Coca-Cola, Altria, IBM, Cisco, and Realty Income are stable income plays.Dividend stocks are often considered slow-growth investments since companies generally start paying dividends only after they run out of places to invest their excess cash. Many dividend stocks also lost their luster in 2022 and 2023 as rising interest rates made risk-free CDs and U.S. Treasury bills more appealing to income investors.But as interest rates declined in 2024, many investors rotated back toward dividend stocks. The Federa ...

Even with its double-digit price increase YTD when I last checked on it in July, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO ), of Marlboro cigarettes, still lagged behind peers. But one month since has made aManika is a macroeconomist with over 20 years of experience in industries including investment management, stock broking, investment banking. She also runs the profile Long Term Tips [LTT], which focuses on the generational opportunity in the green economy. Her investing group, Green Growth Giants , takes the theme a ...

As has been widely noted, Philip Morris' Zyn US volumes came in a little under expectations for Q2. That was enough to bring the stock down and present us with another opportunity to buy.Striving to compound knowledge. Long-time fan of Warren and Charlie. Always invert. "To finish first, you must first finish". Investing own and family funds for +20 years. Senior finance roles at public and private corporations for most of that time.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ...

Company Announcement No. 03/2025 Copenhagen, 27 August 2025 STG Global Finance B.V. – Interim Report, Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S On 27 August 2025, Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S published its interim report for 1 April – 30 June 2025. The Annual Report and company announcement of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S relating to the published reports are available at: https://www.st-group.com/investor/. For further information, please contact: Torben Sand, Director of IR & Communication, phone +45 5084 72 ...

Core Viewpoint - Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S reported a decline in net sales and EBITDA margin for the second quarter of 2025, while reaffirming its full-year expectations despite challenging market conditions [1][5][8]. Financial Performance - Reported net sales for Q2 2025 were DKK 2.4 billion, reflecting an organic net sales growth of -4% [1][7]. - EBITDA before special items was DKK 499 million, with an EBITDA margin of 21.1%, down from 24.5% in the previous year [1][7]. - Free cash flow before acquisitions was DKK 119 million, compared to DKK 177 million in the same quarter last year [7]. - Adjusted EPS for Q2 2025 was DKK 3.3, down from DKK 4.1 year-on-year [7]. Market Dynamics - The addition of the Mac Baren business positively impacted reported net sales, while exchange rate fluctuations had a negative effect [2]. - Organic net sales growth was flat when excluding the discontinuation of ZYN distribution in the US, which contributed to a -3% decline [2]. - The product categories Handmade Cigars and Machine-Rolled Cigars & Smoking Tobacco showed recovery, and the nicotine pouch brand XQS continued to deliver double-digit growth [2]. Strategic Outlook - The EBITDA margin for the first half of 2025 was 18.8%, down from 21.2% in the previous year, influenced by product mix, market conditions, and investments to regain market share [3][5]. - The company aims to deliver free cash flow of DKK 800-1,000 million before acquisitions for the full year [5]. - The financial expectations for the full year 2025 remain unchanged, with reported net sales projected between DKK 9.1-9.5 billion and an EBITDA margin of 18-22% [8].

Imperial Brands (OTCQX: IMBBY ) (OTCQX: IMBBF ) is one of the oldest tobacco companies in the world, based in the United Kingdom and with a diverse portfolio of brands not only cigarettes but also new products. Among theseI am an individual investor with over 10 years of trading. I have been developing as a stock analyst for the last five years. I am inclined to search for Value companies, mainly linked to the production of commodities. I mainly focus on companies that show sustained free cash flows over ti ...

Key Takeaways Philip Morris' smoke-free shipments rose 11.8%, driving 15.2% revenue growth in Q2 2025.IQOS, ZYN and VEEV fueled smoke-free growth, lifting gross profit by 23.3% year over year.Cigarette shipments fell 1.5% to 155.2B units, but still delivered $6B in quarterly revenues.Philip Morris International Inc.’s (PM) second-quarter 2025 results spotlight the central question for its long-term transformation: Can smoke-free momentum truly outweigh persistent declines in cigarettes? Smoke-free products, ...

Key Takeaways Altria's smokeable OCI margins rose 2.9 points in Q2 2025 to 64.5%, with a 3.5-point gain in the first half.Gains were driven by 10% net price hikes, lower settlement charges and reduced operating costs.Despite a 10.2% shipment drop in Q2, Altria boosted profitability through pricing and cost savings.Altria Group, Inc.’s ((MO) second-quarter 2025 results showed resilience in its smokeable products segment, where adjusted operating companies income (“OCI”) margins expanded 2.9 percentage points ...

Altria (NYSE: MO ) owns Philip Morris USA, the maker of Marlboro® cigarettes and John Middleton, manufacturer of Black & Mild® cigars. Their smoke-free portfolio includes ownership of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, the maker of Copenhagen® and Skoal®, Helix Innovations, the maker of on!® oral nicotine pouches andI am an equities analyst based in South Africa, with focused coverage on the South African equity market. I have ten years experience working as an analyst at three prominent South African fund man ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the **US consumer sector**, particularly consumer stocks within the S&P 500, which have shown resilience despite economic challenges such as inflation and tight monetary policy [1][2][3]. Core Insights and Arguments 1. **Consumer Resilience**: US consumers continue to spend due to a tight labor market, which has remained strong since COVID, despite inflation and waning confidence [1][13]. 2. **Q2 Earnings Performance**: Q2 earnings reports indicate better-than-expected demand and pricing power, with a notable theme of broadening revenue beats. However, guidance remains conservative due to tariff risks [2][25]. 3. **Income Disparity Impact**: The US has a high share of low-income workers, which has made low-income consumers more vulnerable. This has led to an underweight position in Consumer Staples, which are more affected by inflation [3][52]. 4. **Long-term Consumption Trends**: Healthcare spending has increased significantly and is expected to continue growing. The shift from goods to services is influenced by various factors, including globalization and economic conditions [4][44]. 5. **Cyclical vs. Defensive Sectors**: An overweight position on cyclical sectors has been maintained, but potential mass layoffs and recession risks could shift this stance towards a more defensive orientation [5]. Additional Important Insights 1. **Consumer Behavior**: There is a noticeable trend of consumers trading down to lower-priced items, particularly among lower-income households, while luxury spending shows signs of improvement [33][90]. 2. **Tariff Effects**: Companies are beginning to feel the impact of tariffs, with expectations that the full effects will be felt in the second half of the year [34][90]. 3. **Spending Expectations**: Big-ticket spending expectations have decreased year-over-year in several categories, indicating potential caution among consumers [94]. 4. **Credit and Savings Health**: Despite rising credit card delinquencies, overall household balance sheets remain healthy, with liquid assets elevated relative to liabilities [56][60]. 5. **Market Dynamics**: Consumer stocks are highly idiosyncratic, influenced more by brand equity and management than by macroeconomic factors [20]. Conclusion The US consumer sector is navigating a complex landscape characterized by resilience amid inflationary pressures, shifting consumer behaviors, and varying impacts across income levels. The insights from Q2 earnings and ongoing trends suggest a cautious but potentially optimistic outlook for certain segments of consumer stocks, particularly those that can adapt to changing consumer preferences and economic conditions.