Exclusive-USPS blocks shipping of illicit vapes in boost for Big Tobacco
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 11 2025
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
USPS Action Against Unregulated Vapes: The U.S. Postal Service has halted shipments from Demand Vape, a major distributor of unregulated vapes, after evidence showed violations of local laws and lack of FDA authorization, impacting the multi-billion dollar vape industry and benefiting tobacco companies like Altria and British American Tobacco.
Regulatory Challenges for the Vape Industry: With only 39 e-cigarette products authorized by the FDA, the unauthorized vape market faces increasing pressure from tariffs, legal challenges, and shipping restrictions, leading to empty shelves in stores and further jeopardizing businesses like Demand Vape that operate in a "regulatory grey zone."
Analyst Views on MO
Wall Street analysts forecast MO stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MO is 65.60 USD with a low forecast of 57.00 USD and a high forecast of 72.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 61.030
Low
57.00
Averages
65.60
High
72.00
Current: 61.030
Low
57.00
Averages
65.60
High
72.00
About MO
Altria Group, Inc. operates a portfolio of tobacco products for United States tobacco consumers aged 21+. Its segments include smokeable products and oral tobacco products. The smokeable products segment consists of combustible cigarettes and machine-made large cigars. The oral tobacco products segment includes moist smokeless tobacco (MST) products and oral nicotine pouches. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include manufacturers of both combustible and smoke-free products. In combustibles, it owns Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), and John Middleton Co. (Middleton), which are cigarette manufacturers. Its smoke-free portfolio includes ownership of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC), a global MST manufacturer, Helix Innovations LLC (Helix), a manufacturer of oral nicotine pouches, and NJOY, LLC (NJOY), an e-vapor manufacturer with a commercialized product portfolio. The brand portfolios of its operating companies include Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal, on! and NJOY.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
