We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best High-Yield Dividend Stocks To Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) stands against the other high-yield dividend stocks.
Dividend stocks have been investors’ favorites for a long time now. Over the years, these equities have performed better than the broader market. That said, when it comes to dividend investing, opinions often split down the middle between those seeking high yields and those favoring dividend growth. Though analysts recommend buying stocks with proven tracks of dividend growth, the appeal of high yields is hard to ignore. According to analysts, investors should steer clear of yield traps and focus on companies that consistently increase the value returned to shareholders. However, those advocating yields have plenty to say about the significance of dividend yields.
Also read: 12 Best Fortune 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Right Now
One such example is a report published by Newton Investment Management. According to the report, high-yield dividend stocks outperformed the broader market during high inflationary periods between 1940 and 2021. The report also revealed that investment portfolios with high-yield dividend stocks outperformed those with low or no dividends in terms of value-weighted performance. High-yield portfolios surpassed low-yield ones by 199 basis points and zero-yield portfolios by 330 basis points. While this result provides useful information, it doesn’t offer details about the market conditions at the time, giving only a broad picture of high-yield stock performance. Analysts have paid close attention to how dividend stocks perform during market volatility, as the need for consistent income becomes more pronounced in such times. As a result, they suggest considering high-yield stocks only if these companies also have a strong history of dividend growth.
Dan Lefkovitz, a strategist for Morningstar Indexes, made the following comment about extremely high yields in the firm’s recent report:
“It’s really critical to be selective when it comes to buying dividend-paying stocks and chasing yield. Looking for the most yield-rich areas of the market can often lead you into troubled areas and dividend traps—companies that have a nice-looking yield that is ultimately unsustainable. You have to screen for dividend durability and reliability going forward.”
That said, high yields aren’t automatically a bad sign. In fact, dividend yield plays an important role when investing in dividend stocks, as it shows how much income an investor can expect relative to the stock’s price. However, to fully benefit from high yields, other factors like the company’s cash flow, payout ratio, and dividend growth must also be considered. If these metrics are strong, high-yield stocks can still be appealing. Some reports have pointed out the long-term advantages of high-yield stocks, noting that as dividend yields increase, returns generally rise, and risk decreases. Hartford Funds conducted research factoring in annualized standard deviation, which measures a portfolio’s return volatility, with a higher standard deviation indicating greater historical risk. The report found that from December 1969 to March 2024, high-dividend portfolios delivered an annualized return of 12.3%, mid-dividend portfolios 10.5%, and low-dividend portfolios 9.7%. The annualized standard deviations for these portfolios were 14.1%, 16%, and 20.8%, respectively.
The ideal situation would be when dividend growth and high yields go hand in hand, as many companies have demonstrated that this is achievable. With that being said, we will now take a look at some of the best dividend stocks with high yields to invest in.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we scanned Insider Monkey’s database of 900 hedge funds as of Q3 2024 and picked dividend stocks that have yields above 4%, as of January 20. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of hedge fund investors having stakes in them.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).
A close-up of an assembly line with a blend of tobacco products.
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Dividend Yield as of January 20: 7.87%
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is an American tobacco company, based in Virginia. The company manufactures a wide range of related products including cigarettes and other nicotine products. The tobacco industry has experienced significant changes in recent years. Despite the global decline in smoking rates, more consumers are shifting toward smoke-free alternatives, such as electronic cigarettes and oral tobacco, which are considered less harmful and have gained substantial popularity. Altria, known for brands like Marlboro and Parliament, seems to be adapting well to these evolving market trends by expanding into smoke-free products. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by nearly 29%.
In the third quarter of 2024, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) generated $5.34 billion in revenues, which showed a 1.1% growth from the same period last year. The company experienced strong income growth in its smokeable products segment, driven by the continued success of the Marlboro brand. Its oral tobacco segment also boosted profitability, with MST brands performing well and the on! product maintaining its market position. Moreover, the company launched its “Optimize & Accelerate” initiative, aimed at modernizing operations and advancing its strategic goals. The company reaffirmed its 2024 adjusted diluted EPS guidance, forecasting a range of $5.07 to $5.15, representing a growth rate of 2.5% to 4% from the 2023 base of $4.95.
Ashva Capital made the following comment about MO in its Q3 2024 investor letter:
“At Ashva Capital, our focus on intrinsic value–rather than market sentiment or temporary price metrics– sets our portfolio apart from peers. For example, we hold Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), which has demonstrated resilience and strong performance within our portfolio, particularly following a robust Q3 earnings report. Altria’s results highlighted increased demand for smokeless products, underscoring both the adaptability of its business model and its long-term growth potential—a key factor in our investment decision.
This approach to intrinsic value echoes insights from renowned value investor Bill Miller, whose strategy emphasized fundamental value over market-driven factors. Key principles from Miller’s approach that inform our strategy include:..” (Click here to read the full text)
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company maintains a 55-year track record of dividend growth. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share and has an attractive dividend yield of 7.87%, as of January 20. In the most recent quarter, the company returned $1.7 billion to shareholders through dividends.
At the end of Q3 2024, 32 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), compared with 36 in the preceding quarter. These stakes have a total value of $2.27 billion. With over 22 million shares, Arrowstreet Capital was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.
Overall MO ranks 10th on our list of the best high-yield dividend stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential for MO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MO but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
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