Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc.'s nicotine pouch business, operated through Helix Innovations, is becoming a significant driver of the company's oral tobacco segment as traditional categories decline [1][5] Group 1: Helix Innovations Performance - Helix shipped 42.2 million cans of on! in the third quarter of 2025, with shipments for the first nine months rising 14.8% to 133.6 million cans, outperforming other oral tobacco categories [2][9] - Helix's contribution to earnings quality is notable, stabilizing adjusted operating income and expanding margins despite a decline in total segment volumes [3][9] - Helix launched on! PLUS in select states, offering multiple flavors and nicotine strengths, which could further enhance growth [3] Group 2: Pricing and Market Position - Average nicotine pouch prices fell approximately 7% nationally, while on! retail prices increased by about 1.5% year over year in the third quarter [4][9] - on!'s retail share of total oral tobacco remained at 8.7%, unchanged sequentially and down 0.1 share point year over year [4] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Philip Morris International Inc. reported a 36% increase in global ZYN can shipments and a 39% growth in U.S. ZYN offtake, supported by commercial activities and capacity investments [6] - Turning Point Brands, Inc. experienced a 627.6% year-over-year growth in modern oral segment net sales, now representing 30.8% of its revenues, and raised its full-year sales outlook to $125-$130 million [7] Group 4: Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Altria's shares have decreased by 0.8% in the past month, while the industry has grown by 1.6% [8] - Altria trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.36X, lower than the industry's average of 14.47X [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's 2025 and 2026 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 6.3% and 2.3%, respectively [11]

魏震，2003年毕业于中国科技大学计算机系。 在短短八年的时间里，他经历了从普通程序员到腾讯高 管，再到自己创业并推出热门网页游戏《摩尔庄园》，最终成功带领公司上市的辉煌历程。 然而，令 许多人意外的是，正当魏震事业如日中天时，他却做出了一个令人震惊的决定：辞去所有职位，带着妻 子和儿子离开繁华都市，来到远离喧嚣的乡村，过起了归隐的生活。那么，是什么样的经历促使他做出 这样的选择？他现在又过得如何呢？ 投身互联网，快速晋升 魏震是那种典型的天赋加努力型学霸。 从小，他对计算机产生浓厚兴趣，不同 于其他孩子沉迷于游戏，他更喜欢思考游戏背后的运行原理，甚至立下志愿，要成为一名杰出的程序 员，开发属于自己的软件。 当时学校没有计算机专业，他便暗下决心，一定要进入一所有计算机课程 的大学。经过努力，他如愿考入了中国科学技术大学计算机专业，并在大学里表现突出，成绩始终名列 前茅。魏震的兴趣不仅限于课堂学习，他还积极参加各种比赛，和老师探讨学术问题，并努力将理论应 用到实践中，经常泡在机房编写代码。 2003年，魏震从中科大研究生毕业，顺利进入华为实习。 那 时，我国的互联网事业还处于探索阶段，能进入华为这样的大公司是相 ...

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 increases through reinvestment and annual raises [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy.Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yield ...

Core Insights - During market turbulence, investors often seek dividend-yielding stocks, which typically have high free cash flows and offer substantial dividends [1] Group 1: Conagra Brands Inc (NYSE:CAG) - Conagra Brands has a dividend yield of 8.20% [6] - Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers maintained a Hold rating and reduced the price target from $19 to $18, with an accuracy rate of 66% [6] - Morgan Stanley analyst Megan Alexander maintained an Equal-Weight rating and lowered the price target from $21 to $19, with an accuracy rate of 67% [6] - Recent news indicates that Conagra Brands posted mixed quarterly results on December 19 [6] Group 2: Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) - Altria Group has a dividend yield of 7.19% [6] - B of A Securities analyst Lisa Lewandowski maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $64 to $72, with an accuracy rate of 58% [6] - Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain maintained an Underweight rating and increased the price target from $49 to $57, with an accuracy rate of 57% [6] - Recent news includes the retirement of CEO Billy Gifford and the appointment of Sal Mancuso as his successor on December 11 [6] Group 3: Flowers Foods Inc (NYSE:FLO) - Flowers Foods has a dividend yield of 9.11% [6] - DA Davidson analyst Brian Holland maintained a Neutral rating with a price target of $15, with an accuracy rate of 53% [6] - Jefferies analyst Rob Dickerson maintained a Hold rating and reduced the price target from $23 to $20, with an accuracy rate of 64% [6] - Recent news shows that Flowers Foods posted in-line quarterly earnings on November 6 [6]

Group 1 - Altria Group, Inc. is recognized as one of the Best Stocks for a Dividend Achievers List, highlighting its strong dividend performance [1] - Bank of America analyst Lisa Lewandowski has reduced the price target for Altria from $66 to $64 while maintaining a Buy rating, indicating a cautious outlook on consumption growth in the consumer staples sector [2] - Despite declining cigarette shipments, Altria has managed to stabilize revenue and earnings through price increases, as tobacco users tend to remain loyal to their preferred brands [2] Group 2 - The dividend is a central aspect of Altria's investment case, with a target payout ratio of about 80% of adjusted earnings per share, which provides flexibility in a slow-growth environment [3] - Altria's portfolio includes well-known tobacco brands such as Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal, and Virginia Slims, reinforcing its market presence [4]

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. are major players in the global tobacco industry, each with unique geographic exposure and strategic focuses [1][2] - Altria has a market capitalization of approximately $98.5 billion, primarily focused on the U.S. market, while Philip Morris has a larger market cap of about $248.6 billion, reflecting its international presence and innovation in reduced-risk products [1][2] Altria's Position - Altria maintains a strong position in the U.S. tobacco market, with a 64.4% adjusted operating companies income margin in Q3 2025, indicating strong pricing power despite declining cigarette volumes [3][6] - The company is investing in smoke-free products, with on! nicotine pouch shipments reaching 133.6 million cans year-to-date, and continues to innovate with products like on! PLUS and Horizon's Ploom [4][8] - Altria increased its quarterly dividend by 3.9% to $1.06 per share in August 2025, marking its 60th dividend increase in 56 years, and expanded its share-repurchase authorization to $2 billion through 2026 [5] - Domestic cigarette shipment volumes declined by 8.2% in Q3, and Marlboro's market share decreased by 1.2 percentage points to 40.4%, highlighting ongoing challenges [6] Philip Morris' Growth - Philip Morris is increasingly focused on smoke-free products, which accounted for 41% of total net revenues and 42% of gross profit in Q3 2025, with shipments growing by 16.6% year-over-year [7][9] - Key smoke-free brands like IQOS, ZYN, and VEEV are driving revenue growth, with IQOS leading in heated tobacco globally [9] - Operational discipline and cost controls have supported margin expansion and earnings growth, while the combustible segment remains under pressure with a 3.2% decline in cigarette shipment volumes [10][11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of approximately 6.3% for 2025 and 2.3% for 2026, remaining unchanged at $5.44 and $5.56 respectively [12] - For Philip Morris, the consensus estimate implies year-over-year growth of 14.2% for 2025 and 11.3% for 2026, with estimates slightly down to $7.50 and $8.35 [14] Stock Performance and Valuation - Over the past year, Altria's shares have increased by 17.4%, while Philip Morris has seen a stronger gain of 33.9% [15] - Altria's forward P/E ratio is 10.54, below its one-year median of 10.80, while Philip Morris' forward P/E ratio stands at 19.17, also below its median of 20.59 [16] Investment Appeal - Philip Morris offers stronger global growth and leadership in reduced-risk products, while Altria provides a compelling value proposition with higher income visibility and resilient margins [17] - Altria is viewed as a better option for income-focused investors seeking stability and consistent returns amid the industry's transition to smoke-free products [17]

alengo / E+ via Getty Images One question about how likely a company is to raise its dividend next year is whether it has already raised it for decades. If one is willing to posit that, several companies are likely candidates. 24/7 Wall St. Key Points These four companies have increased their dividends annually for decades. And they will mostly likely boost their payouts again in the coming year. If you’re thinking about retiring or know someone who is, there are three quick questions causing many ...

Key Takeaways MO doubled its share repurchase authorization to $2B and extended the program's expiration to Dec. 31, 2026.MO repurchased 12.3M shares for $712M in the first nine months of 2025, including 1.9M shares bought in Q3.MO plans to spread repurchases through 2026 keeping buybacks a consistent part of the capital return strategy.Altria Group, Inc. ((MO) recently made a notable move in its capital allocation strategy, with its management authorizing an expansion of the existing share repurchase progr ...

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group Inc. continues to thrive in a challenging economic environment, supported by a strong dividend history and significant cash flow, making it an attractive investment option despite the declining cigarette usage trend in the U.S. [1][2][6] Financial Performance - Altria's revenue for the most recent quarter was $5.3 billion, reflecting a 6% year-over-year decline, while adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 6% to $1.23 [7] - The company maintains a guidance of a 2% to 5% increase in EPS for the full year, indicating confidence in its financial outlook [7] Dividend Policy - Altria has raised its dividend for 56 consecutive years, with a current dividend of $4.24, resulting in a forward yield of 7.3%, enhancing its appeal during stock market downturns [2][4] - The company plans to continue increasing its dividend through 2028, supported by strong cash flow and a robust balance sheet [2] Market Context - Approximately 29 million Americans smoke cigarettes, contributing to Altria's sustained revenue despite a modest decline in overall cigarette use over the past decade [4][6] - The ongoing affordability crisis, characterized by rising prices for essential goods, positions Altria's products as inflation-proof, potentially making it a favorable investment choice [5][8]