Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2][3] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]

Dividend Stocks Overview - Dividend yield is a key metric for investors, indicating how much a company pays in annual dividends relative to its stock price [1] - The sustainability of a company's dividend yield is often assessed through its dividend payout ratio, which shows the percentage of net income distributed as dividends [1][3] - A high dividend yield may result from a declining stock price, which could indicate underlying issues [2] Altria Group (MO) - Altria Group has a dividend yield of 6.83% and an annual dividend of $4.08, with a payout ratio of 68.34% [5][6] - The company has a strong track record of 56 consecutive years of dividend increases and an annualized 3-year dividend growth of 4.35% [5][8] - Despite the decline in traditional tobacco smoking, Altria is pivoting towards alternative nicotine products, which may support future revenue and earnings growth [7] - The stock has delivered a total return of over 609% in the last 15 years, and its current P/E ratio of 9x indicates it is undervalued compared to its historical performance [6][7] United Parcel Service (UPS) - UPS has a dividend yield of 6.88% and an annual dividend of $6.56, with a high payout ratio of 95.63% [9][10] - The company has a history of maintaining dividends even during economic downturns, with a cash flow payout ratio of 66% [10] - UPS is undergoing a turnaround plan that is expected to improve margins, and its P/E ratio is around 14x, which is a discount to historical averages [11] Verizon Communications (VZ) - Verizon has a dividend yield of 6.25% and an annual dividend of $2.71, with a payout ratio of 64.52% [12][14] - The company has a 20-year track record of dividend increases, but its recent total return over 10 years is only 45.22% [13][14] - Verizon is facing challenges with subscriber losses but has received FCC approval for a deal to acquire Frontier, which may enhance its competitive position [13][14]

Investment Rating - Industry rating is maintained as "Outperform the Market" [9] Core Insights - The new tobacco market continues to grow, with heated tobacco products leading in market size and nicotine pouches experiencing the fastest growth [2][3] - The global tobacco market is undergoing significant changes, with Japan's tobacco business expanding rapidly [4] - The global supply of tobacco leaves is facing shortages, leading to widespread price increases across the industry [14] Summary by Sections Electronic Cigarettes - In 2024, global e-cigarette sales are projected to reach $23.04 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.5% [3] - Sales of disposable e-cigarettes grew by 18.9% to 840 million units, generating $6.42 billion in revenue, up 19.6% [3] - Open system e-cigarettes saw sales of 85.16 million devices and 12.23 million liters of e-liquid, with revenues of $2.62 billion and $5.49 billion respectively [3] Traditional Tobacco Products - Traditional oral tobacco products, including chewing and snuff tobacco, are experiencing a decline, with 2024 sales expected to drop by 0.8% to 115,000 tons [3] - Revenue from traditional oral tobacco is projected to decrease by 0.1% to $13.82 billion [3] Nicotine Pouches - Nicotine pouch sales are expected to grow by 36.9% to 21.23 billion pouches in 2024, with revenue reaching $11.25 billion, a 51.0% increase [3] - The United States leads in nicotine pouch sales with 13.88 billion pouches sold [3] Heated Tobacco Products - Sales of heated tobacco products are projected to grow by 12.7% to $38.85 billion in 2024 [3] - The volume of heated tobacco devices sold is expected to increase by 11.7% to 45.26 million units, with revenue rising by 14.7% to $2.44 billion [3] Company Performance - Philip Morris International reported a net income of $14.66 billion from its smoke-free products, a 14.2% increase, accounting for 38.7% of total revenue [5] - British American Tobacco's Vuse e-cigarette sales declined by 5.9% to 616 million units, impacted by illegal disposable e-cigarettes in the U.S. [6] - Japan Tobacco's Ploom brand heated tobacco sales grew by 24.2% to 218,000 boxes, primarily driven by the Ploom X model [7] Market Dynamics - The global tobacco market is experiencing intense competition, with multinational companies showing divergent growth patterns [4] - The supply chain for tobacco is under pressure due to climate-related shortages and rising prices [14]

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] - The author holds long positions in several companies including JEPI, TGT, BP, MO, and FSK [1] Group 2 - The article is presented as personal opinion and not as professional investment advice [2] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before making investment decisions [2] - The views expressed may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole [3]

Group 1 - The article introduces JB Analytics as a new contributing analyst for Seeking Alpha, encouraging individuals to share investment ideas and get published [1] - Jalwa Begum, the individual investor mentioned, has a Bachelor of Commerce and focuses on long-term value investing, particularly in sectors like technology, healthcare, consumer goods, and industrials [2] - The investment approach is influenced by classic value investors, seeking quality businesses trading below intrinsic value and emphasizing a long-term holding strategy [2] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of thoughtful analysis and disciplined investment practices in navigating economic fluctuations [2] - It highlights the value of connecting with a community of like-minded investors to refine investment thinking and provide useful insights [2]

Group 1 - Half of the Barron's Better Bets (BBB) collection is considered too expensive or has low dividends, but nine of the twelve highest yield "Dogs" with the safest dividends are recommended for purchase [1] - Altria is highlighted as a potential buy within the BBB collection [1] Group 2 - A live video series on Facebook, hosted by Fredrik Arnold, features daily portfolio candidates and encourages audience interaction regarding stock preferences [2]

Company Overview - Altria Group is adapting to changing industry dynamics, focusing on expanding beyond traditional cigarettes into the smokeless category due to rising health consciousness and government regulations [11] - Revenues from the oral product category are steadily increasing, driven by the growing popularity of reduced-risk products [11] Investment Ratings - Altria has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of A, indicating a solid position in the market [12] - The company is considered a potential top pick for growth investors, with a Growth Style Score of B, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 4.5% for the current fiscal year [12] Earnings Estimates - Four analysts have revised their earnings estimates higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2025, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.03 to $5.35 per share [12] - Altria has an average earnings surprise of 1.3%, suggesting a positive outlook for its earnings performance [12] Conclusion - With a solid Zacks Rank and strong Growth and VGM Style Scores, Altria is recommended for investors' consideration [13]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. are two leading players in the tobacco industry, with diverging strategies as they transition from traditional tobacco to reduced-risk products (RRPs) [1][2]. Altria Group, Inc. - Altria commands over 40% of the U.S. cigarette market, but faces declining cigarette volumes and reduced pricing power, with net revenues from smokeable products falling 5.8% to $4,622 million in Q1 2025 [5][6]. - The company is focusing on building a smoke-free portfolio, particularly in modern oral nicotine and vapor products, with its on! nicotine pouch seeing an 18% year-over-year growth in shipment volumes [6][7]. - Altria's e-vapor efforts have faced challenges, including the removal of NJOY ACE from the market due to regulatory issues, but the company aims to innovate and develop compliant vapor products [7][8]. - Operating solely in the U.S. presents both advantages and challenges, as regulatory pressures increase, limiting innovation and complicating execution [8]. Philip Morris International Inc. - Philip Morris is leading the global shift towards a smoke-free future, with its IQOS heat-not-burn device gaining traction in markets like Japan and Europe [9][10]. - The company has strengthened its smoke-free product portfolio through the acquisition of Swedish Match, enhancing its position in the oral nicotine segment [10][11]. - In Q1 2025, smoke-free products contributed 42% of total revenues and 44% of gross profit, with a 15% year-over-year revenue increase [11]. - Philip Morris benefits from a global footprint, allowing for better regulatory risk diversification and broader growth opportunities compared to Altria [12]. Financial Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Philip Morris' 2025 EPS has increased by 3.3% to $7.47, indicating a projected growth of 13.7%, while Altria's estimate has risen by 1.3% to $5.35, reflecting a growth of 4.5% [13]. - Philip Morris trades at a forward P/E of 22.20x, while Altria trades at 10.97x, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for Philip Morris' growth visibility [14]. - Over the past year, Philip Morris' stock has gained 73.9%, outperforming Altria's 29.6% and the industry's 54.5%, showcasing investor confidence in its growth strategy [16]. Conclusion - Philip Morris stands out with its successful transition to RRPs, global diversification, and stronger earnings growth outlook, while Altria's U.S. market dominance is tempered by regulatory challenges and a slower transition to RRPs [17].

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2][3] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]

| | ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | | | --- | --- | --- | | UAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS | | lease limit | | | | possible, a | | Thursday, May 15, 2025 | Thursday, May 15, 2025 | al meeting | | 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) | 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) | | | AGENDA | RULES OF CONDUCT | d otherwise | | | | id to those | | | Welcome to Altria Group, Inc.'s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders ("Annual Meeting"). It is | nformation | | | our goal to conduct a fair and informative Annual Meeting, and we ask that you ob ...