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Marlboro maker Altria opts to end non-compete deal with Juul
By: Reuters | September 30, 2022
Marlboro maker Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Inc said it had exercised the option to be released from its non-compete deal with Juul Labs Inc, nearly four years after buying a 35% stake in the e-cigarette maker that was then at the zenith of its popularity.
Altria is looking to permanently terminate its non-competition obligations to Juul, give up certain rights including its board designation rights and reduce its voting power, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.
In July, Altria slashed the value of its stake in Juul to $450 million, down from the original value of $12.8 billion, allowing itself the option to be released from the non-compete clause and invest in or engage with any other e-vapor business.
However, it did not seek to be released from the obligations at the time, and said it saw value in its investment rights in Juul.
"The decision to terminate our non-compete maximizes our flexibility to compete in the e-vapor space while maintaining our economic interest in Juul," Altria said on Friday.
A change in its stance means Altria could go it alone or pursue other vaping product makers. Privately owned Njoy, which has already succeeded with its premarket tobacco product application process, could be a takeover target, a few analysts said.
"It's more likely that Altria will seek to buy its way back into the e-cigarette category (which represents 7% of U.S. nicotine sales)," Cowen analyst Vivien Azer said.
"This decision ... increases the financial and strategic options we can pursue to secure our business and address the impact of the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration's) now stayed order," a Juul spokesperson said.
The FDA in June blocked Juul from selling its nicotine products, after a review of data submitted by the company. Juul quickly appealed to temporarily block the order.
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Altria Group (MO) Upgraded at StockNews.com
By: MarketBeat | September 19, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Rating) was upgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued on Monday...
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2 Companies That Boosted Their Stock Dividends This Week
By: Barron's | August 27, 2022
Altria Group and Lam Research declared dividend increases this week in an otherwise quiet period for such announcements among large U.S. companies.
August is one of the slower months for companies to make announcements about dividend raises.
Tobacco giant Altria Group (ticker: MO) said it plans to boost its quarterly disbursement to 94 cents a share, an increase of 4.4% from 90 cents.
The stock, which yields around 8%, returned about 2% this year through the close on Thursday, dividends included. That compares with minus 11% for the S&P 500.
Lam Research (LRCX), which supplies equipment and services to the semiconductor industry, declared a quarterly dividend of $1.725 cents a share, up from $1.50 a share. That’s a 15% increase.
The stock, which has returned minus 33% this year, yields 1.3%.
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Altria Group: Total Return vs Price Change Spreads
By: Bespoke Investment Group | August 18, 2022
As we mentioned in today's Chart of the Day, there can be a wide spread between total returns and price change based on dividend yield. Although it doesn't always make financial sense for a company to pay dividends, they can certainly magnify returns all else equal.
The table below outlines twenty S&P 500 stocks that have seen a high percentage of their returns over the last twenty years come from dividends. The average stock on this list has seen over 80% of their gains over the last two decades come from dividends alone. Although the average stock on this list has only seen a price gain of 61.1% since August of 2002, their average total return when factoring in dividends re-invested has been 278%.
To show you what we mean, below is a chart of price change versus total return over the last 20 years for Altria Group (MO). As you can see, the dividend in this case turns a below average stock into an outperformer.
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Juul Buzz Shifts Altria (MO) Stock Higher
By: Schaeffer's Investment Research | August 15, 2022
• MO remains up over 20% off its 52-week high
• The tobacco giant is up 8% in the past month
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is an American corporation and one of the world's largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes, and related products. MO operates worldwide and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., and Philip Morris Capital Corporation. Altria also maintains large minority stakes in Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (NYSE:BUD), the Canadian cannabis company Cronos Group Inc (NASDAQ:CRON), and the e-cigarette maker Juul. At last glance, MO is trading up 0.2% at $45.35.
Altria stock has fallen 7% over the past 12 months and is currently trading down 21% since peaking at a three-year high of $57.05 in early May. Additionally, shares of MO have dropped 6% year-to-date. However, Altria stock has increased 8% over the past month and is up 10% since hitting a more than 52-week low of $41.00 in early July, following news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was preparing to order Altria's Juul Labs Inc. to remove its e-cigarettes from the U.S. market. MO plummeted on this news until, on July 6, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was temporarily lifting its ban on Juul products.
The tobacco company’s valuation metrics remain mixed, with Altria stock trading at an intriguing forward price-earnings ratio of 9.29 but also at a high price-sales ratio of 3.92. Nonetheless, MO offers an incredible dividend yield of 7.97% with a forward dividend of $3.60, making it one of the highest dividend yields available on the stock market today.
MO has struggled to maintain consistent growth on the bottom line over multiple years as well, reporting an $8.3 billion decrease in net income for fiscal 2019 and a $2 billion decrease for fiscal 2021. Still, the tobacco name is expected to end fiscal 2022 with 5% revenue growth. Estimates also have MO increasing revenues another 5% for fiscal 2023, making Altria stock a decent option from both a value and dividend perspective.
Altria stock premium is affordably priced at the moment. This is per the equity's Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 19%, which stands in the relatively low 20th percentile of readings from the past year. What's more, the security's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at a slightly elevated 77 out of 100, meaning the shares have exceeded option traders' volatility expectations during the past year.
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Altria Group (MO) Rating Lowered to Hold at StockNews.com
By: MarketBeat | August 6, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Rating) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a note issued to investors on Saturday...
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The Smartest Tobacco Stock to Buy for the Long Haul
By: Stock News | July 29, 2022
Altria Group, Inc. (MO) manufactures and sells smokable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; and moist smokeless tobacco products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands, as well as provides on! Oral nicotine pouches.
The stock has gained 1.9% over the past month. MO reaffirmed its full-year 2022 guidance for adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.79 to $4.93, representing 4% to 7% year-over-year growth.
“Our tobacco businesses performed well in a challenging macroeconomic environment for the first half of the year,” said Billy Gifford, Altria’s Chief Executive Officer.
Here is what could influence MO’s performance:
Mixed Financials
MO’s net revenues came in at $6.54 billion for the second quarter ending June 30, 2022, down 5.7% year-over-year. Its operating companies income (OCI) increased 0.6% year-over-year to $2.8 billion. Its adjusted EPS increased 2.4% year-over-year to $1.26.
Impressive Shareholder Returns
The company repurchased 10.1 million shares in the second quarter for a total cost of $507 million. Also, it paid dividends worth $1.6 billion in the second quarter.
MO’s annualized dividend of $3.60 per share translates to an 8.18% yield. The company’s dividends have grown at a CAGR of 8.1% over the past five years. Also, the company has increased its dividends for 18 consecutive years.
Strong Profitability
MO’s trailing-12-month net income margin of 14.30% is 163.2% higher than the industry average of 5.43%. In addition, its trailing-12-month gross profit margin of 66.57% is 104.6% higher than the 32.53% industry average.
Also, its trailing-12-month ROE, ROC, and ROA are 3703.4%, 297.6%, and 56.9% higher than the respective industry averages.
Discounted Valuation
The company’s 9.12x forward P/E is 52.6% lower than its industry average of 19.24x. Also, its 8.20x EV/EBITDA is 31.8% lower than its industry average of 12.01x.
Impressive Growth Prospects
Street expects MO’s revenues to rise 0.5% in the next quarter and 1.4% next year. The company’s EPS is expected to increase 7.4% in the current quarter, 5% in the current year, and 5% next year.
In addition, MO’s EPS is expected to rise at a 5.1% CAGR over the next five years. Furthermore, the company has an impressive earnings surprise history; it topped the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
Consensus Rating and Price Target Indicate Potential Upside
Out of the 11 Wall Street analysts that rated MO, four rated it Buy, and six rated it hold. The 12-month median price target of $48.91 indicates an 11.2% potential upside. The price targets range from a low of $36.00 to a high of $59.00.
POWR Ratings Reflect Solid Prospects
MO has an overall C grade, which equates to Neutral in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. MO has an A grade for Quality. The company’s higher-than-industry profitability is consistent with its Quality grade.
Among the 10 stocks in the A-rated Tobacco industry, MO is ranked #6.
Beyond what I stated above, we have graded MO for Growth, Sentiment, Value, Stability, and Momentum. Get all MO ratings here.
Bottom Line
The current market volatility could keep MO under pressure in the near term. However, the company’s exceptional shareholder returns and growth prospects make it a solid long-term investment at its current discounted valuation.
How does Altria Group, Inc. (MO) Stack Up Against its Peers?
MO has an overall POWR Rating of C, which equates to Neutral. Check out these other stocks within the Tobacco industry with B (Buy) ratings: Japan Tobacco Inc. (JAPAY), Imperial Brands PLC (IMBBY), and Vector Group Ltd. (VGR).
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Altria (MO) Q2 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Drop Y/Y
By: Zacks Investment Research | July 29, 2022
Altria Group Inc. (MO) delivered second-quarter 2022 results, wherein the bottom line cruised past the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased year over year on solid pricing. However, revenues came in soft due to lower shipment volumes.
Altria Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings came in at $1.26 per share, which increased 2.4% year over year and beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. The year-over-year increase was backed by the reduced number of shares outstanding.
Net revenues fell 5.7% year over year to $6,543 million due to the lack of revenues from the wine segment, which was divested in October 2021, along with reduced revenues from smokeable products and oral tobacco products segments. After deducting excise taxes, revenues were down 4.3% to $5,374 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues was pegged at $5,397 million.
Segment Details
Smokeable Products: Net revenues in the category dipped 2.9% year over year to $5,873 million due to the reduced shipment volume, partly compensated by increased pricing and reduced promotional investments. Revenues, net of excise taxes, fell 0.7%.
Domestic cigarette shipment volumes were down 11.1% year over year, mainly driven by the industry’s rate of decline, retail share losses and trade inventory movements. On adjusting for trade inventory movements and other factors, smokeable products’ domestic cigarette shipment volumes fell an estimated 8.5%. Altria’s reported cigar shipment volumes declined by 5%.
Adjusted operating companies income or OCI in the segment increased 0.6% to $2,800 million due to higher pricing and reduced promotional investments, partly offset by reduced shipment volumes, elevated costs and increased per-unit settlement charges. The adjusted OCI margin increased 0.7 percentage points to 59.1%.
Oral Tobacco Products: Net revenues in the segment declined by 4% from the year-ago quarter’s level to $665 million due to reduced shipment volumes and the increased percentage of on! volumes relative to MST compared with the year-ago period. This was somewhat made up by greater pricing. Revenues, net of excise taxes, fell 3.8%.
Domestic shipment volumes in the segment went down 4.4%, mainly due to trade inventory movements, retail share losses and the industry’s rate of decline. Retail share losses and the industry’s decline rate were hurt by macroeconomic pressures on the disposable income of adult tobacco consumers or ATC. On adjusting for trade inventory movements and calendar differences, oral tobacco products shipment volumes dipped 2.5%. Total oral tobacco products’ retail share fell 1 percentage point to 46.7%.
Adjusted OCI declined by 8.9% to $430 million due to elevated costs, increased promotional investments in on!, a mix shift and reduced shipment volumes. These were partially countered by increased pricing. The adjusted OCI margin contracted by 3.8 percentage points to 67.9%.
On Oct 1, 2021, MO, through its subsidiary UST LLC, completed the divestiture of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (Ste. Michelle).
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Financial Updates
Altria ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,567 million, long-term debt of $25,046 million and a total stockholders’ deficit of $2,403 million.
During the first half of 2022, Altria bought back 21.4 million shares for $1.1 billion. As of Jun 30, 2022, Altria had shares worth roughly $750 million remaining under its $3.5-billion share repurchase program, which is anticipated to conclude by Dec 31, 2022.
During the first half, MO paid out dividends worth $3.3 billion. The company maintains a long-term dividend payout ratio goal of about 80% for adjusted earnings per share (EPS).
Other Developments & Guidance
Altria continued to witness elevated inflation rates in the second quarter due to rising global energy, commodity and food prices, which were worsened by factors like demand-supply imbalances, labor shortage and the Ukraine war. Apart from this, the company continued to see volatility in domestic and global economies as well as hurdles in the supply and distribution channels stemming from the pandemic and the Ukraine war. This impacted availability and the cost of certain raw materials for Altria.
Altria noted that its tobacco business has not witnessed any material disruption related to the pandemic. For 2022, the company envisions an adjusted earnings view in the range of $4.79-$4.93 per share. The bottom line indicates growth of 4-7% from the $4.61 recorded in 2021. Management stated that the company will continue assessing external environmental factors like global supply-chain hurdles, elevated inflation, ATC dynamics, purchasing patterns, the adoption of smoke-free products, the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disposable income and tobacco usage occasions, among others.
The bottom line also takes into account planned investments associated with costs to improve the digital consumer engagement system, enhanced smoke-free product research, development and regulatory preparation expenses and marketplace activities to support the company’s smoke-free products. The view also includes anticipation of the inflation of Master Settlement Agreement expenses and direct and indirect material costs. MO does not expect PM USA to have access to the IQOS system in 2022.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have declined 20.7% in the past three months compared with the industry’s drop of 7.2%.
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StockNews.com Upgrades Altria Group (MO) to Buy
By: MarketBeat | July 21, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued on Thursday...
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Altria Stock Jumps After FDA Temporarily Suspends Ban on Juul
By: Barron's | July 6, 2022
Altria Group stock was rising in premarket trading Wednesday after the Food and Drug Administration temporarily held off from taking the vape products of Juul Labs off the shelf.
Altria stock (ticker: MO) has gained 3% to $42.84 at 7:22 a.m. on Wednesday.
“The agency has determined that there are scientific issues unique to the JUUL application that warrant additional review,” the FDA’s tobacco division wrote in a tweet late Tuesday. Its decision followed a Federal appeals court ruling that allowed Juul to stay on the shelves.
Altria had invested $12.8 billion in Juul at the end of 2018. The FDA’s tobacco division had issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Juul late last month, which meant all Juul products at the time in the U.S. market were asked to be removed.
Altria stock has dropped 22% over the past month.
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"3 Ways To Trade The Tobacco Giant". And they are?
Altria: 3 Ways To Trade The Tobacco Giant
By: Investing.com | June 30, 2022
• Altria shares are down close to 11% since the start of 2022
• Stock currently generates a lucrative dividend yield of 8.5%
• Buy-and-hold investors could consider buying Altria stock now
Shareholders in Altria (NYSE:MO) have seen the value of their investment decline by 11.6% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the S&P 500 Tobacco Industry Index is up 1.7% in 2022.
Meanwhile, peers British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) and Imperial Brands (OTC:IMBBY) have gained 18.1% and 3.7% in 2022, respectively.
Altria Weekly Chart.
Source: Investing.com
On Apr. 21, MO shares went over $57 to hit a multi-year high but slide to a multi-year low of $41.
Through wholly-owned subsidiaries, Altria is the leading manufacturer of combustible and smoke-free products. It has an equity investment in other sin industries, including a 10% stake in Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD), a 45% stake in cannabis company Cronos (NASDAQ:CRON), and 35% share in the electronic cigarette company JUUL Labs.
Recent Metrics
Q1 metrics released on Apr. 28 show revenue declined 2.4% YoY to $5.9 billion, primarily driven by the sale of its wine business in October 2021. Yet, adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased 4.7% YoY to $1.12. The stock was trading around $55 ahead of the results but has since fallen 23%.
As tobacco is addictive, it's recession-resistant, and Altria can pass on tax hikes and suffer a little material impact on its business.
In the first quarter, operating income in the smokeable products segment soared 8% YoY to $2.56 billion and for 2022 management reaffirmed previous guidance of adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $4.79-$4.93.
However, on June 23, the US Food and Drug Administration ordered the halt of sales of products offered by JUUL Labs and it is unclear how this may affect Altria’s bottom line.
It is worth noting that Altria has raised its dividend annually for more than five decades and it currently offers a lucrative dividend yield of 8.5%.
What To Expect From MO Stock
The stock has an overall "neutral" rating among the 20 analysts polled via Investing.com with a price target of $53.72, a 28.64% upside.
Consensus Estimates of Analysts Polled by Investing.com
Source: Investing.com
Similarly, the average fair value for MO stock on InvestingPro is $59.41, a 43.3% upside.
Valuation Models By InvestingPro
Source: InvestingPro
Looking at MO’s financial health, as determined by ranking more than 100 factors against peers in the consumer staples sector, in terms of growth and cash flow, MO scores 3 out of 5 which is a good performance ranking.
To understand short-term sentiment analysis, we can look at implied volatility levels for MO options. Implied volatility typically shows the market's opinion of potential moves in a security, but it does not forecast the direction of the move. MO’s current implied volatility is about 6.5% higher than the 20-day moving average. In other words, implied volatility is trending higher, while options markets suggest increased choppiness ahead.
Our expectation is for MO stock to build a base between $39 and $43 in the coming weeks and then potentially start a new leg up.
Adding MO Stock To Portfolios
Altria bulls who are not concerned about short-term volatility could consider investing now with a target price of $55.36...
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$MO has $27.92B of debt
Made good money off PM, never been in MO but have followed it for years. I wonder what % of net sales comes from Juul sales?
Long position started here today. Great dividend and company not going anywhere.
Altria Group (MO) Price Target Lowered to $47.00 at Morgan Stanley
By: MarketBeat | June 17, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Rating) had its target price cut by Morgan Stanley from $50.00 to $47.00 in a report released on Friday, Stock Target Advisor reports. The firm currently has an "underweight" rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley's price target would suggest a potential upside of 3.57% from the stock's current price...
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Morgan Stanley Downgrades Altria Group (MO) to Underweight
By: ABMN | June 10, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Rating) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They presently have a $50.00 price objective on the stock, down from their previous price objective of $54.00. Morgan Stanley’s target price suggests a potential upside of 2.75% from the stock’s previous close...
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Altria Group Shares Tumble After Morgan Stanley Downgrade
By: Investing.com | June 8, 2022
Altria Group (NYSE:MO) shares have tumbled more than 7% Wednesday after the stock was downgraded to Underweight by Morgan Stanley analyst Pamela Kaufman.
Kaufman also lowered the firm's price target on Altria to $50 from $54, telling investors they are lowering long-term forecasts to reflect the growing competitive threat from PM's SWMA acquisition.
"Near term, we anticipate greater pressures from rising gas prices and weaker consumer sentiment, which should weigh on cigarette volumes and enhance trade down risk," said the analyst.
"MO shares have outperformed the S&P 500 by 27% YTD, and when adjusting for the 7% decline in ABI's price in USD, MO's core business is +29% YTD. The market may continue to move toward a more defensive positioning, but we see risk-reward skewed to the downside given the combination of near-term fundamental pressures and our longer-term concerns about MO's cigarette portfolio, limited RRP offering, and PM's pending SWMA acquisition," added Kaufman.
The firm reduced their Altria price target to reflect IQOS's entry into the US market in 2024 as they see an unfavorable risk-reward with a 24% downside to their $41 bear case and 13% upside to their $61 bull case.
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Why Altria (MO) is a Top Growth Stock for the Long-Term
By: Zacks Equity Research | May 19, 2022
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors alike.
While you may have an investing style you rely on, finding great stocks is made easier with the Zacks Style Scores. These are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and/or momentum characteristics.
Why This 1 Growth Stock Should Be On Your Watchlist
Different than value or momentum investors, growth-oriented investors are concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, they'll want to focus on the Growth Style Score, which analyzes characteristics like projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Altria (MO)
Altria Group has been evolving with the changing industry dynamics. Given the rising health consciousness and stern government regulations to discourage smoking, this tobacco behemoth has been moving beyond traditional cigarettes and expanding in the smokeless category. We note that revenues from the oral product category have been steadily rising on the back of growing popularity for reduced risk products. In this respect, Altria is gaining from the sale of IQOS in United States, through its licensing deal with Phillip Morris. Further, Altria’s investment in Cronos Group highlights its focus on exploring the cannabis market.
MO boasts a Growth Style Score of A and VGM Score of A, and holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating. Its bottom-line is projected to rise 5% year-over-year for 2022, while Wall Street anticipates its top line to improve by 0.6%.
Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2022. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0 to $4.84 per share. MO boasts an average earnings surprise of 1.2%.
Looking at cash flow, Altria is expected to report cash flow growth of 4.5% this year; MO has generated cash flow growth of 7.3% over the past three to five years.
MO should be on investors' short lists because of its impressive growth fundamentals, a good Zacks Rank, and strong Growth and VGM Style Scores.
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Altria retest and back down to the volume shelf
By: TrendSpider | May 20, 2022
• $MO retest and back down to the volume shelf.
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....simple....just accumulate.....and enjoy your dividends!
Even if they ARE taxed!!
Wake up!! Stop watching so much t.v .
$MO.........to be hunter. Lol.
Altria Group (MO) Downgraded by Sanford C. Bernstein
By: ABMN | May 14, 2022
• Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded shares of Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Rating) from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage currently has $53.00 price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of $58.00...
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Altria Group Smacked down on news of $PM buying e-cig name
By: Options Mike | May 15, 2022
• $MO Smacked down on news of $PM buying e-cig name. I would watch for that gap to fill up @ 54. Nothing changed with this name.
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$MO Triple top followed by a flush Price now resting on the November swing low VWAP
By: TrendSpider | May 10, 2022
• $MO Triple top followed by a flush Price now resting on the November swing low VWAP.
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Altria 1.97 Million Share at $56.57 #darkpool prints
By: Money Flow Mel | May 6, 2022
• $MO 1.97 million share #darkpool prints at $56.57.
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Short Interest in Altria Group, Inc. (MO) Grows By 24.7%
By: ABMN | May 5, 2022
• Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO – Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 16,470,000 shares, a growth of 24.7% from the March 31st total of 13,210,000 shares. Currently, 0.9% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 9,030,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.8 days...
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Deutsche Bank Raises Altria Group (MO) Price Target to $60.00
By: ABMN | May 3, 2022
• Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Rating) had its target price raised by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $54.00 to $60.00 in a report issued on Friday morning, The Fly reports...
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Altria Is Still a Cigarette Company, No Matter What It Says
By: 24/7 Wall St. | May 3, 2022
Altria’s marketing campaign carries the tagline “Moving Beyond Smoking.” A look at its earnings shows that is not the case at all. The company needs to sell tens of millions of cigarettes a year to continue to be a company at all.
Altria’s case that it will change the dangers and use of tobacco products has two foundations. The first is that it can “reduce the harm of tobacco use.” That hints at a future when tobacco use is less than very dangerous to health. The other is that it can prevent underage use of tobacco.
Unfortunately, media like Politico take sponsored messages from Altria that try to make the case that “As the nation’s largest tobacco company, we must play an active role in preventing underage use of tobacco products.” All that means, if it works, is that millions of Americans will start to smoke when they are old enough. That does not reduce the harm of tobacco products either.
It is also telling that this message comes from Jennifer Hunter, Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and Chief Sustainability Officer for Altria Client Services, and not anyone in senior management.
A look at Altria’s earnings statement confirms how stunningly large its tobacco business is. A comment from CEO Billy Gifford cements the extent to which this is the company’s future:
We are off to a strong start to the year and believe our businesses are on track to deliver against their full-year plans. Our tobacco businesses performed well in a challenging macroeconomic environment and we continued to make progress toward our Vision to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future.
Its plans for a smoke-free future are clearly subordinate to the sale of tobacco.
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Altria $MO right back to ATH's after a great report
By: Options Mike | May 1, 2022
• $MO Not sexy or fast moving name but right back to ATH's after a great report . Safety name.
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Altria Tops Earnings Estimates Despite Slight Revenue Dip
By: Barron's | April 28, 2022
Altria reported first-quarter earnings that beat the average analyst estimate and reaffirmed full-year estimates despite a slight revenue dip from the year-quarter.
The cigarette and tobacco manufacturer reported first-quarter revenue of $5.89 billion. Revenue excluding excise taxes was $4.82 billion, a decline of 1.3% from a year earlier and below Wall Street expectations of $4.88 billion, according to FactSet. Altria (ticker: MO) also reported adjusted earnings of $1.12 a share, ahead of analysts’ expectations of $1.09.
Net revenue decreased 2.4% from the year-earlier quarter, which the company attributes to the sale of its wine business in October 2021.
According to Altria CEO Billy Gifford, the company continues to pursue a vision to “lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future.” One attempt to complete this goal has been put on pause, with the ongoing halt of the sale of heated tobacco product IQOS, which is advertised as an alternative to traditional smoking.
Despite the ban, which according to Altria is anticipated to continue throughout the year, the company kept its full-year earnings guidance range at $4.79 to $4.93 a share.
Altria stock was down 1.7% in the premarket on Thursday to $54. The stock has gained 15.9% year to date.
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Altria Group $MO Smokin'!
By: TrendSpider | April 21, 2022
• $MO Smokin'!
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All systems go for Altria Group
By: TrendSpider | April 15, 2022
• All systems go for $MO.
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Altria to evaluate nicotine absorption tech by LEXX
https://ir.lexariabioscience.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/169/lexaria-begins-new-nicotine-formulation-creation-and
The SP could climb to fair value quickly as investors turn to defensive stocks in the face of rising inflation and rising interest rates at the fed. The SP is significantly undervalued when comparing the firm’s PE ratio to its historical average. JUUL approval at the FDA, cannabis legalization, and IQOS sales could serve as major catalysts going forward that could quickly bring this back to fair value which would likely yield around 4.5%. We probably don’t have much longer to accumulate while yielding over 6% on shares purchased. —ThaYoda
Altria Group quietly back to ATH's. Can be a slow mover but dip and hold of the 8D would be a place to try if you like this name
By: Options Mike | April 10, 2022
• $MO quietly back to ATH's. Can be a slow mover but dip and hold of the 8D would be a place to try if you like this name.
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Altria $MO Continuing strong off the VWAP + Volume Shelf
By: TrendSpider | April 9, 2022
• $MO Continuing strong off the VWAP + Volume Shelf.
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Very nice $MO chart. I am very long $MO and picked up more today. Long $BTI too
$MO Altria getting tight Now or never! decision time
By: TrendSpider | March 24, 2022
• $MO Altria getting tight Now or never! decision time.
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Why Altria’s Stock Could Be a Buy and Philip Morris Isn’t
By: Barron's | March 22, 2022
Altria Group has been the standout in Big Tobacco this year, and Goldman Sachs argues that strength looks set to continue, thanks to its defensive, domestic-focused business, making it a better buy than Philip Morris International .
Analyst Bonnie Herzog raised her rating on Altria (ticker: MO) to Buy from Neutral and her price target to $57 from $48. By contrast, she cut her rating on Philip Morris (PM) to Neutral from Buy, and lowered her price target to $100 from $116.
Altria stock was up 2.3%, at $53.43, in early Tuesday trading, while Philip Morris stock was up 0.6%, at $94.66. The S&P 500 was up 0.4%.
Not surprisingly, a lot of Herzog’s decision is down to the current geopolitical situation. She calls Altria “an attractive investment in the current risk-off environment as investors become increasingly concerned about stagflation, placing a greater premium on U.S. based companies with strong free cash flows, high and stable margins and attractive FCF [free cash flow] and dividend yields.”
Altria stock has a 6.9% dividend yield and an average annual FCF generation of around $8 billion over the past three years.
Herzog also highlights the company’s strong margins and balance sheet, the loyalty of its Marlboro customer base, and the shares’ valuation. With its shares trading around 10 times her fiscal 2023 estimates, they stand at an 18% discount to their five-year historical average and a 47% discount to the S&P 500.
By contrast, she thinks the Russian invasion of Ukraine has clouded the picture for Philip Morris. The two countries account for about 8% of Philip Morris’s business, and Herzog is concerned that the company will have to lower its full-year guidance, given the disruption and unfavorable currency exchange rates.
The conflict could also weigh on Philip Morris’s long-term targets for its heat-not-burn tobacco device iQOS, she warns, which may also see headwinds from semiconductor shortages.
She’s still confident about the company’s long-term prospects. “Philip Morris is in the middle of an impressive transformation of its business (and industry) to deliver a smoke-free future which we believe will ultimately create long-term shareholder value,” she writes. Yet there are too many uncertainties for her to stay bullish at the moment.
Herzog isn’t the only analyst worried about Philip Morris’s exposure to Ukraine and Russia. At the end of 2021, 72% of the analysts tracked by FactSet had a Buy rating or the equivalent on Philip Morris, but that figure has dropped to around half today. The shares have been lower since the invasion, and the company suspended investments in Russia earlier this month.
Altria, by contrast, isn’t very popular on the Street, with just 37% of analysts bullish on the stock. It did report a better-than-expected quarter in January, and Philip Morris’s most recent report in February also topped estimates.
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Altria Stock Options Pop After Goldman Sachs Upgrade
By: Schaeffer's Investment Research | March 22, 2022
• Goldman Sachs upgraded MO to "buy" from "neutral"
• There's a renewed interest in calls after the bull note
Goldman Sachs today said that tobacco concern Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) is a potential winner for investors amid the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. The firm upgraded Altria stock to "buy" from "neutral," and upped its price target to $57 from $48, saying that it's better positioned than competitor Philip Morris International (PM), thanks to its defensive, domestic-focused business.
Coming into today, analysts were hesitant toward Altria Group stock. Of the nine in coverage, six carried a "hold" rating on the equity, with three recommending a "strong buy." Meanwhile, MO's 12-month consensus price target of $54.61 is a 3.2% premium to current levels of trading.
Call traders are taking notice of the bull note, too. At the halfway point, 31,000 calls have already crossed the tape, which is double what's typically seen at this point and around seven times the amount of puts traded today. New positions are also being bought to open at the most popular contract, the weekly 3/25 54-strike call.
Drilling down, it looks as if one investor bought 2,000 contracts on the April 55 call for a volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of 22 cents. If this is the case, breakeven for the call buyer at the close on Friday, April 14, is $54.78 (strike less premium paid).
It’s also worth noting Altria stock's Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS) sits at 88 out of 100, meaning the equity has exceeded option traders' volatility expectations during the past year.
On the charts, MO was last seen up 1.4% to trade at $52.99, and earlier rose to $53.96 -- its highest level of trading since May 2019. Altria stock has steadily moved up the charts since bottoming out at an annual low of $42.53 in November, and now boasts an 11.7% year-to-date lead.
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Last day to purchase Altria 7% qtrly dividend date is March 23rd..ie to become stock holder of record....easy money...cheers..ziggy
"Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Is About To Go Ex-Dividend, And It Pays A 7.0% Yield - Simply Wall St News" https://simplywall.st/stocks/us/food-beverage-tobacco/nyse-mo/altria-group/news/altria-group-inc-nysemo-is-about-to-go-ex-dividend-and-it-pa/amp
$MO Monthly looks ripe
By: TrendSpider | March 17, 2022
• $MO Monthly looks ripe.
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Altria Huge weekly breakout I think its safe to say the trend has reversed
By: TrendSpider | March 3, 2022
• $MO Huge weekly breakout I think its safe to say the trend has reversed.
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$MO Rips through the upper Bollinger Band as price continues to squeeze
By: TrendSpider | March 2, 2022
• $MO Rips through the upper Bollinger Band as price continues to squeeze.
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Altria Group (MO) Breaking out on multiple timeframes
By: TrendSpider | March 2, 2022
• $MO Breaking out on multiple timeframes.
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Why 5 of the Highest Yielding S&P 500 Stocks Are Almost Perfect Buys Now
By: 24/7 Wall St. | February 25, 2022
Investors love dividend stocks. Not only do they provide dependable income, but they also give investors a great opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends and distributions realized over a given period. In other words, the total return on an investment or a portfolio includes both dividend income and stock appreciation.
We screened our 24/7 Wall St. research database looking for stock of S&P 500 companies that were rated Buy at major Wall Street firms and also had among the highest dividends in the venerable index. In addition, we focused on five that are very timely stocks to own for the balance of the first quarter and the rest of 2022.
It is important to remember that no single analyst report should be used as a sole basis for any buying or selling decision.
Altria
This maker of tobacco products offers value investors a great entry point now and was hit as cigarette sales have slowed. Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) is the parent company of Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), UST (smokeless), John Middleton (cigars), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Philip Morris Capital. PMUSA enjoys a 51% share of the U.S. cigarette market, led by its top cigarette brand Marlboro.
Altria also owns over 10% of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer. In March 2008, it spun off its international cigarette business to shareholders. In December 2018, the company acquired 35% of Juul Labs, and it has purchased a 45% stake in cannabis company Cronus for $1.8 billion.
The company also is rolling out its own heated and vapor products, such as Marlboro HeatSticks and IQOS, both of which are slowly being expanded across the United States.
The company has increased its dividend for over 50 consecutive years, and shareholders now receive a 6.93% dividend. Jefferies team has a $58 target on Altria stock, and the consensus price target of analysts is $54.08. Shares retreated almost 5% on Thursday to close at $49.57, despite recent positive news.
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After $MO finishes back-testing the support line, $57 next up
$MO Long-term breakout occurring on this one
By: Jake Wujastyk | February 19, 2022
• $MO #MO Long-term breakout occurring on this one.
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