Altria Group
maker of Marlboros and the most important U.S. cigarette firm, has lengthy considered its dividend as the easiest way to return capital to traders. The strategy is well-liked with its income-oriented retail base—an estimated 40% of shareholders, greater than double the
S&P 500
common.
Altria has raised the dividend for 50 years; it has an almost 9% yield. Since 2010, it’s focused a roughly 80% payout ratio of earnings to dividends, among the many S&P 500’s highest. In early March, Altria lower its ties with e-cig maker Juul Labs—resulting in a $12 billion loss—and purchased smaller NJOY for $2.7 billion.