As we head into 2025, investors are reflecting on what was a red-hot 2024 for the stock market. Despite ending on a softer-than-expected note as the Fed tempered rate cut expectations, it was still a solid year all around, and the mood remains optimistic.  However, with last year's 20% rally fresh in mind, many are questioning whether the market can sustain such momentum for another 12 months. While individual opportunities for this kind of appreciation remain, another strategy to consider is to focus on di ...

Dividend Strategy - Altria Group prioritizes consistently growing dividends, targeting a mid-single-digit percentage annual increase [1] - The company started paying a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share in October, up from $0.98, resulting in an annual dividend of $4.08 per share [3] - To generate $500 in annual dividends, an investor would need to own approximately 123 shares of Altria stock, costing over $6,400 based on the stock's closing price on Dec 31, 2024 [3] Dividend Yield and Sustainability - Altria offers a high dividend yield of 7.8%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.3% [4] - The company's free cash flow of $5.3 billion year-to-date covers the $5.1 billion in dividends paid, indicating sustainability [5] Business Performance - Smokeable-products volume fell 10% in the first nine months of 2024 to 53.3 million units [5] - Marlboro's market share declined to 41.7% at the end of Q3 2024, down from 42.3% a year ago [5] - While GAAP diluted earnings per share grew 9.8% in Q3, revenue growth remained weak at 1.3% [6] Industry Challenges - Altria operates in the challenging tobacco industry, with declining volumes and market share in its core smokeable-products business [4][5]

Company Overview - Altria Group (NYSE: MO) is highlighted as a top-tier consumer staple stock with a highly profitable smoking business that has historically provided substantial shareholder distributions [1] Industry Trends - The smoking industry has faced challenges in recent years due to a progressing movement, though specific details on the nature of this movement are not provided [1] Investment Strategy - Dividend investing is emphasized as a key strategy for achieving financial freedom, with Altria Group being a core holding in the author's portfolio [1] - The author's focus spans sectors including tech, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples, with consumer staples being a significant part of their investment strategy [1] Author's Background - The author has deep experience in M&A and business valuation, with a focus on financial modeling, due diligence, and deal negotiation [1] - The author's motivation for writing is to share insights and experiences in dividend investing, aiming to make the process more approachable for others [1]

Altria (MO -0.42%) owns the Marlboro brand, which has a roughly 41% market share in North America. That's huge and highlights the company's dominance in this geographic region. But the downside here is that Altria is only operating in this single region. If history is any guide, Altria's cigarette business will continue to worsen over the next three years.Altria may have made a big mistakeA few years back, Altria spun off Philip Morris International as a separate company. Altria retained its North American ...

Altria Group, Inc. (MO) stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9.85, representing a 16.9% discount compared to the Zacks Tobacco industry’s average of 11.85. This suggests that MO is undervalued, particularly when compared to key industry competitors such as Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) , which has a higher P/E ratio of 16.92, and Turning Point Brands, Inc. (TPB) , which trades at an even higher multiple of 19.34.While this lower valuation could attract va ...

They say that investing is a journey. Just over a year ago, I recommended readers to sell Altria (NYSE: MO ), but now I have changed my opinion entirely. This shift was based on the company's unexpected resilience, competitive positioning, and whatAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MO either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from See ...

Altria (MO) ended the recent trading session at $52.99, demonstrating a -0.49% swing from the preceding day's closing price. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.09%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.04%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.1%.The owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker's stock has dropped by 4.88% in the past month, falling short of the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 1.58% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.29%.The upcoming earnings release of ...

Portfolio allocation is a crucial factor that determines performance over the long term. This article will show you how to build a $100,000 dividend portfolio using 2 ETFs and 10 dividend paying companies, from which Altria (I specialize in constructing investment portfolios aimed at generating additional income through dividends. My focus lies on identifying companies with significant competitive advantages and strong financials that can provide you with an attractive Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth, th ...

Are you looking for a steady income stream to help you cover your monthly expenses or planning for retirement with the goal of achieving sustainable dividend income?I specialize in constructing investment portfolios aimed at generating additional income through dividends. My focus lies on identifying companies with significant competitive advantages and strong financials that can provide you with an attractive Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth, thus enabling you to augment your dividend income annually. By ...

I am a full-time analyst interested in a wide range of stocks. With my unique insights and knowledge, I hope to provide other investors with a contrasting view of my portfolio, given my particular background.If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via a direct message on Seeking Alpha or leave a comment on one of my articles.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the ...