Are Cigarette Stocks Smokin' with those High Yields?

There are many socially responsible mutual funds that avoid tobacco companies, and many investors also do likewise. However, if you have no qualms about investing in the producers of cigarettes, you might want to take a look at the list of high yielding tobacco companies at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, many of which yield in excess of 3%.

One high yielder is Lorillard (LO) which has a payout of 4.7%. The stock, which markets the Newport, Kent, True, Maverick, Old Gold, and Max brands, trades at 13 times forward earnings. Earnings for the latest quarter were up 6.9% on a 14.4% increase in revenues.

Another example is Reynolds American Inc. (RAI), which makes and markets cigarettes and other tobacco products including the Camel, Kool, Pall Mall, Doral, Winston, Salem, Misty, Capri, Dunhill, and Natural American Spirit brands. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 13.1, and sports a yield of 5.7%.

Vector Group Ltd. (VGR) is a Florida based tobacco company that has many brands of cigarettes including Liggett, Grand Prix, Eve, Pyramid, USA and nicotine-free Quest. The stock has a price to earnings ratio of 22, and pays a yield of 8.9%.

Altria Group Inc. (MO) is a Virginia based company that makes and markets cigarettes, cigars, and beer. It is the largest cigarette company by market cap in the US. The stock has a forward PE of 12.2, and pays a yield of 5.7%.

For a list of all the high yield tobacco stocks, which and be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

If you haven't seen the graphic color anti smoking pictures which will be appearing on cigarette packs, you should check them out. (Warning: some of them are gross.)

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

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