WASHINGTON (AP) — Shares of Altria dipped Thursday after the tobacco giant reported flat earnings due to declining cigarettes sales and challenging competition for newer products, including flavored nicotine pouches. The Richmond, Virginia-based company said fourth-quarter revenue slid 2% to $5.8 billion, mainly driven by lower cigarette sales. Tobacco companies have long had to manage shrinking sales of their main product category, but Altria executives said cigarettes have been increasingly squeezed by ...

Amazon - Amazon's stock has seen less than 40% growth over the past five years, but it may be a good time to add to positions as it approaches 2026 [3] - The North American segment's adjusted operating income increased by 28% last quarter with only an 11% rise in sales, showcasing strong operating leverage driven by robotics and AI [4] - Amazon operates over 1 million robots in its fulfillment centers, coordinated by its DeepFleet AI model, enhancing its efficiency [5] - The company has become a leading digital marketing firm, with its sponsored ad program growing revenue by 24% in Q3, aided by AI [6] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is expected to be a significant growth driver, with heavy investments in AI data centers to meet increasing demand [7] - The stock is attractively valued with a forward P/E ratio of less than 30 times 2026 estimates, making it a strong candidate for investment [8] Philip Morris International - Philip Morris stock has increased by around 35% this year but has been stagnant since summer, presenting a potential opportunity for investors [9] - The company does not sell cigarettes in the declining U.S. market, benefiting from stronger international volumes and pricing power [10] - The smokeless product portfolio, particularly the nicotine pouch brand Zyn, has seen shipments soar by 37% in the U.S. and retail sales volumes increase by 39% [12] - The heated tobacco product Iqos has also experienced a 15.5% volume growth in Q3, particularly in Japan and Europe [13] - Philip Morris is awaiting FDA approval for its new Iluma delivery system in the U.S., which could further enhance growth prospects [14] - The stock is valued at a forward P/E ratio of under 19.5 and a PEG ratio of 0.85, indicating it may be undervalued [15]

Sector Overview - Vice stocks experienced mixed performance in 2025, with Philip Morris International rising nearly 34% and AB InBev increasing about 29%, while Molson Coors fell 18% [1] - Despite challenges, vice stocks are considered "recession-proof" and are expected to remain resilient in the market [2] Cannabis Industry - President Trump signed an executive order reclassifying marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3, marking a significant regulatory change for the cannabis sector [4] - Companies in the cannabis industry are facing difficulties accessing financial services and capital, leading to investor wariness [4] Nicotine Market - The shift towards smokeless products is evident, with 41% of Philip Morris's revenue derived from smoke-free products like Zyn [4] - Philip Morris successfully defended against a class-action lawsuit regarding pricing practices for Zyn, the only FDA-approved nicotine pouch [4] Alcohol Sector - Sales of beer, wine, and spirits are declining, with Molson Coors reporting a loss of $2.9 billion in the fall quarter and anticipating a 4% sales drop this year [4] - AB InBev reported its slowest profit growth since 2021, while the industry faces challenges from the "sober-curious" trend [4]

Group 1: Company Overview - Philip Morris International (PMI) was formed from the international operations of Altria in 2008 and primarily sells cigarettes and reduced-risk products outside of the US [8] - The company has expanded its portfolio with the 2023 acquisition of Swedish Match, enhancing its presence in traditional oral tobacco products and nicotine pouches [8] Group 2: Market Position and Analyst Insights - Analysts have set an average target price of $185.0 for Philip Morris International, indicating a positive outlook [9] - JP Morgan maintains an Overweight rating for the stock, aligning with the target price of $185 [10] Group 3: Options Trading Activity - Recent options trading shows a bullish sentiment with 53% of traders favoring calls, while 23% were bearish [1] - The average open interest for options stands at 687.0, with a total volume of 20,417.00, indicating significant trading activity [3] - Whales have targeted a price range from $80.0 to $200.0 for Philip Morris International over the last three months [2] Group 4: Recent Trading Performance - The current stock price of Philip Morris International is $162.66, reflecting a 0.37% increase with a trading volume of 1,753,973 [12] - RSI indicators suggest that the stock may be approaching overbought conditions [12]

Core Viewpoint - Tobacco stocks, particularly Altria, have historically provided strong returns but are currently facing challenges due to declining cigarette sales and setbacks in transitioning to next-generation products [2][3]. Performance Analysis - Over one, three, and five-year periods, Altria has underperformed the S&P 500 in terms of price appreciation but has outperformed on a total-return basis over the last year and five years [4][6]. - Altria's stock performance has been modest over the long term, with a significant impact from failed investments in Juul and Cronos Group [7]. Dividend Insights - Altria is primarily favored by investors for its high dividend yield, currently at 7.2%, and a strong history of annual dividend increases, having raised its dividend 60 times in the last 56 years [9]. - The company’s reliable cash flow supports its dividend strategy, making it attractive for dividend-focused investors [11]. Future Outlook - Despite the decline in cigarette sales, Altria aims to enhance profits through price increases on cigarettes and new product launches, including Njoy and On! [10]. - The stock is currently trading at a low price-to-earnings ratio of 11.3, indicating potential for price gains alongside its strong dividend [11].

Core Viewpoint - Philip Morris International is positioned to expand its leadership in the tobacco industry, particularly in the smoke-free product segment, with significant growth potential in the U.S. market [1][2][10] Company Overview - Philip Morris has seen a strong performance in 2023, with shares up over 24% since January despite a 20% drop from its peak [1] - The company has successfully transitioned towards smoke-free alternatives, with these products now accounting for 41% of its revenue [3] Product Development - Philip Morris was an early entrant in the heat-not-burn market with its Iqos device and has strengthened its portfolio by acquiring Swedish Match, which owns the popular Zyn brand [3][5] - The company is awaiting FDA approval for its latest heat-not-burn device, Iqos Iluma, which could significantly enhance its market presence in the U.S. [7][8] Market Opportunity - The U.S. market represents a substantial growth opportunity, with Altria's smokeable product sales reaching $21.2 billion last year [6] - Philip Morris has a 72% success rate in converting traditional smokers to its Iqos product, indicating strong potential for market penetration [6] Sales Performance - Zyn brand sales have surged, with 204.9 million cans sold in the U.S. during the third quarter, marking a 37% increase year-over-year [9] - A successful launch of Iqos Iluma could further boost Zyn's growth and overall market share for Philip Morris in the U.S. [9][10] Financial Outlook - Philip Morris is viewed as a strong dividend stock, currently yielding 4%, with analysts projecting an annualized earnings growth rate of 11% over the long term [10]

Group 1: Investment Trends - A bullish indicator for a company can arise when multiple billionaire investors buy the same stock in the same quarter [1] - Retail investors should conduct their own due diligence as they often learn about hedge fund trades months after they occur [2] - In Q3, several billionaires sold their stakes in Philip Morris International and invested in Alphabet [3] Group 2: Philip Morris International - Philip Morris shares have increased by 27% as of November 17, but the stock has faced challenges since July, particularly after its Q2 earnings report [4] - Despite stronger-than-expected earnings, revenue fell short of expectations, raising concerns about demand for its smokeless nicotine pouch product, Zyn [4][6] - Notable exits from Philip Morris include Stanley Druckenmiller's Duquesne Family Office selling nearly 816,000 shares and Coatue Management selling approximately 1.3 million shares [5] Group 3: Alphabet - Coatue Management, Duquesne, and Berkshire Hathaway initiated new positions in Alphabet during Q3, with Berkshire acquiring over 17.8 million shares valued at over $4.3 billion [8] - Alphabet has overcome significant challenges, including a Justice Department lawsuit regarding monopolistic practices, resulting in a favorable outcome for the company [9] - Concerns about AI chatbots impacting Google's search market have lessened, with investors gaining confidence in Google's AI search capabilities [11] Group 4: Valuation and Investment Considerations - Alphabet is trading at a lower valuation compared to other "Magnificent Seven" companies, at less than 28 times forward earnings, making it an attractive investment option [12] - Philip Morris may still appeal to income investors due to its trailing-12-month dividend yield of approximately 3.6% and free-cash-flow yield of about 4.2% [7]

Core Insights - Consumer-facing businesses with strong brand power are positioned to grow dividends and enhance investor portfolios in the long term [1][2] Group 1: Company Summaries - **Pool Corp.**: The largest wholesale distributor of swimming pools and related supplies, Pool Corp. has established recurring revenue streams through installation and maintenance services. The company has increased its dividend for 14 consecutive years, despite economic downturns, making it a potential buying opportunity as consumer sentiment rebounds [4][6]. - **PepsiCo**: A dominant player in the food and beverage sector, PepsiCo has a diverse portfolio that includes well-known snack brands. The company has increased its dividend for 52 consecutive years, benefiting from strong pricing power and consistent demand for its products [7][8]. - **Clorox**: Known for its cleaning products and household goods, Clorox has maintained a strong return on invested capital averaging 19% over the past decade. The company has a dividend yield of over 4% and is approaching five decades of uninterrupted dividend increases, despite recent challenges [9][10]. - **Home Depot**: As a leading home improvement retailer, Home Depot benefits from a cultural inclination towards home spending. The company has a 15-year dividend growth streak and is expected to continue this trend as housing turnover increases in the coming decade [11][12]. - **Philip Morris International**: Transitioning from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products, Philip Morris generates over 40% of its sales from next-generation products. The company has consistently raised its dividend since 2008, indicating strong growth potential in the evolving nicotine market [13][14].

Core Viewpoint - Philip Morris International (PMI) reported strong quarterly earnings but failed to meet Wall Street's expectations for guidance, leading to a cautious market response regarding its valuation [1][5][6]. Financial Performance - For the quarter ended September 30, PMI's organic revenue increased by 5.9% year over year, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose by 17.3% [5]. - PMI's guidance for full-year 2025 adjusted EPS is projected between $7.46 and $7.56, a slight increase from the previous range of $7.43 to $7.56, which disappointed investors expecting a more significant upward revision [6]. Market Position and Valuation - Despite reporting five consecutive quarters of double-digit adjusted earnings growth with an average of 15.7%, PMI trades at less than 20 times forward earnings, significantly lower than peers like The Hershey Company, which trades at over 30 times forward earnings [8][9]. - The market's hesitance to value PMI at levels comparable to other blue-chip consumer staples is attributed to its "sin stock" status, despite its efforts to transition towards smoke-free products [3][9]. Growth Drivers - PMI's smoke-free products, including the Iqos heated tobacco device and Zyn nicotine pouches, now account for 41% of its overall revenue, positioning the company for higher growth compared to traditional tobacco peers [5][12]. - The regulatory environment for reduced harm tobacco products in the U.S. is becoming more favorable, with the FDA fast-tracking reviews of nicotine pouches, which could enhance growth prospects [10][12]. Future Outlook - User adoption of nicotine pouches is increasing, with over 10% of the U.S. population still smoking cigarettes, indicating a significant growth opportunity for products like Zyn [11]. - PMI's strategy of selling cigarettes only outside the U.S. mitigates the risk of cannibalizing its legacy business, unlike competitors such as Altria [12]. - The combination of potential valuation expansion and continued earnings growth positions PMI as an attractive investment opportunity at current prices [13].

Core Viewpoint - Philip Morris International's stock has experienced a pullback despite strong performance, presenting a potential buying opportunity for investors [1][10]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In Q3, organic revenue rose 5.9% year-over-year to $10.8 billion, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) climbing 17.3% to $2.24 [7]. - Traditional cigarette volumes fell by 3.2% to 157.9 billion units, but the company reported better-than-expected results in Turkey [6]. - Segment organic revenue increased by 1% to $6.4 billion, and gross profits rose 4.8% to $4.3 billion due to price hikes offsetting volume declines [6]. Group 2: Product Performance - Zyn, the company's nicotine pouch brand, saw U.S. shipments increase by 37% in Q3, with retail sales volumes soaring by 39% [3]. - The heated tobacco units (HTUs), including the Iqos system, experienced a 15.5% increase in sales volumes to 40.8 billion units [4]. - The e-vapor product, Veev, saw shipments surge 91% to 900 million units, maintaining the No.1 market share in eight countries [4]. Group 3: Guidance and Strategy - Management maintained its full-year guidance for organic revenue growth at 6% to 8% while slightly increasing the adjusted EPS forecast to $7.46 to $7.56 [9]. - The company invested approximately $100 million in promotions to boost Zyn volumes, which accounted for a single-digit percentage of shipments in the quarter [11][12]. - Zyn's promotional activity was previously low due to supply constraints, and the strategy aims to attract users of other nicotine products [12]. Group 4: Valuation - Philip Morris' stock is trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of under 18, with a price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of under 0.7, indicating potential undervaluation [14]. - The forward yield is just below 4%, making it an attractive investment opportunity in the defensive growth stock category [14][15].