** Shares of property and casualty insurer American Coastal Insurance jump as much as 13.6%; last up 7.8% at $14.31

** ACIC declares special cash dividend of 50 cents/shr payable on Jan. 10 to shareholders

** Meanwhile, ACIC forecasts 2025 net premiums earned to be between $290 mln and $320 mln, compared with Wall Street expectations of $319.4 mln - LSEG data

** As of last close, ACIC shares up 40.3% YTD

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))