Altria Group

MO

Market cap $101B

Altria Group, Inc. ( MO ), a prominent name in the tobacco and vaping space, has faced notable pressure in recent months, with its shares declining 8.2% over the past three months. This drop stands in stark contrast to the broader market's strength, as the Zacks Tobacco industry advanced 1.7%, the Zacks Consumer Staples sector gained 1.2% and the S&P 500 rallied 6.4% over the same period.

Altria (MO) closed the most recent trading day at $58.54, moving +1.76% from the previous trading session.

MO shifts its cigarette mix toward lower-priced options as consumers become more price-conscious, helping cushion volume pressure in a challenging market.

The S&P 500 booked its third consecutive gain of over 15% in 2025, but it wasn't a banner year for everyone. Some of the market's previous objects of affection treaded water in 2025, especially following the tariff re-rating in April.

Contrary to a common assumption, the tobacco industry isn't exactly imploding. There's still money to be made here.

Altria remains heavily reliant on traditional cigarettes, with smoke-free products contributing minimally to revenues and earnings. I expect combustible dominance to continue going forward, due to litigation resulting in a sales ban for Altria's vapes, as well as the exploding market for illegally imported flavored products. Oral pouches (on!) also face significant competition from ZYNs (produced by Philip Morris).

Altria is the largest cigarette maker in the United States. The company's core business has been in decline for years.

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