Income-focused investors don’t have to sacrifice stability for returns. These three high-yield dividend stocks not only offer attractive payouts but are also backed by strong fundamentals, making them compelling buys for long-term portfolios. Dividend Stock #1: Verizon Communications (VZ) Dividend Yield: 6.36% More News from Barchart My first pick is Verizon Communications (VZ), which continues to show why it is one of the market's most consistent dividend payers. Verizon is a major U.S. telecommunicati ...

So far this year, Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) has offered a benefit that is relatively unusual for high-yield stocks. ...

Group 1: Company Overview - Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is recognized for its ownership of Marlboro and a diverse portfolio that includes oral tobacco products, cigars, and e-vapor devices, as well as a significant stake in Anheuser-Busch [2] - The company has successfully maintained strong profits despite a long-term decline in cigarette use in the US, leveraging price increases, cost-cutting measures, and operational efficiencies [3] Group 2: Financial Performance - Altria has achieved nearly 60% growth in consolidated free cash flow over the past decade, reaching $8.7 billion in the last twelve months [3] - The company has a robust dividend history, having raised its payouts 60 times over the past 56 years, with a current quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 6.54% as of October 2 [5] Group 3: Future Outlook - Altria is investing in non-cigarette products, with stable performance in its cigar segment and growth in newer areas like vaping and nicotine pouches, particularly the on! pouch brand, which saw 26.5% volume growth last quarter [4] - The recent partnership with KT&G in South Korea aims to expand its product offerings and explore potential investments in the energy sector, indicating a strategic shift in the company's direction [4]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group's collaboration with South Korean tobacco giant KT&G could enhance its smoke-free product offerings and secure its high dividend yield for the future [3][6][9] Financial Performance - Altria is a Dividend King with over 50 consecutive years of dividend growth and currently has a forward yield of 6.45% [1] - In Q2 2025, Altria's net revenue fell by 3.6% year-over-year, and GAAP earnings per share decreased by 36.2% [4] - Despite a recent increase in sales of its On! tobacco pouch product, volumes remain significantly lower than market leader Zyn, with On! reporting 52.1 million cans shipped compared to Zyn's 190.2 million cans [5] Strategic Developments - Altria announced a memorandum of understanding for a non-binding global collaboration with KT&G, focusing on the development of non-tobacco nicotine pouches and acquiring an equity stake in Another Snus Factory Stockholm AB [6][7] - The partnership may allow Altria to expand the On! brand globally and explore international growth opportunities for the Loop brand [8] Market Position and Valuation - Altria's potential for growth in non-U.S. markets and modest market share gains in the U.S. nicotine pouch market could stabilize net sales and support modest earnings and dividend growth [9] - Currently, Altria's shares trade at 11.7 times forward earnings, while Philip Morris International trades at nearly 20 times forward earnings, indicating a potential for valuation catch-up [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is identified as a strong investment opportunity with a Buy rating and a price target of $72 from Bank of America Securities [1] Group 1: Growth Opportunities - The partnership with KT&G Corp is highlighted as a significant step for Altria in expanding its presence in the oral nicotine market [2] - Acquiring a substantial stake in Another Snus Factory enhances Altria's position in the smoke-free product segment [2] - The LOOP brand is recognized as a growth opportunity due to its diverse flavor offerings and varying nicotine levels [2] Group 2: Financial and Regulatory Outlook - Altria's financial strategies focus on optimizing and innovating its programs, which is viewed positively [3] - The company is working on improving its pricing power, which is crucial for its profitability [3] - The current regulatory environment is seen as favorable, supporting Altria's long-term growth prospects [3] Group 3: Company Profile - Altria Group, Inc. is a leading American tobacco company that offers a variety of tobacco products aimed at adult consumers aged 21 and older [3]

In this article, we will look at the 11 Best and Cheap Stocks to Buy Right Now.On October 3, Wharton professor and WisdomTree Chief Economist Jeremy Siegel joined CNBC for an interview to discuss the current and near-future outlook for the stock market. He noted that the upward trend in the market remains intact, despite concerns about the government shutdown. Siegel highlighted that he does not see the shutdown derailing the market unless it lasts longer than 2 weeks, which he believes could hurt consumer ...

Core Insights - Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) shares experienced a decline of 1.47% over the past month following a previous gain of 7.36% in the month prior [1] Summary by Category - **Stock Performance** - The stock lost 1.47% in the last month [1] - Prior to this decline, the stock had gained 7.36% [1]

Core Insights - High-yield dividend stocks can provide significant income but come with risks related to sustainability of payouts [1][2] - Current focus on three high-yield stocks: Pfizer, Verizon, and Altria, which yield over 6% [3] Pfizer - Pfizer offers a dividend yield of 7.2%, with a recent quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, marking 347 consecutive quarters of dividends [4] - Concerns exist regarding the sustainability of its dividend due to declining revenue from COVID-19 vaccine sales, with a stock price decline of 30% over the past five years [5] - Despite challenges, Pfizer's free cash flow of $12.4 billion exceeds its $9.6 billion in dividend payouts, indicating potential for maintaining its dividend [5][6] Verizon - Verizon has a dividend yield of 6.3% and announced a dividend increase for the 19th consecutive year [7] - The company's payout ratio is 63%, with projected free cash flow between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion, significantly above its $11.4 billion in annual dividend payments [8] - Verizon's stock has risen by 8% this year, trading at a price-to-earnings multiple of 10, making it an attractive investment for stable income [9] Altria - Altria has a dividend yield of 6.5% and a payout ratio of 79%, suggesting sustainability of its dividend [10] - The company's free cash flow over the past four quarters is $8.7 billion, higher than its annual dividend payments of $6.9 billion [10] - Concerns about Altria's long-term viability exist due to declining tobacco use, with 88% of its revenue still coming from smokeable products, raising doubts about future dividend sustainability [11][12]

Group 1 - Altria is recognized as a top stock for investors seeking high yield while protecting capital, particularly due to its focus on the U.S. market since its 2008 spinoff from Philip Morris International [1] - The company is transitioning from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products, including vapes and nicotine pouches, indicating a strategic pivot in its product offerings [1] - Altria's stock has shown improved price performance, earning upgrades in its Relative Strength Rating, reflecting positive market sentiment [3] Group 2 - Altria's stock offers a dividend yield of 7.1%, positioning it as a competitive option among high-yield stocks [3] - The company has successfully mitigated tariff risks associated with its products, enhancing its market stability [3] - Altria has joined an elite group of stocks with Relative Strength Ratings over 90, showcasing its strong market performance [3]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group's stock has increased by 25% this year, currently trading near all-time highs, while maintaining a high dividend yield of 6.27% [1][2][11] Dividend Yield and Growth - Altria Group has a strong history of dividend growth, with 60 increases in the last 56 years, making it one of the top dividend stocks historically [4] - The dividend yield has decreased from nearly 8% earlier this year to 6.27%, but it remains significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of just over 1% [4] - Over the past decade, Altria's dividend growth has been approximately 87%, contributing to long-term gains for shareholders [5][10] Sustainable Cash Flows - Despite a decline in cigarette usage in the U.S., Altria has managed to grow earnings through consistent price increases, with operating earnings up 4.4% year over year last quarter [6] - Altria is diversifying its product offerings into electronic vaping and nicotine pouches, which are expected to drive long-term growth and counteract declines in cigarette volumes [7] - The company's dividend per share payout over the last 12 months is $4.24, while free cash flow per share is around $5.15, indicating a sustainable capacity for dividend increases [8] Future Outlook - With ongoing price increases, diversification efforts, and a favorable gap between free cash flow and dividend payouts, Altria is positioned to continue its dividend growth over the next decade [10] - A starting dividend yield of 6.27% could potentially yield over 10% on cost basis for shareholders in 10 years, providing consistent income [10]