Altria Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. It sells its products to distributors, as well as large retail organizations, such as chain stores. The company was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Altria Group демонстрирует смешанную картину с точки зрения фундаментальных метрик. С одной стороны, компания имеет низкий P/E, что указывает на потенциальную недооцененность относительно отрасли, но высокий P/S и P/FCF сигнализируют о возможной переоцененности. Долговая нагрузка остается на высоком уровне, что вызывает беспокойство, однако ROA и ROI значительно выше медианы отрасли, что указывает на сильную операционную эффективность. Дивидендная доходность снизилась до нуля, что является отрицательным фактором. Выручка и чистая прибыль показывают устойчивый рост, что позитивно сказывается на оценке компании. В целом, несмотря на сильные финансовые показатели, высокая долговая нагрузка и проблемы с дивидендами могут оказать давление на целевую цену, что требует корректировки.

Altria Group, Inc.

Key Points
This exchange-traded fund (ETF) is focused on healthy, dividend-paying stocks.
It has averaged annual gains of more than 13% over the past decade.
I'm tempted to suggest a high-growth exchange-traded fund (ETF) here, but instead I want to offer a top-flight dividend-oriented ETF. Why? Well, I'm considering that the world -- and our economy -- is a little less steady than usual these days, with a war afoot and tariffs and trade wars, too. On top of that, the stock market has delivered double-digit gains in six of the past seven full years (2019-2025). It could be smart to be a defensive investor.
So dividends. Healthy and growing dividend-paying stocks offer the potential for stock-price appreciation, just like any stock. And on top of that, they deliver regular income -- which tends to grow over time via dividend increases. It's a compelling proposition in any kind of economy, really.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Meet the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Consider the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEMKT: SCHD). Here's how it has performed in recent years:
Period
Average annual gain
Past 1 year
15.67%
Past 3 years
12.66%
Past 5 years
11.03%
Past 10 years
13.37%
Since inception (10/20/2011)
13.30%
Clearly, it's a strong performer -- and it's also a solid dividend payer, recently yielding 3.3%. Most funds tend to deliver either strong returns or strong dividend income. This one offers both.
If you invested $1,200 annually ($100 per month) in it, and you earned an annual return of, say, 10%, you'd end up with around $68,730 in 20 years.
So what's in this ETF? Here are the top 10 holdings as of March 13:
Stock
Weight in ETF
Recent yield
Lockheed Martin
4.94%
2.1%
ConocoPhillips
4.74%
2.8%
Chevron
4.70%
3.6%
Verizon Communications
4.50%
5.6%
Altria Group
4.19%
6.3%
Bristol Myers Squibb
4.18%
4.3%
Merck
4.19%
2.9%
Coca-Cola
3.96%
2.7%
PepsiCo
3.88%
3.6%
Amgen
3.85%
2.7%
The ETF holds roughly 100 stocks, many of them blue chips. Invest in the ETF now and you'll own those same stocks -- and can expect significant dividend income.
Should you buy stock in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF right now?
Before you buy stock in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $514,000!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,105,029!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 187% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 15, 2026.
Selena Maranjian has positions in Altria Group, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chevron, and Merck. The Motley Fool recommends ConocoPhillips, Lockheed Martin, and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

1 ETF That Could Turn $100 Per Month Into $67,380

Key Points
A falling stock price can erase capital gains, but not dividend income.
Altria is an old timer, but a living legend in the dividend stock universe.
Verizon's firm hold on U.S. smartphone users keeps the dividends rolling in.
When the stock market begins to rumble, investors can take comfort in high-quality dividend stocks. Capital gains can come and go as stocks fluctuate, but dividends are yours once paid out.
The trick, especially when looking at dividend stocks with abnormally high yields, is to find the ones you can depend on. That's not always easy to do. High dividend yields often result from the market sniffing out business or financial risk in the company, which can ultimately lead to poor returns or dividend cuts.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
These two companies have dominant, entrenched businesses that enable them to pay generous, reliable dividends to shareholders. Here is an introduction to each, and why investors can count on their ultra-high dividend yields for 2026 and beyond.
1. A Dividend King with a 6.3% dividend yield
Altria Group (NYSE: MO) is the leading tobacco company in the United States. Most famous for selling Marlboro cigarettes, Altria also owns leading brands of oral tobacco and cigars, as well as a stake in global beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. Altria continuously raises cigarette prices to offset declining volumes. It's worked so well that the company is a Dividend King, a label earned with 56 consecutive annual dividend increases.
Marlboro still accounts for the vast majority of Altria's profits, so there could be trouble down the road if the company doesn't make more headway with next-generation smoke-free products. But for now, the dividend is just 75% of earnings, with low-single-digit earnings growth expected over the next three to five years. Investors can continue to cash those dividend checks in confidence.
2. Enjoy a 5.4% yield from this leading wireless carrier
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is one of the big three wireless carriers in the United States. While competition is fierce among them, Verizon faces little threat from new entrants due to the immense capital required to build out a network. Most Americans depend on their cellphones in their daily lives, so Verizon's business has proven very reliable, almost like a utility. As a result, it has become a very strong dividend stock.
The company has increased the dividend for 22 consecutive years and counting, and the payout is only 56% of this year's earnings estimates. The U.S. market is quite saturated, so don't expect explosive growth. Analysts expect Verizon's earnings to grow by just 4% to 5% annually over the next several years. That said, it's an ideal stock for income-focused investors, and its low beta suggests that it's likely to hold up well if broader market volatility continues.
Should you buy stock in Altria Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Altria Group, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Altria Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $508,607!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,122,746!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 933% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 188% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 14, 2026.
Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Want Safe Dividend Income in 2026 and Beyond? Invest in the Following 2 Ultra-High-Yield Stocks

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $558.8 million dollar inflow -- that's a 3.4% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 192,821,809 to 199,321,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Procter & Gamble Company (Symbol: PG) is off about 0.4%, Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is down about 1.2%, and Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is lower by about 0.2%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $85.88. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Free Report: Top 8%+ Dividends (paid monthly)
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
TPVG market cap history
CM Options Chain
Institutional Holders of KREP
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Inflows: XLP, PG, CL, MO

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It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
Finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth Score
Growth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum Score
Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM Score
If you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.86% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: 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.
MO is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Staples stock. MO has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 4.1% over the past four weeks.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $5.61 per share. MO boasts an average earnings surprise of +2.5%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, MO should be on investors' short list.
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This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here's Why Altria (MO) is a Strong Momentum Stock

Key Points
Coca-Cola’s beverage sales are still rising.
Altria’s smoke-free expansion will drive its long-term growth.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Altria (NYSE: MO) are both popular blue chip dividend stocks. The former is the world's largest beverage maker, while the latter is America's biggest tobacco company. But should you buy either of these stocks in this volatile market?
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Coca-Cola is still growing at a steady rate
In addition to its namesake soda, Coca-Cola sells a wide range of other carbonated and non-carbonated drinks. It's been selling more bottled water, fruit juices, teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and other beverages to offset declining soda consumption rates. It's also been refreshing its sodas with new flavors, smaller serving sizes, and healthier versions.
Coca-Cola only sells the concentrates and syrups for those drinks, while its independent bottling partners actually produce and sell the finished products. That capital-light business model enables it to maintain stable margins and generate plenty of cash for dividends, which it has raised annually for 64 consecutive years. That makes it a Dividend King -- an elite title reserved for companies that have raised their dividends annually for at least 50 straight years.
Altria's business model is evolving
Altria spun off its overseas business as Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) in 2008. It still generates most of its revenue from its cigarettes (including its flagship Marlboro brand), but those shipments are declining as adult smoking rates in the U.S. drop to their all-time lows.
To offset that pressure, Altria consistently raises prices, cuts costs, and repurchases shares to boost its EPS. It's also selling more smoke-free products -- including snus, nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes -- to reduce its long-term dependence on cigarettes and cigars.
Its acquisition of the e-cigarette leader NJOY, which closed in 2023, should accelerate that transformation. By 2028, Altria expects to generate at least $5 billion in smoke-free revenue. That would be equivalent to more than a quarter of its projected sales. Like Coca-Cola, Altria is a Dividend King that has raised its dividend 60 times over the past 56 years.
Which stock is a better buy right now?
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect Coca-Cola's EPS to grow at a 6.6% CAGR, and for Altria's EPS to increase at a 12.5% CAGR. Based on those estimates, Coca-Cola trades at 24 times this year's earnings, while Altria has a lower forward price-to-earnings ratio of 12. Coca-Cola pays a respectable forward yield of 2.7%, but Altria pays a much higher forward yield of 6.4%.
Coca-Cola and Altria are both reliable dividend stocks. But if I had to choose one over the other, I'd pick Altria right now for its stronger growth rates, lower valuation, and higher yield. The expansion of its smoke-free business should also allay the long-term concerns about its shrinking cigarette business.
Should you buy stock in Coca-Cola right now?
Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Coca-Cola wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 190% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 9, 2026.
Leo Sun has positions in Altria Group and Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool recommends Philip Morris International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Better Stock to Buy Right Now: Coca-Cola (KO) vs. Altria (MO)

Key Points
It's important to look beyond the dividend yield when making an investment.
Coca-Cola has raised dividends annually for more than six decades.
Altria Group also has an impressive streak, but its business faces long-term challenges.
Many consumer goods companies may have seen their stock prices battered due to persistently high inflation and employment concerns. The Iran war and the corresponding rise in oil prices add a new potential roadblock for consumers.
But consistent dividend-paying stocks can provide a buffer until times improve. Of course, you have to choose the right stock with a long time horizon in mind. And it's not merely those with the highest dividend yield.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Altria Group (NYSE: MO) have relatively high dividend yields compared to the S&P 500 index's 1.2%. But I'd aggressively buy Coca-Cola's shares while avoiding Altria Group.
Load up on Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola sells its beverages, including soda, water, and juice, in more than 200 countries. Its sales, adjusted to remove foreign-currency translation effects and the impact of acquisitions/divestitures, grew 5% last year.
Digging deeper, volume accounted for only 1 percentage point of the gain, with price increase/mix representing the balance. Still, given the tough economic climate, this isn't concerning, especially since Coca-Cola continues to increase market share.
Positively, the company's adjusted earnings per share jumped 9%. With a payout ratio of 67%, it has plenty of income to cover its dividends.
In fact, Coca-Cola has a long commitment to not only paying dividends but raising them consistently. Last month, the board of directors increased the quarterly rate by about 4% to $0.53 a share.
That brought the company's streak to 64 straight years with a dividend increase. Coca-Cola has earned a place as a Dividend King, an elite group of companies that have raised dividends for at least 50 consecutive years.
At the new dividend rate, Coca-Cola's stock has a 2.7% dividend yield, 1.5 percentage points higher than the S&P 500.
Avoid Altria Group
Altria Group makes and sells tobacco products. While smokeable products (includes cigarettes and cigars) generate most of the company's revenue, it also sells oral tobacco and e-vapor products.
Altria's revenue has been dropping, and that includes last year. The company's top line, excluding excise taxes, fell 1.5% in 2025, to $20.1 billion. In 2024, revenue fell 0.3%.
Its core smokeable products segment experienced a revenue decline of 1.6% to $17.4 billion. More troubling, its cigarette volume continued falling and losing market share. The number of cigarettes sold dropped 10% last year to 61.8 billion, and it held a 45.2% share, down 0.7 percentage points.
Using free cash flow (FCF), which is operating cash flow minus capital expenditures, Altria has a cushion to pay dividends. It produced FCF of $9.1 billion in 2025, and it paid dividends of $7 billion.
The company also belongs to the Dividend King group, having raised its payout for 56 straight years. Altria's stock has a seemingly impressive 6.3% dividend yield.
However, while it doesn't seem likely Altria will cut its dividend anytime soon, reviving revenue growth seems very challenging given that its core business has been losing market share. That's why I'd avoid Altria's shares.
Should you buy stock in Coca-Cola right now?
Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Coca-Cola wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 8, 2026.
Lawrence Rothman, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

1 Ultra-High-Yield Consumer Goods Stock to Buy Hand Over Fist and 1 to Avoid

Key Points
Tilray Brands started as a marijuana company, but has since expanded into CBD and alcohol.
The money-losing business has been expanding its brand portfolio via acquisition.
As an alternative, this "sin stock" has a huge yield, an industry-leading brand, and ample capacity to invest in new products.
Tilray Brands (NASDAQ: TLRY) is one of a handful of public marijuana companies. To be fair, the company's approach has shifted materially in the past few years, as it looks to become a brand manager. But if you want to invest in a high-risk sin stock that knows how to manage brands, you'll probably be better off with this cash-flow monster instead. Here's why.
The problem with Tilray Brands
Tilray Brands started out as a marijuana company. There's no question that this has been a high-risk investment area, as early enthusiasm for the drug hasn't been supported by the financial results of marijuana companies. Tilray Brands, for example, has yet to turn a sustainable profit.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
To management's credit, it recognized that its marijuana focus wasn't working, and it refined its business model. To that end, it has gone on an acquisition spree, buying up brands in the marijuana, CBD, and alcohol spaces. In this way, it is starting to look like a consumer staples company.
There's just one problem. The acquisitions that the company has been making have been funded with stock, diluting existing shareholders. The share count has exploded by more than 300% over the past five years, and the company still hasn't managed to turn a sustainable profit. In fact, it has already taken impairment charges across every segment of its business. That suggests that its new growth plan may not be working out as well as hoped.
Altria has a better risk/reward balance
Basically, Tilray Brands is a high-risk bet that the company manages to find a business model that sticks. In contrast, Altria (NYSE: MO) has a leading position in the U.S. tobacco market. Specifically, its Marlboro brand is the industry leader, with a 40.5% market share in 2025. Overall, the company has a cigarette market share of 45.2%.
Cigarettes account for the majority of Altria's business, which is a significant risk. The company's cigarette volumes have been in decline for years. However, the company is sustainably profitable, and price increases and stock buybacks have allowed Altria to support a growing dividend. The dividend yield is a lofty 6.1%.
The real attraction here is that the tobacco business generated lots of cash. That cash is being used to reward investors, but it is also being invested in products that management hopes will eventually replace cigarettes. Like Tilray, Altria is seeking new growth platforms, but it is doing so from a much stronger business position.
To be fair, Altria has made some missteps. For example, an investment in vape maker Juul didn't pan out. The company even got in early in the marijuana sector, but that investment flamed out, too. There have been billions in write-offs taken. But Altria was strong enough to withstand those blows and keep trying, most recently buying vape maker NJOY.
Take educated risks
Altria is a high-risk investment, given that its core business is in decline. However, that business remains a cash cow. The money Altria generates is being used to support a lofty yield and the company's efforts to find a new product. In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Altria try its hand in the marijuana sector again at some point in the future.
Risk-averse investors should probably steer clear of Altria. But if you are going to take on a high-risk investment, Altria looks like it offers a better risk/reward profile than Tilray. Just make sure you keep very close tabs on the business, so you know what management is doing to offset the ongoing declines in the cash cow cigarette operation. That warning may sound worrying, but you'd have to pay equal attention to Tilray, while also worrying about the marijuana company's ongoing losses.
Should you buy stock in Tilray Brands right now?
Before you buy stock in Tilray Brands, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Tilray Brands wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 7, 2026.
Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Tilray Brands. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Forget Tilray: This Cash‑Flow Monster Can Outlast Every Cannabis Hype Cycle

Key Points
Altria's yield has normally been high and well above the S&P 500 average.
The company, however, has struggled to generate much growth and faces an uncertain future.
The stock's total returns over the past decade have been fairly underwhelming.
Altria (NYSE: MO) has been a top dividend growth stock for investors to own for years. And today, it yields an incredibly high rate of 6.1%. That's more than five times higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.1%. In terms of cash flow, that translates into $500 more in annual dividend income, on a $10,000 investment, by going with the tobacco giant.
But when a yield is that high, it begs the question of whether or not it is safe. While Altria's stock has been rising of late, it should arguably be rising even higher given its attractive yield. Are investors overlooking a tremendously great dividend stock here, or is there a valid reason for avoiding Altria?
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Altria's yield is actually lower than normal
What you might find surprising is that, as high as Altria's yield may seem right now, it's actually low compared to what it has averaged over the past decade. There have been times where its yield was well over 7% and even into double-digits. The yield can change quickly as a result of the share price, but for the most part, this has been a fairly high-yielding stock over the past 10 years.
Altria has also been raising its dividend for decades, providing investors with a tremendous incentive to buy and hold. And the company still anticipates more single-digit dividend growth in the years ahead.
The dividend is high, but so too is the risk that comes with the stock
While Altria's dividend has been reliable for decades, I would steer clear of the business given the risks it contains. Tobacco rates have been declining for years, and there's plenty of uncertainty about where the company's future growth will come from. Even though the dividend may appear to be sustainable today, it's questionable whether that will be the case over the long term. Last year, the company generated $20.1 billion in revenue, net of excise taxes, which was a decline of around 2% from the previous year. Growth has been hard to come by for Altria, and that's not likely to change anytime soon.
There are many other high-yielding dividend stocks available, and Altria simply doesn't look to be worth the risk. Its payout ratio is around 100% and if the company needs to direct more cash toward growth initiatives, the dividend may end up being a necessary casualty.
Over the past 10 years, Altria's total returns (which include dividends) have been around 120% -- well short of the S&P 500's gains of more than 310% over that stretch. If you invest purely for the dividend, you could be missing out on greater gains.
Should you buy stock in Altria Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Altria Group, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Altria Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $523,599!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,118,640!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 951% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2026.
David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Should You Buy Altria Group Stock for Its 6.1%-Yielding Dividend?

Key Points
Altria Group and other consumer staples were rising in February because of market uncertainty.
The company's tobacco business should continue to generate earnings for years to come.
After this share price appreciation, Altria Group's stock price looks unappealing for investors today.
Shares of Altria Group (NYSE: MO) climbed 11.4% in February, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. A giant in the tobacco and nicotine sector, Altria Group's steady sales are seen as a safe haven amid market uncertainties, such as the current panic over software stocks and geopolitical conflicts.
Like other consumer staples, Altria Group shares have risen steadily this year, up around 20% year to date, excluding dividends. Here's why the stock was rising yet again last month, and whether it is a buy for your portfolio right now.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
A formula for earnings growth
Altria Group owns brands such as Marlboro (cigarettes), Black & Mild (cigars), and on! (nicotine pouches). It gets the majority of its revenue from cigarette sales in the United States.
Cigarette use is declining in the country, with total cigarette volumes down 10% for Altria in fiscal year 2025, as reported at the end of January. However, Altria manages these volume declines quite well through price increases, leading to net revenue for smokeable products declining just 1.5% year-over-year in 2025, with a slight increase in operating earnings.
Along with a steady buyback program that has reduced shares outstanding by 14.5% over the last 10 years, Altria Group's free cash flow per share keeps climbing and has hit a record of around $5.40 over the last 12 months. This is the fuel for its dividend payment, which grew to $1.06 a quarter at the end of February, up from $1.02 in the same quarter a year ago.
Should you buy into Altria Group stock?
Investors love falling back on steady dividend payers like Altria Group during market uncertainty. The stock has outperformed the U.S. market indices in 2026, with shares now trading at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 16.55 and a dividend yield of 6.1%, its lowest yield since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dividend growth should continue for years to come, but this is clearly not as attractive a stock as it was a few years ago, when tobacco businesses were hated by Wall Street. Altria Group is going to eventually run out of cigarette customers in the United States when most finish the transition to different nicotine products, such as pouches or vaping.
The company is trying to gain inroads into these new nicotine categories, but with minimal success. Nicotine pouches are a tiny part of Altria's operations, while its vaping initiatives have burned shareholders many times. It invested over $10 billion in Juul before writing it down to zero, and recently bought the vaping company NJOY for over $3 billion, which hasn't shown much of a return yet.
With a higher P/E and a lower dividend yield, Altria Group stock does not look like a buy right now after its recent 2026 run-up.
Should you buy stock in Altria Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Altria Group, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Altria Group wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $523,599!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,118,640!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 951% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 3, 2026.
Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Shares of Altria Group Stock Were Rising in February

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $297.0 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.7% decrease week over week (from 196,121,809 to 192,821,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is down about 1.5%, Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is up about 0.3%, and Mondelez International Inc (Symbol: MDLZ) is lower by about 0.7%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $89.34. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
Largest Discount Preferreds
Funds Holding YDIV
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding WEET
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.