Altria Group. About company

Altria Group, formerly known as Philip Morris Companies, is a tobacco corporation based in the US. In 1847, UK entrepreneur Philip Morris opened a tobacco shop selling hand-rolled Turkish cigarettes. With time, the company developed into one of the leading cigarette brands in the global market.

In 2003, Phillip Morris & Co changed its name to Altria Group. Five years later, in 2008, Philip Morris International was split from Altria Group. Today, the company mostly runs the American division of Philip Morris. Apart from tobacco and related products, Altria also generates profit from selling SABMiller beer and wine.

In December 2021, Altria Group’s market cap stood at $81.7 billion.

Altria Group stock and what shapes its value

In late 2021, the shares of the company were trading at $44.6. If we take a look at the chart reflecting the shares’ performance over several years, we can see that their value has been steadily declining since 2017. Back then, the price peaked at $75.4 per share in May.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Altria Group stocks have grown in price to $75.4 from $38.6 in March 2020.

What to watch for when trading Altria Group stock:

• Global demand for the company’s products (it may go down as more and more people turn to a healthy lifestyle);
  
• Updates in the regulation of tobacco and alcohol sales;
  
• The popularity of e-cigarettes (the main competitor that draws away customers from regular cigarettes);
  
• Changes in the Fed monetary policy (cheap loans are favorable to the company and attract investors);
  
• Company’s earnings reports.
  
  

Although tobacco products are declining in popularity, the company has all the resources to present alternative products to the market. Besides, Altria Group still has many loyal customers worldwide, which makes its stocks an attractive investment option. Just keep in mind the factors that may influence the value of the shares.