Key Points Altria has underperformed the S&P 500 in recent years. The stock remains a dividend powerhouse with a yield above 7%. Its future is tied to next-gen products like Njoy and On! 10 stocks we like better than Altria Group › Tobacco stocks like Altria (NYSE: MO) were historically some of the best stocks on the market. Altria, which was joined with Philip Morris International for most of its history, delivered an annual average return of 20% for 50 years with dividends reinvested, thanks to ...

December 3, 2025 11:52 AM GMT Consumer Staples | North America 2025 Global Consumer & Retail Conference – Day 1 Takeaways We hosted fireside chats/meetings with a number of US Consumer Staples companies at our Global Consumer & Retail Conference. Below are the takeaways from Day 1. Conference Takeaways: Below, we provide takeaways from fireside chats with PG, KO, CL, PM, EL, CLX, TAP, EPC, and NWL from Day 1 of our 2025 Global Consumer & Retail Conference. See body below for detail by company Presenting Wed ...

Expense ratios, sector focus, and portfolio makeup set these two consumer staples ETFs apart for investors seeking the right fit.The main differences between the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP +0.18%) (XLP) and iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK 0.09%) (IYK) come down to cost, sector purity, and size, with XLP offering lower expenses, higher liquidity, and a sharper focus on consumer staples.Both ETFs target U.S. consumer staples stocks, but the comparison between XLP and IYK re ...

Core Insights - Forrester announced the winners of its 2025 Technology Awards for North America, recognizing the United States Department of the Navy, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and Bank of America for their innovative technology strategies that drive business growth [1][2]. Group 1: Technology Strategy Impact Award - The United States Department of the Navy was awarded for its strategic alignment in deploying secure technologies, shifting from compliance-driven IT to mission-focused outcomes, and reducing delivery cycles from months to weeks through initiatives like the Innovation Adoption Kit and generative AI assistant DON GPT [3]. - Finalists for this award included CBRE and Verizon, highlighting the competitive landscape in technology strategy [3]. Group 2: Enterprise Architecture Award - Takeda Pharmaceuticals received recognition for its innovative Business Architecture Framework (BAF), which integrates various methodologies to drive transformation across its global operations, enhancing real-time governance and alignment with business strategy [4]. - The award also acknowledged Takeda's launch of an enterprise GenAI hub and the deployment of over 60 generative AI solutions, showcasing its commitment to digital transformation [4][5]. Group 3: Data & AI Impact Award - Bank of America was honored for its enterprise-wide AI strategy, which includes the in-house developed AI assistant Erica, achieving a 50% reduction in IT service desk calls and 90% internal adoption [6]. - The bank holds over 1,500 AI and machine learning patents, demonstrating its leadership in innovation and responsible AI practices [6]. Group 4: Event Information - The award recipients will share their success stories at the Technology & Innovation Summit North America, scheduled for November 2–5, 2025, in Austin, Texas [7].

Market Reaction - The stock market experienced a significant decline following President Trump's threat of a substantial increase in tariffs on Chinese imports, leading to a sharp drop in equity indices and risk sentiment [1][3]. - By 12:25 p.m. ET, the Nasdaq 100 fell nearly 2% to below 24,600 points, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased about 400 points, or 1%, to below 46,000 [3][8]. Company Performance - Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) was among the top decliners, dropping 7% after a strong week that had positioned it for its best weekly performance since 2016 [3]. - Chinese stocks faced significant losses, with JD.com Inc. (NASDAQ:JD), Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE:BABA), Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU), and PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:PDD) each declining approximately 4% or more [4]. ETF and Commodity Movements - The iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSE:FXI) fell by 3.2%, reflecting the broader decline in Chinese equities [4]. - The U.S. dollar weakened, while gold prices rebounded above $4,000 per ounce as investors sought safe-haven assets [4].

Group 1 - Forrester announced mBank and Philip Morris International as the 2025 winners of its Technology Strategy Impact and Enterprise Architecture Awards for the EMEA region [1] - The awards recognize organizations for maximizing the value of their technology investments to drive tangible business results [1] - The presentation of the awards will take place at Forrester's Technology & Innovation Summit EMEA [1]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group, known for its Marlboro brand, faces an uncertain future despite its history of consistent dividend increases and dominance in the tobacco market [1][2]. Industry Transition - The tobacco industry is shifting from combustible cigarettes to smoke-free products, with Altria's ability to adapt to these trends being crucial for its long-term viability [2][5]. - The U.S. tobacco market remains lucrative, with Altria holding a 41% share of the retail cigarette market and 59.5% of the premium segment [4]. Product Development Challenges - Altria has struggled to establish itself in the next-generation product categories, including electronic vapes and heated tobacco devices, following a failed investment in Juul and a recent patent loss [5][6][7]. - Oral nicotine salt pouches have been Altria's most successful smoke-free product, but it still lags behind competitors like Philip Morris International's Zyn [8]. Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, approximately 83% of Altria's operating income came from smokeable products, indicating that smoke-free products are not yet a significant revenue source [9]. - The legacy smokeable segment remains profitable, allowing Altria to slowly increase free cash flow per share through price hikes and stock repurchases [10]. Dividend and Growth Outlook - Altria recently raised its dividend by 3.9%, offering a starting yield of 6.5%, with analysts projecting an average earnings growth of 3.4% annually over the next three to five years [11][12]. - The company is expected to maintain steady dividend growth for at least another five years, provided it can improve its performance in next-generation products [12]. Distribution Network Advantage - Altria's extensive distribution network, built through its Marlboro brand, positions it to potentially regain market share in new product categories if it executes effectively [13]. Investment Considerations - Altria is considered a strong high-yield dividend stock, appealing to investors seeking steady income, though it may not be suitable for those looking for high growth and capital gains [14][15]. - The company must enhance its product rollout and market presence in the transitioning nicotine industry to secure its long-term position [16].

Group 1: SL Green Realty Corp - SL Green Realty Corp is viewed as a strong pick in the REIT sector, offering both yield and growth potential despite a 6.5% decline over the past year [1][2] - The company is expected to achieve a return of 6% to 9% over the next 18 months, with potential for double-digit returns beyond that period [3][4] - Strategic acquisitions of high-quality properties in New York City are seen as key growth drivers for the company [5][6] Group 2: AT&T - AT&T has shown a year-to-date performance increase of approximately 30%, acting like a growth tech stock while also providing a dividend yield over 6% [13][14] - The stock is anticipated to deliver double-digit growth over the next 18 months, with some near-term resistance expected [15][16] - Historical performance indicates that AT&T has provided positive returns over the long term, despite periods of volatility [16][17] Group 3: Philip Morris International - Philip Morris International is recognized for its growth potential and solid dividend offerings, with expectations of an 8% to 12% return over the next 18 months [26][29] - The company is considered a good addition to a diversified portfolio, particularly due to its international reach and growth opportunities [25][26] - Insider selling has been noted, but this is viewed as a potential buying opportunity for investors looking to accumulate shares [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group is experiencing rising earnings due to price increases, but is facing significant declines in cigarette volumes, raising concerns about the sustainability of its dividend payouts [1][10]. Financial Performance - In Q2, Altria reported a 1.7% decline in overall revenue net of excise taxes to $5.29 billion, while adjusted EPS increased by 8.3% to $1.44, surpassing analyst expectations [3]. - The oral products segment, which includes on! nicotine pouches, saw a 6% revenue increase to $728 million, with shipment volumes rising 26.5% to 52.1 million cans [4]. - The cigarette business experienced a 10.2% decline in overall shipment volumes, with Marlboro brand shipments down 11.4% and other premium brands down 13% [5]. Dividend Analysis - Altria currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.02, totaling an annual rate of $4.08, with operating cash flow and free cash flow at $2.9 billion for the first half of the year, while dividends paid amounted to $3.5 billion [8]. - Cash flows are not covering the dividend payout for the first half of the year, which raises concerns, although the company covered $6.8 billion in dividends last year with $8.6 billion in free cash flow [9]. - The company ended the quarter with a debt-to-EBITDA leverage of 2 times, indicating that the dividend appears sustainable in the near term [9]. Market Position and Valuation - Altria's pricing power is strong, but the continuous decline in cigarette volumes poses a risk to future revenue [10]. - The company trades at a forward P/E ratio of 11.5 based on 2025 analyst consensus, which is lower than its former unit, Philip Morris International [11]. - Despite being a solid dividend play, the stock is at a six-year high, and the ongoing volume declines in its core business suggest caution for potential investors [11].

Group 1: Dividend Stocks Overview - The S&P 500 index currently has a low dividend yield of 1.2%, which is less attractive compared to U.S. Treasury bonds [1] - There are high-yield dividend stocks available that can enhance portfolio income [1] Group 2: British American Tobacco (BTI) - British American Tobacco has seen a 40% increase year-to-date and offers a dividend yield of around 6% [2][5] - The company's growth is attributed to new nicotine categories such as vaping and nicotine pouches, with its Velo brand holding a 30% global market share in nicotine pouches [4] - U.S. revenue from nicotine pouches is growing in triple digits, helping to offset declines in traditional cigarette sales [4] Group 3: PepsiCo (PEP) - PepsiCo's stock has experienced a 30% drawdown, resulting in a dividend yield of 4% [7] - Despite concerns over slowing volume growth and competition from weight loss drugs, PepsiCo projects organic revenue growth in 2025 due to its historical pricing power [8] - Over the past decade, PepsiCo's dividend per share has increased by 100%, and the current yield is the highest in 10 years, presenting a buying opportunity [9] Group 4: Altria Group (MO) - Altria Group has the highest dividend yield on the list at 7% [11] - The company primarily relies on cigarette sales for profits, facing challenges in expanding into new nicotine categories [12] - Altria has managed to maintain profitability through price increases and share buybacks, reducing shares outstanding by 15% over the last decade, which supports dividend growth [13][14]