If one of your goals for 2026 is to build wealth and be more financially secure, you’ll need to be intentional about how you spend your money. You can’t eliminate expenses entirely, but you can stop buying things that get in the way of reaching your financial goals. So, what are those purchases you should avoid. In a recent YouTube video, personal finance influencer Jaspreet Singh listed five things you shouldn’t buy if you want to stop wasting money. 1. Alcohol, Recreational Drugs and Cigarettes The f ...

Core Insights - The study suggests that grocery receipts could potentially help build credit files for "credit invisible" borrowers, who currently lack credit records [1][2] - Researchers have found a correlation between grocery shopping behavior and bill payment reliability, indicating that shopping habits may serve as alternative data for credit scoring [3][4] Group 1: Research Findings - The research utilized data from Peruvian consumers, combining loyalty transactions, credit card repayment data, and administrative records to analyze the predictive power of grocery shopping behavior on payment reliability [3] - Consumers who purchased healthier foods were more likely to pay their bills on time, while those who bought less healthy items showed a higher likelihood of missed payments [4] - Consistent shopping patterns, such as shopping on the same day each week and spending similar amounts, were linked to timely bill payments [5] Group 2: Implications for Credit Scoring - The simulation conducted by researchers indicated that incorporating shopping data could increase credit approval rates for borrowers without credit files from 16% to between 31% and 48% [6] - For consumers with established credit histories, adding shopping data had minimal impact on approval outcomes, suggesting its primary use may be in identifying safe candidates for new credit lines [6]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is recognized for its strong long-term performance in the stock market, despite the analyst's personal aversion to tobacco stocks [1][2]. Company Overview - Altria Group, Inc. produces and sells a variety of tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, nicotine pouches, and e-vapor products [2]. Investment Perspective - The stock has shown superior returns compared to many others, as noted during the analysis for "How to Make Money in Any Market" [1][2]. - Despite acknowledging Altria's investment potential, the analyst expresses a preference for other stocks, particularly in the AI sector, which are believed to offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [2].

Group 1 - Altria is recognized as a top stock for investors seeking high yield while protecting capital, particularly due to its focus on the U.S. market since its 2008 spinoff from Philip Morris International [1] - The company is transitioning from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products, including vapes and nicotine pouches, indicating a strategic pivot in its product offerings [1] - Altria's stock has shown improved price performance, earning upgrades in its Relative Strength Rating, reflecting positive market sentiment [3] Group 2 - Altria's stock offers a dividend yield of 7.1%, positioning it as a competitive option among high-yield stocks [3] - The company has successfully mitigated tariff risks associated with its products, enhancing its market stability [3] - Altria has joined an elite group of stocks with Relative Strength Ratings over 90, showcasing its strong market performance [3]

Company Overview - Altria is a consumer staples company primarily focused on cigarette production, which is distinct from other consumer staples companies that produce essential goods like food and toiletries [1][2] - The company has a high dividend yield of 7.4%, attracting dividend-focused investors [1] Market Dynamics - Cigarettes are not considered a necessity, but their addictive nature leads to consistent demand, even during economic downturns [2] - Historical data shows that during the pandemic in 2020, cigarette volumes only declined by 0.4%, but subsequent years have seen significant volume declines [3][5] Volume Decline - Altria's cigarette volumes have experienced a troubling trend: a 7.5% decline in 2021, 9.7% in 2022, 9.9% in 2023, and a projected 10.2% drop in 2024 [5] - The ongoing decline in cigarette volume poses a significant risk to the company's financial health and dividend sustainability [6] Pricing Strategy - The company has been offsetting volume declines through price increases, which has allowed it to maintain and increase its dividend [6] - However, there are concerns that continued price hikes may exacerbate volume declines in the long run [6] Strategic Challenges - Altria has attempted to diversify its business beyond cigarettes, investing in vaping and marijuana, but these efforts have not yielded successful outcomes [7] - The company's latest investment in NJOY is facing legal challenges, further complicating its growth strategy [7] Investment Considerations - Altria is struggling with its core cigarette business and has not effectively transitioned to new growth platforms, making it a risky investment for dividend-focused investors [8]