Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is included among the 13 Most Profitable Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now. Altria Group (MO): A High-Yield Favorite Among the Most Profitable Dividend Stocks Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) st⁠ands a‌s one of th⁠e leadi‍ng names in the tobacco⁠ in⁠dustry, with a po‌rtfo​lio that includ‍es well-known brands such as Marlboro, Bl‌ack & Mild, Copenhagen, and Skoal. T‌he company also belongs to⁠ the elite group of Dividend Kings, bo‌as⁠ting 56 consecutiv⁠e⁠ y‍ears of dividend growth ...

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. are leading companies in the global tobacco industry, with market capitalizations of approximately $109.5 billion and $255.3 billion respectively [1][2] - Both companies are heavily investing in next-generation products to adapt to declining cigarette volumes and increasing demand for smoke-free alternatives [3] Altria Group, Inc. (MO) - Altria's strong pricing power has allowed it to offset declines in cigarette volumes, with a net price realization of 10% in the smokeable products segment leading to adjusted operating companies income (OCI) growth of 4.2% in Q2 2025 [4] - The oral tobacco segment saw a 10.9% increase in adjusted OCI, with segment margins expanding 310 basis points to 68.7%, driven by the success of the on! nicotine pouch brand [5] - Adjusted earnings per share increased by 8.3% year over year to $1.44, supported by strong adjusted OCI growth and share repurchases, with Marlboro holding a 59.5% share in the premium category [6] - Domestic cigarette volumes fell 10.2% in Q2 2025, indicating ongoing industry declines and competitive pressure from flavored disposable e-vapor products [7] Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Philip Morris' smoke-free products accounted for 41% of total net revenues in Q2 2025, reflecting a 15.2% year-over-year increase, with IQOS, ZYN, and VEEV driving this growth [11] - Combustible net revenues advanced 2.1% in the quarter, supported by strong pricing power, while gross profit increased by 5% [12] - The company achieved over $500 million in gross cost savings in the first half of 2025, contributing to meaningful margin expansion [13] - Traditional cigarette volumes fell 1.5% year over year to 155.2 billion units, with management projecting a full-year decline of 2% [14] Financial Performance Comparison - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's 2025 EPS is $5.39, indicating a year-over-year increase of 5.3%, while Philip Morris' estimate remains at $7.50, suggesting growth of 14.2% [15] - Over the past year, Altria stock gained 27.7%, underperforming Philip Morris, which increased by 36% [16] Investment Outlook - Philip Morris is viewed as the stronger growth story due to its transition to smoke-free products and efficiency initiatives, while Altria offers stability and consistent performance [17]

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. is currently trading at a significant discount compared to its industry peers and the broader market, presenting a potential value opportunity for long-term investors [1] - The stock's forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 11.76, which is below the Zacks Tobacco industry's average of 14.87 and the S&P 500's average of 23.39 [1][7] Valuation Comparison - Altria's relative undervaluation is highlighted when compared to competitors such as Philip Morris International Inc. (20.04X), Turning Point Brands, Inc. (28.25X), and British American Tobacco p.l.c. (11.59X) [3] Share Performance - Over the past three months, Altria's stock has increased by 8.9%, outperforming both the tobacco industry and the Consumer Staples sector, which declined by 1.6% and 2.7%, respectively [4] Earnings Performance - In Q2, Altria's adjusted EPS rose by 8.3% year-over-year to $1.44, driven by higher pricing, efficiencies, and share repurchases [7][9] - Revenues net of excise taxes remained stable at $5.29 billion, indicating the strength of Altria's diversified portfolio [9] Growth in Smoke-Free Segment - The on! nicotine pouch brand saw shipments surge by 26.5% in Q2, contributing to a 10.9% increase in adjusted operating income for the oral tobacco segment [10] - The brand's retail share in the oral tobacco market reached 8.7%, showcasing effective marketing and brand activation strategies [10] Smokeable Products Segment - Altria's smokeable products segment demonstrated resilience with a 4.2% increase in adjusted operating income in Q2, while Marlboro maintained a 59.5% share in the premium category [11] Challenges in Combustible Business - Domestic cigarette shipments fell by 10.2% in Q2, reflecting ongoing industry declines and increased competition from flavored disposable e-vapor products [12] Analyst Sentiment - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has seen upward revisions, with current year and next year estimates increasing by 2 cents each to $5.39 and $5.55, respectively [15] - This indicates improving sentiment among analysts, with projected year-over-year EPS growth of 5.3% this year and 2.9% next year [15]

Industry Overview - The tobacco industry is undergoing significant transformation due to declining cigarette volumes, rising health awareness, and evolving regulatory frameworks [2] - Companies are competing not only on brand strength but also on their ability to innovate with alternatives like heated tobacco and nicotine pouches [2] Altria Group, Inc. (MO) - Altria's adjusted earnings per share (EPS) rose 8.3% year over year to $1.44 in Q2 2025, supported by higher pricing, cost efficiencies, and share repurchases [5] - Revenues net of excise taxes were $5.29 billion, indicating portfolio stability [5] - Management raised the lower end of its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.35-$5.45, reflecting a growth rate of 3% to 5% [5] - Shipments of the on! nicotine pouch brand increased by 26.5% to 52.1 million cans, capturing an 8.7% retail share of the U.S. oral tobacco market [6] - The smokeable products segment showed resilience with adjusted operating income rising 4.2% and margins expanding 290 basis points to 64.5% [7] - Marlboro maintained a 59.5% share in the premium category, highlighting brand strength [7] Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) - Philip Morris' smoke-free products accounted for 41% of total net revenues in Q2 2025, growing 15.2% year over year [10] - The traditional cigarette business remains resilient, with combustible net revenues growing 2.1% in Q2, driven by price increases [11] - Management lifted its full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $7.43-$7.56, indicating 13-15% growth [13] - The company achieved over $500 million in gross cost savings in H1 2025, aiming for $2 billion in efficiencies by 2026 [12] - Cigarette shipment volumes declined 1.5% year over year to 155.2 billion units in Q2, with a forecasted 2% decrease for the full year [14] Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's 2025 EPS is $5.39, implying a year-over-year increase of 5.3% [15] - Philip Morris' consensus estimate remains at $7.50, indicating growth of 14.2% for 2025 [15] - Altria stock advanced 15.2% in the past month, outperforming Philip Morris' 8.9% gain [16] - Altria trades at a forward P/E multiple of 12.29, while Philip Morris carries a premium multiple of 21.25 [16] Investment Outlook - Philip Morris is viewed as the stronger long-term investment due to its global scale and leadership in smoke-free innovation [19] - Altria remains attractive for income-oriented investors but is seen as less favorable for sustained growth compared to Philip Morris [19]

Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. (MO) reached a new 52-week high of $67.87, driven by strong earnings, growth in oral tobacco, and shareholder returns, prompting investor considerations on stock positions [1][8][10] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Altria's stock surged 14.9%, outperforming the Zacks Tobacco industry's growth of 1.4%, the Consumer Staples sector's 0.6%, and the S&P 500 index's 1.9% [2] - Technical indicators show Altria's stock trading at $67.58, above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $60.68 and $55.78, indicating strong upward momentum [6][7] Earnings and Revenue - In Q2 2025, Altria's adjusted EPS grew 8.3% year-over-year to $1.44, supported by pricing, efficiencies, and share repurchases, with revenues net of excise taxes steady at $5.29 billion [11][12] - Management raised the lower end of its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $5.35-$5.45, reflecting a growth rate of 3.0% to 5.0% [11] Segment Performance - The oral tobacco segment, particularly the on! nicotine pouch brand, saw a 26.5% shipment growth, contributing to a 10.9% increase in adjusted operating income and margin expansion of 310 basis points to 68.7% [12] - The smokeable products segment demonstrated resilience with a 4.2% rise in adjusted operating income and margin expansion of 290 basis points to 64.5%, with Marlboro's market share increasing to 59.5% [13] Market Challenges - Altria faces significant volume pressure in its core combustible segment, with domestic cigarette shipments declining by 10.2% in Q2 2025 due to industry decline and competition from flavored disposable e-vapor products [14] Valuation - Altria's forward 12-month P/E ratio is 12.31, below the one-year median of 10.52 and the industry average of 15.42, positioning it as a compelling value opportunity compared to peers [15] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Altria's earnings for the current and next fiscal year has risen to $5.39 and $5.55 per share, indicating year-over-year growth rates of 5.3% and 2.9% respectively [17]

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group has maintained a strong dividend history, raising its dividend annually since 2009, with a current forward yield of 7%, but concerns exist regarding the sustainability of this dividend amid declining cigarette volumes and competition from alternative products [1][11]. Revenue and Volume Analysis - Cigarette smoking in the U.S. is declining due to health concerns and the rise of alternatives like vaping, with Altria's cigarette shipment volumes down 13.7% in Q1, including a 13.3% drop for Marlboro and a 24.9% plunge in discount brand shipments [2][3]. - Revenue from the smokeable segment fell 4.1% to $3.91 billion, although adjusted operating income rose 2.7% due to lower manufacturing costs [4]. - In the oral tobacco segment, shipment volumes decreased by 5% to 175.4 million cans, with overall revenue rising by 0.5% to $654 million, but adjusted operating income remained flat [5]. - Altria's Njoy vaping business saw consumable shipments increase by 23.9% to 13.5 million units, but device shipments fell 70% to 0.3 million units, indicating a mixed performance in the vaping segment [6]. Financial Health and Dividend Safety - Altria generated $2.72 billion in operating cash flow and $2.68 billion in free cash flow in the quarter, with a dividend payout of $1.73 billion, resulting in a coverage ratio of over 1.5 times based on free cash flow [9]. - The company ended the quarter with net debt of $21.3 billion and a leverage ratio of 1.7 times, indicating manageable debt levels [9]. Future Outlook - Altria maintained its full-year guidance for adjusted EPS between $5.30 and $5.45, reflecting growth of 2% to 5%, while acknowledging the impact of increased tariffs and cost inflation on consumer behavior [7]. - There are concerns that continued price increases may not be sustainable in the face of declining volumes, which could affect long-term profitability [10][12]. Market Position and Valuation - Altria's stock has performed well in a volatile market, but the overall cigarette business is declining, and its smoke-free products are not yet significant enough to offset this trend [11]. - The company trades at a forward P/E ratio of 11 based on 2025 analyst consensus, which is higher than British American Tobacco but lower than Philip Morris International, which is experiencing growth without facing similar volume declines [13].