A "Smoke-Free" Partnership Could Breathe New Life Into This Dividend King

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]