Why Is Everyone Talking About Altria?
If you are an income-focused investor, a stock with a 9.5% dividend yield is probably enticing. Add in the fact that the dividend has been increased every year for over a decade and the story gets even better. Now consider that the stock in question, Altria (NYSE: MO), hails from the generally conservative consumer staples sector and you might be ready to back up the truck.
But don't buy in just yet -- there's more you need to know.
To give credit where credit is due, Altria is the name to beat in the North American cigarette market. Its Marlboro brand has a 42.3% market share, which is an incredible number. Overall the company's market share is around 47%. Think about that for a second -- nearly half of all cigarettes sold in the United States are made by Altria.
Source Fool.com
