From high-yield pharma plays to growth-oriented compounders, these eight stocks offer something for every dividend investor.High-yield stocks receive all the attention, but the best dividend portfolios strike a balance between current income and long-term compounding. These eight stocks span multiple sectors and investment styles, from low-yield growth machines to high-yield income generators.Each stock offers a different reason to own it -- and together, they form the foundation of a diversified dividend s ...

Shares of the Marlboro maker may have more room to fall before they hit deep-value territory.Take one quick look at the stock on a screener, and you may think "undervalued" is an apt description for Altria Group (MO +0.60%).The company, which sells Marlboro cigarettes in the United States, has a low forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) and a high forward dividend yield and looks very cheap today. But don't underestimate how much "cheaper" shares could get in the months ahead.NYSE : MOAltria GroupToday's Ch ...

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) is a leading multinational tobacco company that manufactures and sells cigarettes and a growing range of smoke-free nicotine products, including heated tobacco, vaping, and oral nicotine, with its headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Its market cap is around $243.6 billion. Companies valued at over $10 billion are typically classified as “large-cap stocks,” and Philip Morris International falls into this category, reflecting its considerable scale, stability, and in ...

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. are key players in the global tobacco industry, each with distinct strategies and strong brand portfolios [1][2] - The tobacco industry is transforming due to declining cigarette use, regulatory pressures, and consumer interest in smoke-free technologies, prompting both companies to innovate and restructure [2] Altria Group, Inc. (MO) - Altria holds a dominant position in the U.S. tobacco market with a 45.4% cigarette retail share and Marlboro's 59.6% share in the premium segment as of Q3 2025 [3] - The smokeable segment achieved a 64.4% adjusted operating companies income margin, indicating strong pricing power despite volume pressures [3] - Altria's strategy includes enhancing profitability while expanding into oral nicotine, heated tobacco, and e-vapor platforms, with on! shipments reaching 133.6 million cans year-to-date [4] - The company raised its quarterly dividend by 3.9% to $1.06 per share, marking its 60th increase in 56 years, and expanded its share repurchase program to $2 billion through 2026 [5] - Domestic cigarette shipment volumes fell 8.2% in the quarter, and Marlboro's total-category share declined to 40.4%, highlighting ongoing challenges [6] Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Philip Morris is focused on smoke-free products, which accounted for 41% of total net revenues and 42% of gross profit in Q3 2025, with smoke-free gross profit reaching a record $3.1 billion [7][8] - Shipments of IQOS increased by 15.5% to 40.8 billion units, maintaining a 76% global share of heated tobacco units [8] - Adjusted operating income rose 12.4% to $4.7 billion, with margins expanding to 43.1%, and adjusted EPS increased 17.3% to $2.24 [10] - Despite a 3.2% decline in cigarette shipment volumes, pricing strength lifted net revenues by 4.3% [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's 2025 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of around 6.3%, with the 2025 EPS estimate at $5.44 [12] - For Philip Morris, the 2025 EPS estimate implies a year-over-year growth of 14.3%, with the estimate at $7.51 [14] Stock Performance - Over the past year, Altria's shares gained 9.3%, while Philip Morris's shares advanced by 22.7% [16] - Altria trades at a forward P/E ratio of 10.57, while Philip Morris's forward P/E ratio stands at 18.9 [18] Investment Outlook - Philip Morris is viewed as the stronger growth story due to its shift towards smoke-free products and disciplined cost strategy, while Altria offers stability and consistent cash flows [20]

Market Overview - European stocks are showing mixed performance as investors digest regional economic news and await the European Central Bank's monetary policy meeting minutes [1] - The pan European Stoxx 600 was roughly flat at 574.11, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 decreased by 25.52 points or 0.26% to 9,666.05 [2] - Germany's DAX increased by 82.87 points or 0.35% to 23,778.10, and France's CAC 40 rose by 5.37 points or 0.07% to 8,101.80 [2] Company Performance - In the U.K. market, notable gainers included St. James' Place, Land Securities, Centrica, and Natwest Group [2] - Conversely, Imperial Brands fell by more than 3%, while other companies like Anglo American Plc and British American Tobacco saw losses between 1% to 1.7% [3] - In Germany, Deutsche Boerse climbed over 4%, with Siemens Energy gaining about 2.3% [3] - In France, Pernod Ricard gained nearly 2%, while companies like Hermes International and Kering showed weakness [4] Consumer Sentiment and Economic Indicators - A monthly survey indicated that German consumer confidence is expected to improve in December, despite deteriorating economic and income expectations [4] - The forward-looking consumer sentiment index improved to -23.2 from -24.1, slightly below the forecast of -23.6 [5] - The Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator increased to 97.0 in November from 96.8 in October, marking its highest level since April 2023 [5]

Core Insights - Emerging Growth Research released a quarterly update report on 22nd Century Group, highlighting a cash-rich balance sheet, full debt repayment, and a $9.5 million insurance settlement, along with a stabilized Contract Manufacturing Operations (CMO) [2][6] Financial Performance - 22nd Century Group fully repaid all remaining debt and settled a $9.5 million insurance-related legal case, resulting in a strengthened net cash position [6] - Q3 2025 revenue was $4.0 million, indicating stabilization after restructuring and the impact of a 2024 CMO price hike [6] - Gross profit declined to $(1.1) million due to increased excise taxes, despite improvements in per-unit margins [6] - Operating loss improved year-over-year to $(3.2) million as SG&A expenses were reduced [6] - Adjusted EBITDA remained stable at $(2.6) million compared to previous quarters [6] - Net cash increased to $14.0 million in Q3 2025, up from $(0.8) million in Q2 2025 [6] Strategic Outlook - Management is confident in achieving EBITDA breakeven by Q3 2026, driven by a higher-margin CMO mix and expansion of VLN® products [6] - The rollout of VLN® continues, with state registrations covering nearly all U.S. states and initial shipments underway [6]

Group 1 - Leading investment banks have raised price targets for key UK companies, indicating a positive outlook for their future performance [2][3][10] - Jefferies increased its price target for Senior PLC from 185p to 230p and for Imperial Brands from 3,600p to 3,700p [2] - Citi raised its target price for Smiths Group from 2,700p to 2,900p, while J.P. Morgan boosted its target for Reckitt from 5,500p to 6,100p and Haleon from 315p to 335p [3][10] Group 2 - Global equity markets are experiencing gains, driven by expectations of a Federal Reserve rate reduction following weak U.S. economic data [4][10] - The Japanese Yen remained stable amid speculation of a rate hike, while the New Zealand Dollar strengthened due to a hawkish tone from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand [5] Group 3 - Japan's official Takaichi emphasized the importance of a strengthening economy for fiscal improvement and projected a decline in Japanese Government Bond issuance for the current fiscal year [6][10] - Machine Tool Orders in Japan for October showed a year-on-year increase to 17.1%, up from 16.8% [7] Group 4 - The UK is preparing for a series of tax hikes in its upcoming Autumn Budget 2025, indicating potential fiscal consolidation [8][10] - Finland's housing market showed mixed signals, with a year-on-year House Price Index at -2.4% but a month-on-month stabilization at 0.0% [9][10] Group 5 - Soybean prices are rising due to increased Chinese demand for U.S. supplies, reflecting strong trade relations in the agricultural sector [11][10]

Core Viewpoint - Philip Morris International (PM) is considered a key holding in the Consumer Staples portfolio due to its attractive revenue stickiness and recurring nature of its business [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Philip Morris International operates in a field that is viewed as highly attractive from a revenue perspective, emphasizing the recurring nature of its income [1]. Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The article highlights the importance of dividend investing as a straightforward and accessible path to achieving financial freedom, with a focus on building long-term wealth [1].

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Tobacco sector should consider Universal Corp. (UVV) and British American Tobacco (BTI), with UVV currently presenting a better value opportunity based on various financial metrics [1]. Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Outlook - Universal Corp. has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while British American Tobacco has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [3]. - The Zacks Rank emphasizes stocks with favorable earnings estimate revisions, suggesting that UVV has an improving earnings outlook compared to BTI [3]. Group 2: Valuation Metrics - UVV has a forward P/E ratio of 10.92, which is lower than BTI's forward P/E of 12.28, indicating that UVV may be undervalued relative to BTI [5]. - The PEG ratio for UVV is 2.73, while BTI's PEG ratio is 2.76, showing that both companies have similar growth expectations factored into their valuations [5]. - UVV's P/B ratio is 0.86, significantly lower than BTI's P/B of 1.79, further supporting the argument that UVV is a more attractive value option [6]. Group 3: Value Grades - UVV has a Value grade of B, while BTI has a Value grade of C, indicating that UVV is perceived as a better value investment based on key financial metrics [6].

Core Insights - Consumer sentiment has significantly declined, reaching a record low of 51 in November, down from 53.6 in October, and down 29% year-over-year [4][5] - The uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and the economy's health has led investors to favor low-beta, defensive stocks, particularly in the consumer staples sector [1][2] Consumer Sentiment - The University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers reported a final reading of 51 for consumer sentiment in November, slightly up from a preliminary reading of 50.3 [4] - The decline in consumer sentiment is attributed to a slowing labor market and high inflation, which pressures consumer spending [6] - Long-term inflation expectations decreased from 3.9% in October to 3.4% in November [5] Investment Focus - In the current market environment, investors are advised to consider low-beta stocks with high dividend yields and favorable Zacks Ranks to mitigate market volatility [2][3] - Recommended stocks include: - **Entergy Corporation (ETR)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.9%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.63, and a dividend yield of 2.73% [9] - **CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 9.3%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.60, and a dividend yield of 2.22% [13] - **John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 18.1%, Zacks Rank 1, beta of 0.37, and a dividend yield of 1.28% [15] - **Universal Corporation (UVV)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 2.4%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.73, and a dividend yield of 6.19% [16]