The Best Tobacco Stocks of 2017

A year makes a big difference in the tobacco industry, as the cigarette companies that are focused on international markets outperformed domestic players in 2017. Last year, it was the reverse. But there are some caveats, because the tobacco industry isn't the same as it was 12 months ago, and the waters are increasingly muddied about what is domestic and what is international.

That's primarily due to the continued consolidation under way in the market, with British American Tobacco (NYSE: BTI) acquiring Reynolds American, and the closer ties between Altria (NYSE: MO) and Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM), which still fuels speculation that they will become one company once again.

Source: Fool.com