BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – April 16, 2015 –

The Board of Directors of Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE:ADX) today declared an interim dividend of $0.05 per share, payable June 1, 2015, to shareholders of record May 13, 2015. This dividend represents the second payment this year toward the Fund’s annual 6% minimum distribution rate commitment. In 2014, the Fund paid out distributions at an annual distribution rate of 8.8%. Details regarding the Fund’s annual 6% minimum distribution rate commitment can be found at www.adamsfunds.com.

The Fund also announced its continued outperformance for the first quarter.

First Quarter Performance

For the three months ended March 31st, the total return on Adams Diversified Equity’s net asset value, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, was 2.1%. Comparable figures for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Funds Average (Lipper Peer Group) were 1.0% and 0.9%, respectively. The total return on Adams Diversified Equity’s market price was 2.4%.

For the twelve months ended March 31st, the total return on Adams Diversified Equity’s net asset value, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, was 15.6%. Comparable figures for the S&P 500 and the Lipper Peer Group were 12.7% and 10.6%, respectively. The total return on Adams Diversified Equity’s market price was 16.8%.

The Fund’s net asset value at March 31, 2015, compared with the year earlier, was: :

Net Asset Value

3/31/15 3/31/14
Net assets $1,548,832,631 $1,427,592,834
Shares outstanding 95,922,372 94,048,123
Net asset value per share $16.15 $15.18

The Fund repurchased 382,500 shares of its common stock during the first quarter at an average price per share of $13.93 and a weighted average discount to net asset value of 13.8%.

The Fund realized a net capital gain of $0.30 per share from the securities transactions that it conducted during the quarter.

The First Quarter Report to Shareholders is expected to be released on or about April 24, 2015.

Adams Diversified Equity Fund, Inc., formerly known as 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 ticker symbol ADX.


For further information, please contact:

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.
General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Compliance Officer
410.752.5900 or 800.638.2479
email