Tobacco

Non-Farm Business Productivity grew at 2.6% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the fourth quarter, an acceleration from the 2.4% rate in the third quarter. The third quarter numbers were revised up slightly from 2.3%. For 2010 as a whole, productivity rose by 3.6%, up from 3.5% for all of 2009,...

Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI) today announced fourth-quarter 2010 adjusted EPS of $0.60, up 9.1 percent from the prior-year quarter, driven by strong performance on key brands, higher pricing and productivity improvements. Adjusted results exclude non-cash trademark and goodwill impairments,...

On Friday, working with the Suffolk County Police Department, Philip Morris USA seized two hundred and ninety packs of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes from two retailers on the Poospatuck Reservation in Suffolk County, NY as part of a lawsuit filed by PM USA against the smoke shops. Earlier last...

Here is a quick peek at stocks that have abnormally high daily put/call ratios today relative to their average…. 1. Mellanox Technologies (NASDAQ: MLNX) 3,640 puts, 33 calls 2. Flextronics International (NASDAQ: FLEX) 3,488 puts, 79 calls 3. Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM) 3,221 puts, 82 calls 4. D.R....

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Alliance Finl Corp (ALNC) Amer National BankShares Inc (AMNB) Argo Group Intl Holdings Ltd (AGII) British Amer Tobacco (BTI) Bryn Mawr Bank Corp (BMTC) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. ARGO GROUP INTL (AGII): Free Stock...

Here are 5 stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today: Alliance Finl Corp (ALNC) Amer National BankShares Inc (AMNB) Argo Group Intl Holdings Ltd (AGII) British Amer Tobacco (BTI) Bryn Mawr Bank Corp (BMTC) View the entire Zacks #5 Rank List. ARGO GROUP INTL (AGII): Free Stock...

Altria Group Inc. (MO) the manufacturer and seller of cigarettes, wine and other tobacco products, registered robust fourth quarter and full fiscal 2010 results. Virginia-based Altria posted adjusted earnings of 44 cents a share in the quarter, which was up 12.8% compared with the prior-year...

Altria Group Inc. (MO) the manufacturer and seller of cigarettes, wine and other tobacco products, registered robust fourth quarter and full fiscal 2010 results. Virginia-based Altria posted adjusted earnings of 44 cents a share in the quarter, which was up 12.8% compared with the prior-year...

J.P. Morgan is out with its report on Altria Group (NYSE: MO), commenting on MO's FY2010 earnings. In a note to clients, J.P. Morgan writes, "FY adjusted EPS $1.90 (2009 $1.75) compares with our estimate of $1.90 and Bloomberg consensus of $1.90 (range $1.88-$1.92). Guidance for 2011 on an adjusted...

Long time readers will know about some of the building blocks I believe in for portfolio construction which include a mix of different tools, a higher dividend than the S&P 500 (most of the time), building a portfolio at the sector level and a lot of foreign exposure. Every now and then I like...

Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) released financial results on Thursday morning. Altria Group, Inc announced that its 4th quarter net earnings climbed 26.7% to $920 million, or 44 cents per share, up from $726 million, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier. Altria Group, Inc...

Analysts at JP Morgan upgrade Lorillard Inc (NYSE: LO) from “underweight” to “neutral.” LO shares gained 0.22% to close at $74.41 yesterday. More Analyst Ratings here

  Hark! Just as I was about to publish the below response to the many questions I've had re the “shorting” of Star Scientific (NASDAQ: CIGX) the US Patent & Trademark Officeruled in favor of Star Scientific petition in a patent reexamination process. (CIGX) also confirmed that oral...

Here is a quick peek at stocks that have abnormally high daily put/call ratios today relative to their average…. 1. Constant Contact (NASDAQ: CTCT) 2,515 puts, 17 calls 2. Tenaris (NYSE: TS) 2,638 puts, 24 calls 3. Savient Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: SVNT) 7,127 puts, 224 calls 4. Talbots Inc. (NYSE:...