Group 1: Philip Morris - Philip Morris International Inc. has a history of increasing dividends for 17 consecutive years, with the latest increase on September 19 raising the quarterly payout from $1.35 to $1.47 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $5.88 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Philip Morris stock is 3.69% [3] - The company's annual revenue as of June 30 is reported at $39.06 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues of $10.14 billion, which missed the consensus estimate of $10.30 billion, while EPS of $1.91 exceeded the consensus of $1.85 [4] Group 2: Southern Company - The Southern Company has raised its dividends for 24 consecutive years, with the most recent increase on April 21 raising the quarterly payout from $0.72 to $0.74, equating to an annual figure of $2.96 per share [5] - The current dividend yield for Southern Company stands at 3.02% [5] - The company's annual revenue as of June 30 is reported at $28.36 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues of $6.97 billion and EPS of $0.92, both surpassing consensus estimates [6] Group 3: Clorox - The Clorox Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, with a diverse portfolio that includes cleaning and disinfecting products, food products, and personal care items [7]

Core Insights - Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) is expected to report growth in both revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2025, with revenue estimated at $10.7 billion, reflecting an 8% increase year-over-year [1][10] - The earnings consensus has slightly decreased to $2.10 per share, indicating a nearly 10% rise compared to the previous year's quarter [2][10] Revenue and Earnings Expectations - The revenue estimate of $10.7 billion represents an 8% increase from the prior-year quarter [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) estimate of $2.10 suggests a growth of almost 10% from the same quarter last year [2] Key Growth Drivers - Continued momentum in PM's smoke-free product portfolio, particularly with IQOS, ZYN, and VEEV, is expected to drive growth [3][10] - Management anticipates double-digit volume growth in smoke-free products for the second half of 2025, supported by a multicategory strategy aimed at converting users from combustible products [3] Operational Efficiency and Cost Management - PM is on track to achieve $2 billion in gross cost savings through its 2024-2026 program, focusing on manufacturing productivity and overhead optimization [4] - Despite investments in marketing and brand equity potentially impacting profitability, operational efficiency and pricing initiatives are expected to protect profit margins [4][10] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for PM, as it holds a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of -0.66% [5]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for Philip Morris, driven by higher revenues, with a focus on how actual results compare to estimates impacting stock price [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - Philip Morris is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.10 per share, reflecting a +10% year-over-year change, and revenues of $10.66 billion, which is a 7.6% increase from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 0.02% over the last 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model indicates that the Most Accurate Estimate for Philip Morris is lower than the consensus estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -0.66%, suggesting bearish sentiment among analysts [12]. Historical Performance - Philip Morris has consistently beaten consensus EPS estimates in the past four quarters, with a notable surprise of +3.24% in the last reported quarter [13][14]. Investment Considerations - Despite the historical performance, the current combination of a negative Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 makes it challenging to predict an earnings beat for Philip Morris [12][17].

Group 1 - Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is recognized as a strong stock, with Jim Cramer highlighting it as one of his favorites despite personal reservations about its product line [1] - The company manufactures and sells cigarettes and smoke-free products, including IQOS and ZYN nicotine brands, and is actively working to transition away from traditional tobacco products [1] - Cramer acknowledges the company's strong performance and potential for continued success, although he refrains from recommending the stock due to its core business [1] Group 2 - The article suggests that while PM has investment potential, certain AI stocks may offer greater upside and lower downside risk, indicating a shift in investment focus [1]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Tobacco industry is facing significant challenges, including declining cigarette sales due to shifting consumer preferences, inflationary pressures, and tightening regulations [1][4] - Rising health awareness and stricter restrictions on smoking are reducing demand for traditional tobacco products, negatively impacting overall industry performance [1][4] Key Trends - **Challenges in Cigarette Sales Volumes**: The industry is experiencing a decline in cigarette sales driven by inflation and changing consumer spending patterns, alongside regulatory restrictions on sales and advertising [4] - **Escalated Costs**: Industry participants are affected by cost inflation related to essential materials, energy, and labor, which poses risks to profit margins [5] - **Rising Popularity of Smoke-Free Options**: There is a growing demand for smoke-free alternatives like heated tobacco and vapor products, driven by health awareness and regulatory changes [6] Industry Performance - The Zacks Tobacco industry currently ranks 165, placing it in the bottom 32% of over 243 Zacks industries, indicating dull near-term prospects [7][8] - The industry's consensus estimate for current financial year earnings has decreased by 1.2% since August 2025, reflecting a negative earnings outlook [9] Market Comparison - Over the past year, the Zacks Tobacco industry has outperformed the S&P 500, gaining 36.4% compared to the S&P 500's growth of 18.4% [11] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.44X, lower than the S&P 500's 23.53X and the sector's 16.37X [14] Company Highlights - **Philip Morris International**: This company is transitioning towards a smoke-free future, focusing on reduced-risk products (RRPs) and has seen a 30% increase in shares over the past year [17][19] - **Altria Group**: Altria is prioritizing RRPs and has experienced a 31.7% surge in shares over the past year, supported by its strong legacy brands [22][23] - **Turning Point Brands**: This company has gained momentum with a 105.8% increase in shares over the past year, focusing on innovative product launches and expanding distribution channels [26][28]

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow the company to continue marketing its heated tobacco products in the U.S. as a “modified risk tobacco product.” By heating tobacco instead of burning it, Philip Morris ( ...

STAMFORD, CT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Experts from Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) presented evidence to the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC). The committee, comprised of independent scientific researchers, provides nonbinding recommendations to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). The full-day meeting on October 7 was part of the FDA's customary review of PMI's request to continue marketing versions of its IQOS heated tobac. ...

Core Insights - Philip Morris International has returned $74 billion to shareholders over the last decade through dividends and buybacks, achieving a 30% year-to-date return in 2025, outperforming the broader market [2] - The company announced an 8.9% dividend increase in September 2025, raising the quarterly dividend to $1.47 per share, marking the 18th consecutive year of dividend increases since its public listing in 2008 [2] - In the first half of 2025, Philip Morris reported revenue and earnings that exceeded expectations, with smoke-free products now accounting for 42% of total net revenues [3] Financial Performance - Philip Morris has paused share repurchases in 2025 to focus on strategic investments and dividend growth, maintaining a disciplined approach with an industry-leading dividend yield of approximately 3.84% [4] - The company has achieved a revenue growth of 7.2% over the last twelve months and a 7.1% average over the last three years, with a free cash flow margin of almost 23.0% and an operating margin of 36.4% [12] Shareholder Returns - Philip Morris ranks as the 31st largest company in history for total capital returned to shareholders, reflecting management's confidence in financial stability and consistent cash flows [6] - The total capital returned to shareholders as a percentage of the current market cap appears inversely proportional to growth prospects for reinvestments, with companies like META and MSFT showing faster growth but returning a smaller portion of their market cap [8] Valuation Metrics - Philip Morris has a P/E multiple of 29.0, providing higher valuation, greater revenue growth, and improved margins compared to the S&P [12]

Group 1: Honeywell - Honeywell declared a 5% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $1.19 per share [4] - The company is undergoing a significant transition, splitting into three separate entities: Solstice Advanced Materials, Honeywell Automation, and Honeywell Aerospace, with the first split expected by the end of this year [5] - In its last reported quarter as a single entity, Honeywell achieved an 8% year-over-year revenue growth, reaching $10.4 billion, while GAAP net income increased marginally to almost $1.6 billion [6] - The company raised its revenue and profitability guidance for full-year 2025, driven by high demand for aerospace components and maintenance offerings [7] - The new dividend will be paid on December 5 to investors of record as of November 14, yielding just under 2.3% at the most recent closing share price [8] Group 2: Philip Morris International - Philip Morris International announced a 9% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $1.47 per share, continuing its streak of annual dividend raises since 2009 [10] - The company reported a 15% year-over-year increase in sales of its "smoke-free" products, totaling $4.2 billion, while traditional cigarette sales rose by 2% to $6 billion, leading to total revenue of over $10 billion, a 7% gain [12] - Net income saw a significant boost of 25%, exceeding $3.1 billion, prompting management to raise bottom-line guidance for 2025 [13] - Despite the positive results, there is concern as cigarette shipments declined by 1.5%, indicating potential challenges in maintaining growth from traditional products [14] - The enhanced dividend is set to be paid on October 20 to stockholders of record as of October 3, yielding a theoretical 3.6% at the current share price [15]

Company Overview - Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) has a market capitalization of $250.4 billion and operates in over 180 countries, primarily known for its cigarette and smoke-free product brands, including Marlboro, the top-selling international cigarette brand [1] Earnings Expectations - The company is set to announce its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings results on October 21, with analysts predicting an adjusted EPS of $2.11, reflecting a 10.5% increase from $1.91 in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, the expected adjusted EPS is $7.52, which represents a 14.5% increase from $6.57 in fiscal 2024 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, shares of Philip Morris have increased by 32%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's rise of 17.6% and the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund's decline of 5% [4] - Following the Q2 earnings release on July 22, shares dropped by 8.4%, despite reporting a net revenue of $10.1 billion, which grew by 7.1% year-over-year, and an adjusted EPS of $1.91, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.85 with a year-over-year increase of 20.1% [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus view among analysts is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Out of 15 analysts, nine recommend "Strong Buy," two suggest "Moderate Buy," and four advise "Hold" [6] - The average analyst price target for Philip Morris is $193.77, indicating a potential upside of 22.7% from current market prices [6]