Avoid International Headaches With These Stocks: Altria Group Inc (MO), Walgreen Company (WAG), The Southern Company (SO)

Headlines from across the globe are rattling the markets again, a trend that seems to resurface every few months.  This time, uncertainty regarding an election in Italy has market bulls on their heels.  On February 25, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 216 points and the S&P 500 lost 1.8% on concerns that an election gridlock would harm Italy’s ability to deal with its debt crisis.  Worries surrounding Europe’s debt problems seem to shake the market’s confidence on a regular basis.  If you’re sick and tired of having to keep up with international headlines, there is a way to escape.  Here are a few highly profitable U.S.-based stocks that derive all of their revenues from the United States.

Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) has a history that stretches back more than 180 years. Formerly the Philip Morris Companies, Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) slowly built a list of brands consisting of multiple products. Its tobacco offerings include Philip Morris USA, which holds the juggernaut Marlboro brand. Through its acquisition of UST Inc., Altria Group Inc (NYSE:MO) has smokeless tobacco offerings including the Skoal and Copenhagen brands. Altria also owns Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, John Middleton cigars, and a stake in brewing company SAB Miller. The stock trades for a modest price-to-earnings ratio of 16 and yields 5.2% at recent prices.

Retailer Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG) operates drugstores across the United States.  It provides consumer goods and services, pharmacy, and health and wellness services.  Walgreen has been on quite a tear, as the stock has climbed more than 20% over the past year.  In 2012, Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG) provided investors with the 37^th consecutive annual dividend increase.  Furthermore, the dividend raise marked the largest increase in the company’s history.  Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG) has shoved cash back to investors.  The stock has raised its shareholder distribution at a compound annual growth rate of 24% over the past five years.  Walgreen Company (NYSE:WAG) is surely one of the most shareholder friendly companies in existence, and offers investors a solid dividend yield of 2.8% at recent prices.