McDonald’s NYSE: MCD insiders are selling shares of this in 2025, but investors should do the opposite. The Insider selling is inconsequential despite its broad nature due to the company’s use of share-based compensation and insider selling trends. MCD insiders, including numerous EVPs, presidents, the CMO, the CEO, and directors, have sold shares in small, regularly spaced amounts over the past two to three years as they take money earned off the table.  MarketBeat tracks insider sales in 2025, which amoun ...

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group Inc. reported mixed first-quarter 2025 results, with a decline in top-line revenue but an increase in bottom-line earnings, reaffirming its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance [1][2]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter were $1.23, a 6% increase year over year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17 [2]. - Net revenues totaled $5,259 million, down 5.7% year over year, missing the consensus estimate of $4,638.2 million [2]. - Revenues from smokeable products fell 5.8% to $4,622 million, primarily due to reduced shipment volume, although higher pricing provided some offset [4]. Segment Analysis - **Smokeable Products**: - Net revenues decreased 5.8% year over year to $4,622 million, with domestic cigarette shipment volumes down 13.7% [4][5]. - Adjusted operating income (OCI) increased 2.7% to $2,518 million, with adjusted OCI margins growing 4.2 percentage points to 64.4% [6]. - **Oral Tobacco Products**: - Net revenues rose 0.5% to $654 million, driven by higher pricing, despite a 5% decline in domestic shipment volumes [7][8]. - Adjusted OCI remained flat, with a slight decline in adjusted OCI margin by 0.3 percentage points to 69.2% [9]. Shareholder Returns and Guidance - The company repurchased 5.7 million shares for $326 million in the first quarter, with $674 million remaining under its $1 billion share repurchase program [11]. - Altria expects 2025 adjusted EPS in the range of $5.30 to $5.45, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 2% to 5% from a base of $5.19 in 2024 [12][13]. Market Context - Altria's stock has gained 12.6% over the past three months, compared to the industry's growth of 21.8% [15].

Group 1 - iREIT+HOYA Capital focuses on income-producing asset classes that provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1] - The current market volatility has made capital gains less reliable, emphasizing the importance of dividends as a stable income source [2] - The investment strategy is geared towards defensive stocks with a medium- to long-term horizon [2] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific investment advice or recommendations, encouraging readers to conduct their own due diligence [4][5] - There is a disclosure of a beneficial long position in specific shares, indicating a vested interest in the discussed stocks [3]

Group 1 - Financial markets experienced significant volatility earlier this month due to uncertainties surrounding the business outlook for various industries [1] - Corporate America is determined to continue operations despite market challenges and uncertainties [1] Group 2 - The article promotes a portfolio strategy that emphasizes high dividend yields, suggesting that it can provide a reliable income stream for retirement without the need for selling assets [3] - The Income Method mentioned in the article aims to generate strong returns, targeting a yield of 9-10% [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a 31% decline in sales during the first half of 2024, which improved to a year-on-year decline of 17% in the second half of the year [4]. Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The construction sector faced significant challenges in 2024, impacting cement consumption due to key economic variables and the suspension of many public works projects [5]. Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall industry saw a decline in volumes by 24% to 25% in the previous year, but the company anticipates a two-digit year-on-year increase in volumes for 2025 if the last part of 2024's volumes are maintained [13][15]. Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on maintaining pricing dynamics similar to the previous years, with expectations that prices will align with inflation, assuming inflation remains above the devaluation of the peso [9]. Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the challenging environment in 2024 but expressed optimism for 2025, citing potential private projects that may commence soon [15]. Other Important Information - The Board decided not to pay dividends in 2024 due to the drop in volumes and uncertainty in the market, contrasting with the dividend payments made in 2022 and 2023 [18]. Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing strategy for 2025 - Management indicated that pricing dynamics in 2025 would likely mirror those of the last couple of years, with a potential deceleration of inflation allowing for more spaced price increments [9]. Question: Volume expectations for 2025 - The company expects a two-digit year-on-year increase in volumes for 2025, contingent on maintaining the volumes from the latter part of 2024 [15]. Question: Dividend expectations for 2025 - The Board did not move forward with dividends in 2024 due to market conditions, and the decision for 2025 is still under analysis [18]. Question: Cost structure and margin opportunities for 2025 - Management noted improvements in energy inputs and indicated that they are assessing their cost structure for potential margin increases [24]. Question: CapEx guidance for 2025 - The company plans to focus on maintenance CapEx for 2025, estimating maintenance costs between $55 million and $60 million [26]. Question: Remaining CapEx for specific projects - The remaining CapEx for the 25-kilogram project is approximately $22 million [31].