play calls could be too wordy. Bieniemy was a two-time Super Bowl champion offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs but his last two stops have not gone well. He was Washington's offensive coordinator in 2023 but was not retained after Ron Rivera was fired. Bieniemy said in an email to ESPN earlier this year that he was not fired by Washington and that he received NFL offers to coach running backs or be a passing game coordinator. However, when asked during UCLA's spring practice to explain those remarks or what his other job prospects were, he refused to do so. “What I’m going say is this: I’m here coaching at UCLA. All that other stuff, you could go talk to the Commanders. I’ll leave it just like that,” he said. Bieniemy wasn’t retained by new Commanders coach Dan Quinn, who replaced Rivera. Despite his success in Kansas City, Bieniemy hasn’t landed a heading coach job, even though he’s interviewed with more than half of the NFL’s 32 teams. Fletcher said: "The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025, and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.” Sunseri's immediate priority will be to stem any further losses to the transfer portal. Quarterback Justyn Martin — who was on track to compete for the starting job following the graduation of Ethan Garbers — and running back T.J. Harden have already entered the portal. At Indiana, Sunseri worked closely with Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Mid-American Conference school Ohio. Rourke went on to have one of the best seasons in Hoosiers history as No. 9 Indiana (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten, No. 9 CFP) broke single-season school records for victories and conference wins and appears set to make its CFP debut in two weeks. Sunseri, like Cignetti, also coached previously at Alabama. Sunseri served as a graduate assistant for the Crimson Tide in 2019 and 2020 after previous stints at Florida State and Tennessee. The 35-year-old Sunseri also spent three seasons with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, winning a Grey Cup title as a rookie in 2013 following his college career at Pittsburgh. Marot reported from Indianapolis. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Only Fools and Horses' John Challis' widow Carol makes heartbreaking Christmas discovery at his gravePLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- Dinner and dance tickets are available for the Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums' annual Miners Ball fundraiser. The event will be held Feb. 15 at Velzy Commons at University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Ullsvik Hall. A social hour starts at 5 p.m., with a dinner at 6 p.m. and a dance and silent auction at 7 p.m. Ken Kilian Big Band Orchestra will perform at the event. More information and tickets are available at mining.jamison.museum/minersball . More information is also available at 608-348-3301 or via email at museums@platteville.com . The deadline to purchase dinner tickets is 4 p.m. Jan. 31. Dance tickets are available online 15 and at the door.

Out of 27 illegal ramps identified by a previously constituted technical committee under the Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA), a new committee featuring three ruling political figures has recommended the closure of only three ramps. This decision has drawn criticism from civil society activists, private engineers, and city planners, who cite faulty road design as the root cause of frequent traffic accidents. Rescue 1122 reported 129 road traffic crashes on the Canal Road in October 2024 alone, resulting in three fatalities and several injuries. Architect Haris Karim raised concerns about dangerous areas near Faisal Hospital, noting a fatal accident 18 months ago. He urged the district administration to close unauthorised junctions and entry points as per the original road design. Waleed Khalid, Deputy Director Engineering at FDA, revealed that last month, a technical probe committee—including representatives from Rescue 1122, the Chief Traffic Officer, and the FDA engineering department—had identified 37 ramps (21 on the eastern side and 16 on the western side) along with 12 bridges obstructing smooth traffic flow. The committee recommended closing four bridges—Rafhan Mills, Telenor Pully, Gutt Wali Pully, and Pipan Wala Pully—within a 10 km radius from Abdullahpur Pully to Gutt Wala Pully. However, in a meeting three days ago, chaired by FDA DG and attended by PML-N members Mian Arfan Manan, Faqir Hussain Dogar, and Rana Ali Abbas, the closure was limited to three bridges: Telenor Pully, 204 RB Bridge, and Treat Bakery Bridge. Rafhan Mills Bridge was allowed to remain open for uninterrupted traffic flow. The revised decision has prompted criticism for ignoring the recommendations of the earlier technical committee. Activists argue that the new committee prioritises political interests over public safety. No action was recommended against housing colony developers who constructed illegal ramps connecting private colonies to the canal road without municipal approval. The new committee suggested permanently closing ramps in front of the FESCO office and constructing four new ramps in compliance with city planning regulations. Faisalabad Development Authority Chief Engineer Mehar Ayub Gujjar confirmed that a new committee has been formed by the Deputy Commissioner, including FDA officials and assembly members, to address reservations raised by political figures. However, public safety advocates stressed the urgent need to prioritise public well-being over political interests, citing the alarming rise in accidents and the pressing need for compliance with original city planning guidelines. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our

Brian Thompson’s killing sparks outrage online over state of US healthcareJalon Moore led No. 12 Oklahoma with 22 points in an 89-67 home win against pesky Prairie View A&M in Norman on Sunday. Jeremiah Fears scored 19 points and Duke Miles added 17 for the Sooners, who are 13-0 for the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 1987-88 season. Tanahj Pettway led PVAMU with 22 points while Marcel Bryant added 14. Braelon Bush and Jordan Tillmon each chipped in 11 points for PVAMU (1-13) which played without leading scorer Nick Anderson (18.9 points per game). The Sooners finally pulled away from the determined Panthers with 5:20 left on a 10-3 run that started when Sam Goodwin tipped in a rebound and was capped by a Glenn Taylor Jr. rebound for an 80-63 lead. A Kobe Elvis 3-pointer capped a game-closing 9-0 Sooners run. Pettway connected on a 3-pointer from the wing that gave the Panthers a 5-2 lead. PVAMU hung tight on a Bryant jumper that tied the game at 7. Even though they were short-handed, the Panthers' largest first-half deficit was only 11. A Pettway layup and his steal in the full-court press that led to Bryant's turnaround jumper in the lane as the Panthers closed within 34-30. PVAMU's rally prompted an Oklahoma timeout after which Miles drilled a 3-pointer to kick off a half-closing 9-2 spurt for a 43-32 halftime lead. Braelon Bush's 3-pointer pulled the Panthers within 58-50 with 11:17 left in the game. It was the Panthers' 12th straight nonconference road game. PVAMU returns to its home court Saturday against Grambling. Oklahoma kicks off its first season in the SEC at No. 5 Alabama on Saturday. --Field Level Media

Norway wealth fund sells shares in Israel's Bezeq over telecom services to Israeli settlementsRaith Rovers name former Aberdeen manager as Neill Collins replacement

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana’s GOP-dominated legislature passed tax cuts on personal and corporate income on Friday in exchange for a statewide sales tax increase, a mixed bag of success for Gov. Jeff Landry, whose original tax revision plans faced mounting resistance from lawmakers and lobbyists amid hard fiscal realities . The final passage of the bulk of Landry's proposed measures winds down a special legislative session called Nov. 6 by the governor and his allies. They said their purpose was to make the state’s tax code more business friendly, bring jobs and reverse trends of outward migration from the state. It was the third special legislative session called by Landry, a Republican, since he assumed office in January. The package of legislation includes a permanent $2,000 raise for teachers and doubles standard deductions for residents aged 65 and older. It raises the state sales tax to 5%, while granting Landry’s wish for lower personal and corporate income tax rates. It repeals the 0.275% corporate franchise tax, a levy on businesses operating on the state worth more than $500 million in annual revenue. The state's new corporate income tax rate will be a flat 5.5%, reducing the highest tier from 7.5%. Landry had wanted a 3.5% flat rate. Lawmakers approved a flat 3% individual income tax rate and nearly tripled the standard deduction for individuals. Previously, the personal income tax rate had stood at 4.25% for individuals earning $50,000 or more. “What I’m very confident in is that everyone’s going to have more money in their pocket at the end of the day with the personal income tax reductions,” said Republican Rep. Julie Emerson, who spearheaded legislation to flatten the income tax rate. With the personal income tax reductions reducing annual revenue by $1.3 billion, Landry’s original plan had called for applying sales taxes to dozens of services like car-washing, dog-grooming and lobbying. He also sought to eliminate large tax incentives for the restoration of historic buildings and the film industry. Those proposals were defeated, leading to a bigger sales tax hike than Landry initially proposed. Louisiana already had the highest combined state and average local sales tax in the country at 9.56%, according to the Tax Foundation, a think tank favored by conservatives. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin McGill contributed to this report. ___ _____ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96It's hard to find high dividend yields you can trust. Remember, a stock's dividend yield is a ratio of the company's declared payout to its share price. So, a high yield can signal that a stock is risky when the market won't support a higher share price. But that's not always the case. Realty Income ( O -0.77% ) is a prime example. By design, this well-known real estate investment trust (REIT) (and every other REIT) distributes most of its income to shareholders. That said, the stock is struggling. Shares are trading near their 52-week low, pushing the yield to 6%. But sometimes, a stock's struggle is more due to external factors than the underlying business. Today, I think that's the case. I'll highlight what might be dragging Realty Income's stock down and why this is potentially one of the best dividend stock opportunities heading into 2025. Interest rate woes are keeping Realty Income down Realty Income and other REITs are companies that acquire and lease real estate. Realty Income specializes in leasing single-tenant retail properties using net leases . Its core tenant base includes recession-resistant businesses, like convenience stores, grocery stores, dollar stores, pharmacies, and restaurants. A REIT doesn't pay corporate income taxes because it distributes at least 90% of its income to shareholders. That's why REITs generally make excellent dividend stocks. REIT stocks are sensitive to the economy's interest rates for a couple of reasons. First, since REITs don't retain earnings, they issue stock and borrow money to fund growth (e.g., property acquisitions). Higher rates make borrowing more expensive (bad for business), while lower rates make debt cheaper (good for business). Second, dividend stocks are less appealing to investors when safer, higher-yield alternatives are available. For example, many income-focused investors might prefer a high-yield savings account to a dividend stock if the yield is comparable because it's safer. You may have seen headlines about the Federal Reserve cutting the economy's benchmark interest rate . This impacts how banks borrow from each other. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield (rate) is the benchmark for corporate debt, and that's continued to rise. You can see the inverse relationship between the 10-year rate and Realty Income's share price: O data by YCharts Market forces dictate how Treasuries behave, and the rising yield could be due to several things, such as inflation worries or political factors. The bottom line is that Realty Income's stock may struggle until the 10-year Treasury rate stops rising. Yes, you can trust the dividend. Here is why. The critical takeaway today is that external factors only impact Realty Income's business to an extent. Higher rates could drag on Realty Income's growth by making debt more expensive, but it doesn't change the big picture about how good a company Realty Income is. Realty Income is a world-class dividend stock and is poised to remain so. The company has raised its dividend for 31 consecutive years, a streak that survived the dot-com crash of 2000-2001, the Great Recession of 2008-2009, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the dividend is financially rock-solid. Analysts estimate Realty Income's 2024 funds from operations (FFO) will be $4.20 per share, translating to a comfortable dividend payout ratio of 75%. In other words, the company's cash profits from running its business would need to plunge over 25% to stress Realty Income's ability to fund its dividend organically. The company operates a diverse real estate portfolio centered on tenants operating recession-resistant businesses, so the odds are low that rent goes unpaid. Additionally, Realty Income has an A- credit rating from S&P Global , which is a strong credit rating for a REIT. It helps bridge the financial gap during crises like the pandemic in 2020. Realty Income is a bonafide bargain for 2025 Again, Realty Income's share price woes don't reflect the business. Through nine months of 2024, the company earned FFO per share of $3.14, compared to $2.99 a year ago. Additionally, analysts estimate Realty Income will grow at an average of 6% annually over the long term. That's what makes the chart below so exciting. The stock trades at just under 13 times its cash from operations (chart substitute for FFO), a massive discount to its average over the past decade. Investors get a dependable 6% dividend yield, with another 6% in estimated growth, offering potential 12% annualized total returns without any changes to the stock's valuation. O Price to CFO Per Share (TTM) data by YCharts I consider the current valuation a sufficient margin of safety in case Treasury rates remain higher for longer. If rates eventually decline, the potential valuation increase could generate market-beating total returns for long-term investors. In addition, investors can reinvest Realty Income's dividend to maximize compounding. Realty Income is a rockstar dividend stock with enough upside at this price to interest all investors, not just high-yield seekers. That makes it a compelling buy to start the new year.Trump nominates former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins for SEC chair

Louisiana lawmakers pass income and corporate tax cuts, raising statewide sales tax to pay for itIndiana 72, Columbia 62Taylor Swift's 2024 was nothing short of historic, cementing her position as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. From winning record-breaking Grammy Awards and releasing her eleventh studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department", to wrapping up her unprecedented Eras Tour, Swift dominated headlines and captured the hearts of fans worldwide. At the 2024 Grammy Awards in February, Swift claimed the coveted Album of the Year award for "Midnights". This marked her fourth win in the category, a feat unmatched in music history. Previously, she had won for "Fearless" (2010), "1989" (2015), and "Folklore" (2021). During her acceptance speech, she surprised fans by announcing her next album, "The Tortured Poets Department", set for an April release. Following the announcement, Swift unveiled the album's cover on Instagram, sending fans into a frenzy. Breaking records with 'The Tortured Poets Department' Released in April, "The Tortured Poets Department" shattered records immediately. Initially teased with 16 main tracks and four bonus songs, Swift surprised fans again by releasing a staggering 31 tracks. The album became Spotify's most-streamed in a single day, amassing 300 million streams within 12 hours. Its lead single, "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone, broke the record for most single-day streams for a song. Within a week, the album had surpassed one billion streams, a Spotify first. 'The Eras Tour': A global spectacle Continuing her record-breaking journey, Swift resumed her "Eras Tour" in May, starting in Paris. Originally launched in 2023, the tour incorporated songs from "The Tortured Poets Department" alongside fan-favorite classics. The shows featured updated setlists, surprise songs, and fresh arrangements, dazzling audiences across Europe and Australia. According to Forbes, the tour significantly boosted local economies. Swift's eight shows in London generated £300 million, while her stop in Melbourne contributed an estimated AUD $1.2 billion. The tour grossed over US $2 billion in ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing concert tour in history. Its cultural impact was equally immense, with social media flooded with videos of Swift's theatrical performances, vibrant costumes, and fans trading friendship bracelets. Swift's shows in Seattle even caused seismic activity, prompting a California Institute of Technology study into "concert tremors." Celebrities from Emma Stone to Bollywood stars Sonam Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor also attended, underscoring the tour's universal appeal. On December 8, Swift delivered an emotional final performance in Toronto, thanking her fans, band, and crew. "You've given us a moment we will never forget," she said to a standing ovation. A star-studded romance Taylor Swift's relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce also captivated the public throughout the year. The couple made numerous appearances together, from Swift attending Kelce's football games to him joining her onstage during a June concert in London. Their relationship added another layer of intrigue to Swift's already stellar year. Spotify's most-streamed artiste Capping off her achievements, Swift became Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2024, a highlight to her unparalleled global influence. Taylor Swift's 2024 was nothing short of historic, cementing her position as one of the greatest entertainers of all time. From winning record-breaking Grammy Awards and releasing her eleventh studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department", to wrapping up her unprecedented Eras Tour, Swift dominated headlines and captured the hearts of fans worldwide. At the 2024 Grammy Awards in February, Swift claimed the coveted Album of the Year award for "Midnights". This marked her fourth win in the category, a feat unmatched in music history. Previously, she had won for "Fearless" (2010), "1989" (2015), and "Folklore" (2021). During her acceptance speech, she surprised fans by announcing her next album, "The Tortured Poets Department", set for an April release. Following the announcement, Swift unveiled the album's cover on Instagram, sending fans into a frenzy. Breaking records with 'The Tortured Poets Department' Released in April, "The Tortured Poets Department" shattered records immediately. Initially teased with 16 main tracks and four bonus songs, Swift surprised fans again by releasing a staggering 31 tracks. The album became Spotify's most-streamed in a single day, amassing 300 million streams within 12 hours. Its lead single, "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone, broke the record for most single-day streams for a song. Within a week, the album had surpassed one billion streams, a Spotify first. 'The Eras Tour': A global spectacle Continuing her record-breaking journey, Swift resumed her "Eras Tour" in May, starting in Paris. Originally launched in 2023, the tour incorporated songs from "The Tortured Poets Department" alongside fan-favorite classics. The shows featured updated setlists, surprise songs, and fresh arrangements, dazzling audiences across Europe and Australia. According to Forbes, the tour significantly boosted local economies. Swift's eight shows in London generated £300 million, while her stop in Melbourne contributed an estimated AUD $1.2 billion. The tour grossed over US $2 billion in ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing concert tour in history. Its cultural impact was equally immense, with social media flooded with videos of Swift's theatrical performances, vibrant costumes, and fans trading friendship bracelets. Swift's shows in Seattle even caused seismic activity, prompting a California Institute of Technology study into "concert tremors." Celebrities from Emma Stone to Bollywood stars Sonam Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor also attended, underscoring the tour's universal appeal. On December 8, Swift delivered an emotional final performance in Toronto, thanking her fans, band, and crew. "You've given us a moment we will never forget," she said to a standing ovation. A star-studded romance Taylor Swift's relationship with NFL star Travis Kelce also captivated the public throughout the year. The couple made numerous appearances together, from Swift attending Kelce's football games to him joining her onstage during a June concert in London. Their relationship added another layer of intrigue to Swift's already stellar year. Spotify's most-streamed artiste Capping off her achievements, Swift became Spotify's most-streamed artist of 2024, a highlight to her unparalleled global influence.

The widow of 'Only Fools and Horses' legend John Challis, Carol, has shared a poignant moment from her visit to his graveside over the festive period. Touched by the heartfelt decorations festooned on his grave at Leintwardine in Herefordshire, Carol took to social media to reveal how residents paid tribute with a wreath, blooms and even a small Christmas tree adorning his final resting place. Overwhelmed with emotion, Carol posted: "I've just had a little weep. The people at Wigmore Abbey, Steve, Andrea and Victoria went to see John early this morning and left all this Christmas loveliness for him. Never forgotten, Challis." Heartened by the gesture, she mused on the unwavering remembrance of her late spouse, the iconic 'Boycie' actor who dwelt in the famed Wigmore Abbey - a setting that shone in the 'Only Fools' spin-off 'The Green Green Grass'. In a touching tweet brimming with nostalgia, Carol recalled lost loved ones, sharing: "Especially over Christmas, my thoughts have been with my much loved and missed mother Libby, father Denis, nephew Simon and my darling husband. All gone. All those memories." READ MORE - Couple's St. Stephen's Day walk 'ruined' as they make grim discovery hidden in undergrowth READ MORE - Modern day 'Nostradamus' who predicted Covid gives seven chilling forecasts for 2025 John Challis, affectionately known by many, departed "peacefully in his sleep" after a defiant struggle with cancer at the age of 79 in September 2021. The family of the late John Challis, beloved for his role as 'Boycie', released a heartfelt statement: "He will always be loved for being 'Boycie' and leaves a great legacy of work that will continue to bring pleasure and smiles for many years to come," reports the Mirror . The Express covered the story, noting the family's plans to hold a celebration of John's life in the future, open to all. His health had sharply declined before his passing, with Sir David Jason commenting on This Morning: "It wasn't a complete surprise because poor old John hadn't been well for the last month or two. But he went downhill so fast, very rapidly, that one minute we were thinking he was on the road to recovery and sadly it just took him." At the time, his family said the actor died "peacefully in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer" and encouraged donations to Cuan Wildlife Rescue, Tusk, or the British Hedgehog Preservation Society in his memory. Posthumously, it was revealed that John's will instructed for his estate to go to his fourth wife Carol, whom he married in 1995. John had previously been married to Carol Robertson, Debbie Arnold, and Sabina Franklyn, but did not have any children. His headstone bears a subtle tribute to the much-loved sitcom; the inscription reads: "John Challis - actor - 1942-2021, I am here." A line fans of Only Fools will instantly recognise from the classic episode featuring psychic Elsie Partridge holding a séance with Del Boy, Rodney Trotter, and Boycie in attendance. Elsie channels a spirit calling for someone named Audrey... no, Aubrey. In the silent room, Boycie speaks out, "I am here," revealing his middle name is Aubrey. "You never said your name was Aubrey," Trigger remarks, to which he retorts: "Nor would you if your name was Aubrey." Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .5 top tech gifts for the holidaysMusk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Isaiah Smith ran for a career-high 205 yards on 31 carries and scored a touchdown and San Diego beat Morehead State 37-14 in a season-ending contest for both teams on Saturday. Grant Sergent threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns for San Diego (8-3, 6-2 Pioneer Football League) which ended the season with a four-game win streak and winners of six of seven. The Toreros finished in sole possession of second place in the PFL behind Drake (7-1), which clinched the league outright with a 49-10 win over Stetson on Saturday. Drake beat San Diego 30-28 on a walk-off field goal on Sept. 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryce Patterson threw for 133 yards and a touchdown and James Louis ran for a touchdown for the Eagles (7-5, 5-3). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballWatch the latest Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 trailer to learn more about the story of Henry of Skalitz, and dive into the medieval world of this upcoming RPG sequel. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 follows Henry, a young man seeking justice for his murdered parents, as he embarks on an epic journey where his morality and integrity are tested. With blood feuds and political conspiracies unraveling, Henry’s choices will ultimately shape his destiny. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will be available on PC, PS5 (PlayStation 5), and Xbox Series X|S on February 4, 2025.

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Steven Clay scored 15 points as Morehead State beat Alice Lloyd 94-63 on Saturday. Clay shot 6 for 12, including 3 for 8 from beyond the arc for the Eagles (7-6). Kenny White Jr. scored 14 points, finishing 7 of 9 from the floor. Jerone Morton, Tayler Brelsford and George Marshall all scored 13 points. Jared Strickland finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles. Landon Napier added 10 points for Alice Lloyd. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

The Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson on Thursday with the team sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks' Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach. The move happened with generational player Connor Bedard going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He had a recently ended a 12-game goal drought and didn't make the Canadian roster for this season's 4 Nations Face-Off . "As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary," general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement about the coaching move. Richardson, 55, was hired before the start of the 2022-23 season. The Blackhawks finished 30th overall, moved up three spots in the draft lottery and chose Bedard, considered the NHL's best prospect since Connor McDavid. All things Blackhawks: Latest Chicago Blackhawks news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more. He was coach for Bedard's first NHL season, when the center won rookie of the year despite missing 14 games with a broken jaw . But the Blackhawks finished with the league's second worst record and a .317 points percentage. It has been more of the same, even with Chicago adding veterans Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen to complement Bedard. The Blackhawks' record is 8-16-2 and they're in a 2-7-1 slump. Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record and won't get a chance to coach in this season's Winter Classic. Richardson is the third NHL coach to be fired this season, following the Boston Bruins' Jim Montgomery and the St. Louis Blues' Drew Bannister . Sorenson, 49, a native of Sweden, has been with the Blackhawks organization since 2013-14 and become Rockford head coach in 2021-22, making the playoffs in all three seasons.