American Resources Corp (NASDAQ:AREC) announced on Friday that its board of directors has approved a special cash dividend of $0.0431 per share as the company returns capital to shareholders while continuing to invest in its critical minerals business.
The dividend will be paid on August 25, 2026, to shareholders of record as of August 15, 2026.
The company stated that the special dividend reflects its financial position, capital allocation strategy and confidence in its ability to fund future growth opportunities while returning capital to long-term shareholders.
American Resources also noted that its board believes the company's current market valuation does not fully reflect the value of its cash position, strategic investments and ownership interests, as well as opportunities across its critical minerals platform.
American Resources CEO Mark Jensen highlighted the company's balance sheet, its minority ownership interest in ReElement Technologies, majority ownership of Electrified Materials, ongoing negotiations with the US Department of Energy related to coal-based critical mineral byproduct initiatives, and its pipeline of rare earth and critical mineral feedstock sourcing opportunities.
Jensen also noted that the company has repositioned its business over the past two years to focus on supplying feedstocks and owning critical mineral assets while leveraging ReElement Technologies' refining platform.
"This special dividend, together with our recently authorized share repurchase program, reflects our commitment to disciplined capital allocation,” Jensen said.
“We believe we have the financial flexibility to continue investing in attractive growth opportunities while simultaneously returning capital to shareholders when we believe the market does not fully recognize the intrinsic value of our business."
American Resources said it has transformed its business in recent years through the separation and repositioning of ReElement Technologies, strengthening its balance sheet, expanding Electrified Materials Corp.'s feedstock aggregation platform and advancing domestic critical mineral initiatives. The company stated that these efforts have created a portfolio of strategic assets while maintaining flexibility to pursue additional investments.