BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JANUARY 9, 2014 - The Adams Express Company (NYSE:ADX) announces the Fund's investment returns for 2013.

2013 INVESTMENT RETURNS

The total return on the Fund's market price for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 was 31.8%, with dividends and capital gains reinvested. Comparable figures for the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Funds Average ("Lipper Peer Group") and the S&P 500 Composite Stock Index ("S&P 500") were 31.4% and 32.4%, respectively. The total return on the Fund's net asset value for the same period was 29.7%, with dividends and capital gains reinvested.

The Fund paid $0.84 per share in income dividends and realized capital gains to shareholders in 2013, producing an annual distribution rate of 7.1%, exceeding the Fund's annual 6% minimum distribution rate commitment. Details regarding the annual 6% minimum distribution rate commitment can be found at www.adamsexpress.com.

NET ASSET VALUE ANNOUNCED

The Fund's net asset value at the end of 2013, compared with the year earlier, was:

12/31/13 12/31/12
Net assets $1,421,550,920 $1,155,997,037
Shares outstanding 94,223,617 93,029,724
Net asset value per share $15.09 $12.43

The Fund repurchased 948,339 shares of its common stock during the twelve-month period at an average price per share of $12.29 and a weighted average discount to net asset value of 13.6%. 

OTHER SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

12/31/13 12/31/12
Unrealized appreciation $393,843,628 $143,061,370
Net investment income $18,656,769 $17,547,510
Net realized gain $57,371,366 $47,997,411
KEY RATIOS:
Net investment income to average net assets 1.44% 1.54%
Expense ratio (to average net assets) 0.69% 0.65%
Portfolio turnover  55.9%  27.4%
Net cash & short-term investments to net assets  0.6%  0.2%

TEN LARGEST PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS (12/31/13)

% of Net Assets

% of Net Assets

Petroleum & Resources Corporation* $59,873,872

3.9%

Apple Inc. 55,157,113

3.9%

JPMorgan Chase & Co. 35,088,000

2.5%

Pfizer Inc.  32,274,831

2.5%

Gilead Sciences, Inc. 31,112,100

2.2%

Citigroup Inc. 30,744,900

2.1%

Wells Fargo & Co. 30,418,000

2.1%

Chevron Corp. 29,353,850

2.1%

Walt Disney Co. 28,848,640

2.0%

Google Inc. (Class A) 28,578,105

2.0%

Total

$361,449,411

25.4%

*Non-controlled affiliate

SECTOR WEIGHTINGS (12/31/13)

% of Net Assets
Information Technology  18.7%
Financials  16.1%
Health Care 14.1%
Industrials  11.4%
Consumer Discretionary  11.2%
Energy  9.8%
Consumer Staples 9.5%
Materials 3.1%
Telecommunication Services 2.4%
Utilities  2.4%

ANNUALIZED ONE, THREE AND FIVE YEAR COMPARATIVE RETURNS (12/31/13)

1 Year 3 Year 5 Year
Adams Express (market) 31.8% 13.9% 16.8%
Adams Express (NAV) 29.7% 13.1% 16.0%
Lipper Peer Group 31.4%

14.8%

16.9%
S&P 500 32.4% 16.2% 17.9%

The 2013 Annual Report is expected to be released on or about February 25, 2014.

The Adams Express Company is a Baltimore-based closed-end fund that has been operating as an investment company since 1929. Its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ADX. 

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For further information, please contact:

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
at (410) 752-5900 or (800) 638-2479

E-mail: contact@adamsexpress.com
Website: www.adamsexpress.com

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