The Adams Express Company Reports Outperformance for Third Quarter

BALTIMORE, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Adams Express Company (NYSE:
ADX) today announced that its performance for the nine-month period ended
September 30, 2009 continues to top its benchmarks. The total return on net
asset value, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, was 22.9%.
Comparable figures for the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index ("S&P
500") and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average were 19.3% and 20.4%,
respectively. The total return on Adams Express' market value was an even
better 23.9%.

For the twelve months ended September 30, 2009, the total return on Adams
Express' net asset value, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, was
(2.1)%. Comparable figures for the S&P 500 and the Lipper Large-Cap Core
Mutual Fund Average were (6.9)% and (5.9)%, respectively. The total return on
Adams Express' market value was (2.0)%.

Adams Express' net asset value at September 30, 2009, compared with the year
earlier, is:
Net Asset Value
---------------
9/30/2009 9/30/2008
--------- ---------
Net assets $998,184,870 $1,094,622,017
Shares outstanding 86,117,331 85,506,641
Net assets per share $11.59 $12.80

The net capital gain realized on investments for the nine months was $0.30 per
share.

Year-to-date, the Company has repurchased 1,320,849 shares of its Common
Stock.

Securities Transactions

During the quarter, Adams Express added two new names to its portfolio through
the purchases of Apple Inc. and Google Inc., and increased its holdings in
Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Oshkosh, PNC Financial, QUALCOMM, and Senomyx.

In addition, Adams Express eliminated two positions from its portfolio with
the sales of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and 3M Co., and reduced its holdings in
Avon Products, Coca-Cola, Corning, Del Monte Foods, Hospira, Pfizer, and Teva
Pharmaceutical.

Adams Express is a Baltimore-based closed-end investment company. It is
listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ADX. The Third Quarter
Report will be mailed to stockholders and posted to our website:
www.adamsexpress.com on or about October 16, 2009.

For further information please contact:

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

(410) 752-5900 or (800) 638-2479
Email: contact@adamsexpress.com
Website: www.adamsexpress.com

SOURCE Adams Express Company

Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr., Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, The
Adams Express Company, +1-410-752-5900, or +1-800-638-2479,
contact@adamsexpress.com