The Investment Value of High Dividend Stocks
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
0mins
Should l Buy MO?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Altria's Dividend King Status: Altria Group (NYSE: MO), as the leading tobacco company in the U.S., showcases a robust dividend payment capability with 56 consecutive years of dividend increases, although it faces challenges from declining tobacco volumes, it maintains profitability by raising cigarette prices.
- Stable Dividend Payments: Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) holds a significant position in the U.S. wireless market, providing a reliable dividend source for income-focused investors with 22 years of consecutive dividend growth and a payout ratio of only 56% of projected earnings, despite future growth expectations of just 4% to 5%.
- Safe Haven Amid Market Volatility: High-quality dividend stocks like Altria and Verizon offer investors a stable income source during increased market volatility, as capital gains may fluctuate, but dividend income is secured once paid out.
- Risks of High Dividend Yields: While high dividend yields attract investors, market awareness of potential financial risks in companies may lead to dividend cuts, thus investors must carefully select high-yield stocks to ensure sustainable profitability.
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Analyst Views on MO
Wall Street analysts forecast MO stock price to fall
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 67.720
Low
57.00
Averages
65.00
High
72.00
Current: 67.720
Low
57.00
Averages
65.00
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.
- Dividend Yield: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) recently offers a dividend yield of 3.3%, providing a stable income source amidst current economic uncertainties, appealing to defensive investors.
- Historical Performance: Since its inception in 2011, the ETF has achieved an average annual return of 13.30%, with a 15.67% return over the past year, demonstrating strong performance in volatile markets and boosting investor confidence.
- Portfolio Strength: SCHD holds approximately 100 stocks, including blue-chip companies like Lockheed Martin, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo, ensuring investment diversity and stability, thereby providing long-term capital appreciation potential for investors.
- Long-Term Investment Returns: Investing $1,200 annually, with an assumed annual return of 10%, could yield around $68,730 after 20 years, highlighting the ETF's appeal as a long-term investment vehicle.
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- Annual Returns: The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has achieved an average annual gain of 13.37% over the past decade, demonstrating robust performance in a volatile market, appealing to investors seeking stable returns.
- Dividend Yield: With a recent dividend yield of 3.3%, this ETF not only provides a steady cash flow but also offers the potential for capital appreciation, making it suitable for defensive investing in uncertain economic conditions.
- Investment Returns: Investing $1,200 annually with an assumed annual return of 10% could yield approximately $68,730 in 20 years, highlighting the power of compounding and encouraging a focus on long-term holding strategies.
- Portfolio Composition: The ETF holds around 100 stocks, primarily blue-chip companies, with top holdings like Lockheed Martin and Coca-Cola, further enhancing the stability and income potential of its investment portfolio.
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- Altria's Dividend King Status: Altria Group (NYSE: MO), as the leading tobacco company in the U.S., showcases a robust dividend payment capability with 56 consecutive years of dividend increases, although it faces challenges from declining tobacco volumes, it maintains profitability by raising cigarette prices.
- Stable Dividend Payments: Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) holds a significant position in the U.S. wireless market, providing a reliable dividend source for income-focused investors with 22 years of consecutive dividend growth and a payout ratio of only 56% of projected earnings, despite future growth expectations of just 4% to 5%.
- Safe Haven Amid Market Volatility: High-quality dividend stocks like Altria and Verizon offer investors a stable income source during increased market volatility, as capital gains may fluctuate, but dividend income is secured once paid out.
- Risks of High Dividend Yields: While high dividend yields attract investors, market awareness of potential financial risks in companies may lead to dividend cuts, thus investors must carefully select high-yield stocks to ensure sustainable profitability.
See More
- Altria's Stable Returns: Altria Group (MO), the leading tobacco company in the U.S., offers a 6.3% dividend yield backed by 56 consecutive years of dividend increases, and despite declining tobacco volumes, its dividend payout remains at 75% of earnings, indicating strong cash flow and profitability.
- Reliability in Wireless Communication: Verizon Communications (VZ), one of the top three wireless carriers in the U.S., boasts a 5.4% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years, demonstrating robust competitiveness in a saturated market, with expected annual growth rates of only 4% to 5% in the coming years.
- Market Position and Risks: Altria's profits heavily rely on the Marlboro brand, which could face pressure if advancements in smoke-free products are not achieved, while Verizon's high capital requirements for network construction minimize threats from new competitors, ensuring business stability.
- Investor Confidence: Despite increasing market volatility, the dividend-paying capabilities of both Altria and Verizon make them ideal for income-focused investors, particularly in times of economic uncertainty, providing relatively safe investment returns.
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- Price Range Analysis: The XLP ETF has a 52-week low of $75.16 and a high of $90.14, with the latest trade at $85.88, indicating stability and potential investment appeal in the current market.
- Technical Analysis Tool: Comparing the latest share price to the 200-day moving average can provide valuable insights for investors, aiding in market trend assessment and timing of trades.
- ETF Unit Trading Mechanism: ETFs trade like stocks, where investors buy and sell 'units' that can be created or destroyed based on demand, impacting liquidity and market performance.
- Inflows and Outflows Monitoring: Weekly monitoring of changes in shares outstanding helps identify significant inflows (new units created) or outflows (old units destroyed), directly affecting the buying and selling of the underlying assets held within the ETF.
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- Coca-Cola's Steady Growth: Coca-Cola continues to expand in the global beverage market, successfully increasing sales of bottled water, juices, and sports drinks despite declining soda consumption, with projected EPS growth of 6.6% CAGR from 2025 to 2028.
- Altria's Business Transformation: Altria accelerates its shift towards smoke-free products through the acquisition of e-cigarette leader NJOY, expecting smoke-free revenue to reach at least $5 billion by 2028, which would account for a quarter of its projected sales, demonstrating adaptability to future market trends.
- Dividend King Status: Both Coca-Cola and Altria are Dividend Kings, with Coca-Cola raising dividends for 64 consecutive years at a yield of 2.65%, while Altria has increased dividends 60 times over 56 years, boasting a yield of 6.25%, showcasing strong dividend performance from both companies.
- Valuation and Investment Choice: Coca-Cola's forward P/E ratio stands at 24, while Altria's is lower at 12, making Altria more attractive in the current market environment due to its lower valuation and higher dividend yield, especially in light of its expanding smoke-free business.
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