Monday, May 21, 2012

3 Tobacco kings paying big dividends now

This article is intended to provide readers with more guidance on which dividend stocks can be judged by the quality and sustainability. Recent setbacks in the general market, dividend yield stock a wider circulation than they may have previously enjoyed. I hope that this increase may be relevant to investors, given the movement in the direction of the stock dividend. Atria Group (MO) is currently trading at around $ 32 per share and has a market capitalization of about $ 65 billion. In the beta version 0.42, it does not act for those who are in pursuit of income due to the rapid growth in stock prices, although the share price has appreciated by about 16% over the past 12 months. It also exceeds the S & P 500. The real claim to fame Altria is firm and offered generous dividends to shareholders. The yield on these dividends is currently pegged at 5.1%. It made generous dividends Altria expensive institutional investors and mutual fund managers alike. My goal here is to study the ability of Altria, to keep it secure dividends in the future. Altria originally worked as a producer and distributor of tobacco products. Anyone reading this boom, no doubt, recalls the company's Philip Morris, which was the nickname of the former Altria Group and the obvious reason for its ticker symbol ("MO" by Morris). Altria, like many of his peers in the tobacco trade, suffered several damaging attacks by the medical community, government, and, of course, a civil action supports the usual shots of lawyers who recognize the deep pocket when they see one. In response to Altria, a Philip Morris, began to diversify, primarily through the acquisition of a controlling stake in Kraft Foods (KFT). Later, Philip Morris has undergone re-branding and turned into a present day group of Altria. Altria has since allocated their share of Kraft, and it also highlighted its international arm of the tobacco company Philip Morris International (PM), which makes other tobacco and tobacco, without acquisitions. Altria Kraft allocated in March 2007 the company completed the spin of the Philip Morris International a year later, in March 2008. Since then, Altria bought U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, together with its implementation, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, wine company. Altria also bought by John Middleton, a cigar manufacturer. Diversification does not stop there. Altria also supports the portfolio of leveraged and direct finance lease rail and ground transportation, aircraft, energy, real estate and manufacturing. Nevertheless, let us consider the stability of reliable dividends Altria. There is general agreement that a key factor in assessing the quality of the dividends is consistency and growth. Since June 2008, dividends Altria rose from $ 0.29 to $ 0.32, then from $ 0.34 to $ 0.35, to $ 0.38 the next, and finally to $ 0.41, demonstrating both consistency and growth. You will not see a lot of ink for $ 0.75 and $ 0.69, which Altria dividend paid in 2007. Security and stability are best defined in terms of interest coverage ratio, earnings per share, payout ratio and free cash flow payments. So, let's see how Altria adds. Interest coverage ratio is the solvency ratio is calculated as profit before tax divided by interest payments. In the case, Altria, the ratio is 5.58. Ratio less than 1.5 is a red flag; so obviously, Altria is in good shape in connection with this standard. Earnings per share paid for Altria is 96%. It's just a calculation. Simply put, it is equal to (Dividends - Dividends Stock) / net income. Despite the lack of consensus on the acceptable upper limit of this ratio, most would agree that the coefficient of greater than 80% troublesome. The ratio of free cash flow to Altria also leads 80%, and is a cause for concern as well. Some may argue that the ratio of free cash flow is the best payout ratio than the earnings per share of payments, but investors should look at both. There are differences. In the end, a convincing argument for adding to its portfolio of Altria can be done. In the end, Altria earnings rose steadily and the payment of dividends, not only has been covered over the past five years, but dividends also increased. While Altria, of course, should not be regarded as a "buy and forget" stocks, with careful monitoring it may be a good game. Contrasting Altria another high dividend yield stocks could help from our point of view. Let's look at Reynolds American (RAI), the other tobacco stocks, which traded at about $ 40 per share and a market capitalization of about $ 23 billion. Reynolds pays a dividend gives 5.6% as Altria, has earnings per share payout ratio of 96%. Interest coverage ratio, however, is actually higher than Altria coming in at 10.65. Reynolds also offers excellent free cash flow ratio of about 75%. Reynolds also has been a steady increase in dividends and sport identical five-year dividend yield of 8%. In contrast to Altria, however, Reynolds did not enjoy the same level of revenue growth. The trend over the past three years is not beneficial. Another potential stock dividend from tobacco genre Lorillard (LO), which traded at around $ 127 per share with a market capitalization approaching $ 17 billion. This capital gives 4.3% and has earnings per share payout ratio of 68%. Profit Lorillard, were choppy and shareholder action was in negative territory since 2009. In short, this one requires serious research, especially in light of the recent acquisition of Blu ecigs, manufacturer of electronic cigarettes. The fact is, focusing on a few indicators and the basis is a sign of a novice investor. It is important to get a broad understanding and deep knowledge of any forward-looking company, you can consider for your portfolio. If a reliable dividend yield is your goal, you will eventually narrow, but not at the expense of the big picture, which should also include any positive or negative catalysts for your research shows. Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and does not intend to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.

Monday, May 14, 2012

MBC supports tax reform on alcohol, tobacco

Makati Business Club (IBC) welcomes the initiative to reform the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol products, which allow the government to optimize their revenue potential and create a strong barrier to excessive use of tobacco and alcohol. In a statement, MBC announced on Wednesday that they support the restructuring of the excise tax on the multilevel structure of the unitary structure of the excise tax on tobacco and alcohol. This will effectively raise equity through the cigarette and alcohol brands to promote market-based pricing in the industry and encourage the entry of legitimate competition. It also demonstrates its commitment to an open and fair competition and respect under international agreements. MBC also said that he favored the elimination of the classification price freeze so the government has the right to charge a competitive rate of excise duty on tobacco and alcohol products. "The current system undermines the tax base, the cost of the Philippine government a significant amount of lost revenue. To address this loophole, we urge lawmakers to increase the excise tax and the burden of tobacco and alcohol products, taking into account inflation in the year, to adequately reflect the negative externalities of consumption of these products" , a business group added. Furthermore, MBC joins the medical community, expressing concern over the increasing number of smokers among the youth of the country, the majority of preventable deaths and disability from smoking-related diseases, as well as the fact that in the Philippines, the 15th-largest market for tobacco in the world with one of the lowest tobacco taxes. He said that the shortcomings of the tax structure governing tobacco and alcohol products allowed the abuse of their consumption, but failed to curb the growth of new smokers and drinkers, particularly among young people and the poor. MBC also said that a society which bears the burden, as evidenced by the annual increase in economic and productivity losses associated with excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. In response to the concerns of some sectors ", resulting in higher prices for tobacco and alcohol products would stimulate the black market, MBC, and urged the government to further strengthen its campaign against smuggling and trafficking in illicit goods. "We firmly believe that strict compliance with customs laws and regulations, as well as effective fight against corruption in the customs and border controls are still key elements in winning the war against smuggling. Fear does work, but it should not interfere with the proper administration of government stakes excise tax, should not that be an excuse to nurture anti-competitive policies and practices, "the business group said. MBC encourages the Government to use part of the additional revenue from excise taxes for promotional and educational activities about the dangers of smoking and alcohol consumption, and allocate a significant part of his Filipino health programs. In addition, the Business Group encourages the Government to expand its technical and financial assistance to farmers Filipinos.

Monday, May 7, 2012

E-cigarettes lights up a growing market

Among the forgeries, a manufacturer of electronic cigarette lights up a growing market Great Awakening Steve Milin occurred one day in September 2008. Life-long chain smoker whose parents died of smoking-related causes, Mr. Milin looked at the trash and cigarette butts found four packs of cigarettes. What shook him was the math: Purchase five packs a day, plus medications, smoking-related problems cost him $ 30,000 a year. "I knew that I die not only from my smoking," he says, "I was actually paying to kill yourself." Eight months later, Mr. Milin started Vapor4Life LLC Northbrook-based distributor of "personal vaporizer e-cigarettes." He was initially put in $ 30,000 from savings, but more than three times their investment, as he explored the suppliers in China and the U.S., sales at its site is now up to $ 10 million a year, he says, and employment jumped to 40 with four. The company is profitable, he adds. E-cigarettes were invented by a pharmacist in China in 2003 as a tobacco-free alternative to conventional cigarettes. The device consists of a thin metal cartridge contains a battery. Inside the coil heater "cartomizer" approved by the FDA turns a liquid into a vapor. Users or "vapers" inhaling aromatic vapors as if they were smoking, but there is no smoke, no carcinogens. There is nicotine in the juices, however, at levels set by the user. The electronic cigarette market is highly competitive. So many imitators popped up was that Mr. Milin was forced to fend off imitation flattery, selling their product as the original pair of the King. What distinguishes one from another, Mr. Milin his well-stocked website, where you can buy dozens of flavors of vapers toffee, pancake, and Margaret with menthol, cherry and vanilla, mocha ice. Starter Kits, which include battery, charger, case and electronic cigarettes, cost $ 49.95 to $ 105. He said that he had bought and tried 600 different products before they come up with their device, which, unlike others, did not require a bottle of juice or a backup battery. It uses the same battery manufacturers like Apple, in China, where he spent six months in the modernization of its production last year. Mr. Milin, 53, a graduate of Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has sold almost all his career, jewelry, high quality audio equipment, mortgages, and stocks. While still a teenager, he says, he even helped to sell the Florida swamps in the boiler room, which became the inspiration for David Mamet's "Glengarry Glen Ross." Bill Godshaw, executive director of tobacco smoke in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, welcomed the product, Mr. Milin. "The anti-smoking activist, I have worked to ban smoking for 25 years, and the problem is that the core of the 33 million daily smokers in need of help," he says. "E-cigarettes are a good substitute." Mr. Milin switched to full-time vaping a few weeks after his "trash now." His last two Kool cigarettes are now framed in his office.