Here's How Many Shares of Altria You'd Need for $500 in Yearly Dividends

Core Insights - Altria has a current dividend yield of 7%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average, although it is below its five-year average of 7.7% [1][6] - The company has increased its annual dividend for 56 consecutive years, qualifying it as a Dividend King, with a target payout ratio of around 80% of adjusted earnings per share [6] Financial Metrics - Altria's annual dividend is $4.24 per share, requiring ownership of 472 shares to generate $500 in annual dividend income, equating to a total investment of approximately $27,716 at the current stock price of $58.72 [2][5] - The current market capitalization of Altria is $99 billion, with a stock price of $59.32 [5] Business Performance - Altria's business is facing challenges due to a decline in the number of U.S. adult smokers, leading to reduced volume; however, the company has managed to offset some of this decline through its pricing power [4] - Despite stagnant revenue growth, Altria has maintained a gross margin of 71.98% [6]