Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. has experienced strong stock performance, rising 11.8% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500's 8% growth and the declines in the Zacks Consumer Staples sector and Zacks Tobacco industry [1][8] - The company's focus on smoke-free products is a key driver of its growth, capitalizing on the consumer shift towards reduced-risk products [5][15] - Altria's second-quarter earnings showed an 8.3% year-over-year increase in adjusted EPS to $1.44, supported by higher pricing, operational efficiencies, and share repurchases [6][8] Stock Performance - Altria closed at $65.40, just 4.7% below its 52-week high of $68.60, indicating bullish market sentiment [4] - The stock is trading above its 200-day moving average, further signaling positive investor sentiment [4] Competitive Landscape - Performance among Altria's peers has been mixed, with Philip Morris International declining 12.1% and British American Tobacco falling 0.7%, while Turning Point Brands rose 16.2% [3] Revenue and Earnings - Revenues, net of excise taxes, remained steady at $5.29 billion, reflecting the strength of Altria's diversified portfolio [9] - The company raised its lower end of 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.35-$5.45, indicating expected growth of 3-5% [9] Product Segments - The on! nicotine pouch brand saw shipments increase by 26.5% year-over-year, contributing to a rise in retail share to 8.7% [10] - Altria's smokeable products segment showed resilience, with adjusted operating income growing 4.2% and Marlboro maintaining a 59.5% market share in the premium category [11] Valuation - Altria's forward 12-month P/E ratio is 11.81, below the industry average of 14.51, making it an attractive value opportunity compared to peers [12][16] - The stock presents a compelling mix of stability and growth potential for investors seeking exposure to the tobacco sector [16]

Core Viewpoint - Altria (MO) is currently outperforming the Consumer Staples sector, with a year-to-date return of approximately 25.1% compared to the sector's average return of 0.1% [4] Company Performance - Altria has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook and strong potential for outperformance in the market [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's full-year earnings has increased by 1.2% over the past quarter, reflecting improved analyst sentiment [4] - Despite its strong performance relative to the Consumer Staples sector, Altria is slightly underperforming its specific industry, the Tobacco industry, which has gained an average of 33.8% year-to-date [6] Industry Context - Altria is part of the Tobacco industry, which consists of 8 individual stocks and currently ranks 164 in the Zacks Industry Rank [6] - In contrast, Ollie's Bargain Outlet (OLLI), another Consumer Staples stock, has returned 17.6% year-to-date and belongs to the Consumer Products - Staples industry, which has seen a decline of -10.4% this year [5][7]

Company Overview - Altria Group, Inc. is valued at $109.1 billion and is a leading tobacco company based in Richmond, Virginia, owning brands like Marlboro, Black & Mild, and Copenhagen, with operations in smokeable products, oral tobacco, and wine [1] Upcoming Earnings - Altria is set to release its third-quarter results on October 30, with analysts expecting an adjusted EPS of $1.44, reflecting a 4.4% increase from $1.38 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the expected adjusted EPS is $5.43, which is a 6.1% increase from $5.12 in fiscal 2024 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Altria's shares have increased by 31.2%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's return of 13.4% and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's decline of 3.5% [4] Analyst Ratings - Bank of America Securities analyst Lisa Lewandowski has reaffirmed a "Buy" rating on Altria, leading to a 1.3% increase in share price following the announcement [5] - The consensus rating on Altria is neutral, with 15 analysts providing ratings: 4 "Strong Buy," 9 "Hold," 1 "Moderate Sell," and 1 "Strong Sell," with the stock trading slightly above the mean price target of $62.27 [6]

Core Insights - Traditional investments remain viable options despite the growing focus on AI and large-cap tech companies [1] Group 1 - The article emphasizes that solid and old-fashioned investments can still be good financial choices [1]

Core Viewpoint - Altria's stock is considered undervalued, with its valuation reflecting negative free cash flow per share growth for the next decade [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment approach focuses on GARP (growth at a reasonable price) stocks while also seeking opportunities in other areas [1] - There is no specified time horizon for investments; the strategy is to hold stocks as long as the investment thesis remains valid [1] Group 2: Analytical Background - The analyst has developed market-beating algorithms using Python to identify attractive investment opportunities [1] - Previous experience includes roles at TipRanks as an analysis/news writer and editor, enhancing market awareness and understanding of reader interests [1] - The analyst emphasizes the importance of accuracy and detail in financial information, aiming to correct misinformation in the market [1]

Core Insights - Altria's stock is considered undervalued, with its valuation reflecting negative free cash flow per share growth for the next decade [1] - The investment strategy focuses on GARP (growth at a reasonable price) stocks while also exploring other opportunities [1] - The investment horizon is flexible, with a focus on holding stocks as long as the investment thesis remains valid [1] Company Analysis - Altria's current valuation suggests a pessimistic outlook, indicating potential for recovery if the company's fundamentals improve [1] - The analyst has developed algorithms to identify attractive investment opportunities, indicating a data-driven approach to investment [1] Market Context - The article emphasizes the importance of accurate information in the investment landscape, highlighting the prevalence of misinformation [1] - The analyst's background in writing and editing for financial news platforms contributes to a deeper understanding of market trends and investor interests [1]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's journey in dividend growth investing and the establishment of a blog that documents this journey, aiming for financial independence [1]. Group 1 - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since around 2009 [1]. - The blog "Kody's Dividends" was launched in July 2018 to document the author's financial independence journey through dividend growth investing [1]. - The author expresses gratitude for the blog's role in connecting with the Seeking Alpha community as an analyst [1].

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's journey in dividend growth investing and the establishment of a blog that documents this journey, aiming for financial independence [1] Group 1 - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since around 2009 [1] - The blog "Kody's Dividends" was launched in July 2018 to share insights and experiences related to dividend growth investing [1] - The author expresses gratitude for the blog's role in connecting with the Seeking Alpha community as an analyst [1] Group 2 - The author holds long positions in shares of companies such as MO, BTI, and PM, either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [1] - The article reflects the author's personal opinions and does not involve compensation from any mentioned companies [1]

Group 1 - The French tire maker has cut its full-year outlook due to worsening market conditions [1] - The company cites the impact of U.S. tariffs as a significant factor affecting its performance [1] - There has been a sharp decline in sales in North America, contributing to the revised outlook [1]

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc.'s oral tobacco business is experiencing strong profitability, with adjusted operating companies income (OCI) margins increasing to 68.7% in Q2 2025, a rise of 3.1 percentage points year-over-year [1][8] - The growth driver is the on! nicotine pouches, which saw a volume increase of 26.5%, compensating for declines in traditional moist smokeless tobacco (MST) brands [2][8] - Sustaining profitability will depend on product mix, competitive pressures, and pricing dynamics in the nicotine pouch category [3][4] Oral Tobacco Business Performance - Altria's oral tobacco segment demonstrates strong operating efficiency despite a 1% dip in total shipment volumes [1][4] - The adjusted OCI increased by 10.9% due to strong pricing and cost efficiencies [2] - The share of on! in the nicotine pouch segment decreased by 2.3 percentage points to 16.7%, while its share in the total U.S. oral tobacco category rose to 8.7% [3] Competitive Landscape - Philip Morris International Inc. reported an adjusted operating income margin of 41.9% in Q2 2025, highlighting effective global pricing and cost management strategies [5] - Turning Point Brands, Inc. achieved a Stoker's products segment adjusted operating income margin of 44.3%, reflecting strong manufacturing efficiency and pricing power [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - Altria's shares have increased by 2.5% over the past month, contrasting with a 1.8% decline in the industry [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Altria is 12.02X, lower than the industry average of 14.68X [10] - Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year earnings growth of 6.1% for 2025 and 2.5% for 2026 [11]