Regimes are changing in the market, and this could mean a few things, but today, it means that volatility is back. Whenever these shifts come, specifically to the S&P 500 index, investors tend to decrease their exposure to riskier stocks to look for more defensive names in the market to cushion some of the risks that come with these volatility spikes.
Altria (MO) has been one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com users lately. So, it is worth exploring what lies ahead for the stock.
MO presents an attractive valuation with growth potential. But investors should be cautious of challenges like increasing competition and declining cigarette shipments.
There are many ways to make money on Wall Street, but some methods are a lot more reliable than others. Whether you're looking for a way to raise the stream of passive income your portfolio produces or you simply want to outperform benchmark averages, adding some dividend-paying stocks to your portfolio is a smart way forward.
Altria's 7.7% forward dividend yield is rock-solid, with strong fundamentals and attractive valuation, supporting a "Strong Buy" rating. Recent earnings showed solid growth in revenue and EPS, improved margins, and a robust financial position, enhancing dividend safety. Altria's transition to smoke-free products like NJOY and on! shows significant growth, with a positive FY2025 outlook and a new $1 billion share repurchase program.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO ) Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) Conference February 19, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Billy Gifford - CEO Sal Mancuso - CFO Conference Call Participants Bonnie Herzog - Goldman Sachs Unidentified Analyst So it is my privilege once again to welcome Altria back to Cagney. Joining us today are Chief Executive Officer Billy Gifford and Chief Financial Officer Sal Mancuso.
Altria's robust growth in smokeless products like NJOY and on! offsets the decline in smokeable products, making it a compelling dividend stock for passive income investors. Despite recent flat performance, Altria's solid earnings, strong balance sheet, and strategic buybacks enhance dividend safety and potential upside over the next 12–24 months. Altria's distribution network expansion and growth in e-vapor and oral nicotine categories position it well for future market share gains and revenue growth.
[00:00:04] Doug McIntyre: Lee, the tobacco business is good.
Smoking rates have been declining significantly for decades. According to the American Lung Association, less than 12% of adults smoked in 2022, compared to nearly 43% in 1965.
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Tobacco giant Altria Group (MO 2.24%), a traditionally slow and stodgy stock, saw its share price soar nearly 30% in 2024, and that increase doesn't include the stock's legendary, high-yield dividend (total return was 41%). The company, best known for selling Marlboro cigarettes in the United States, is has a solid following in the dividend investing community.
Under the guidance provided in its Q4 earnings report, Altria Group, Inc.'s EBT (earnings before taxes) multiple is only 7.5x, translating a 13.3% EBT yield. This makes it comparable to an equity bond with 13% yield, given the resilience of its business model. But it gets even better as the coupons of bonds do not growth while I expect the earnings of MO to grow at a consistent rate of ~4% per annum.