Next U.S. ambassador Hoekstra 'easier to do business' with: former envoyESPN ranks Celtics' Big 3 as best in the NBA | Sporting News
As the autumn season settles in, a new surge of cold air is set to sweep through the region, bringing with it a significant drop in temperatures. Weather experts are forecasting that this latest cold front will extend its reach all the way to South China, causing a noticeable shift in the weather patterns and a sudden decrease in mercury levels.Altria Group ( MO 0.72% ) has emerged as a surprising stock market winner in 2024, propelled by an impressive earnings rebound. At the time of this writing, its shares had surged by 41% this year to their highest level since 2019. There's a lot for investors to like about this tobacco giant, including the stock's 7% dividend yield as a compelling income opportunity. That being said, are there enough positives in the outlook to keep the rally going? Let's discuss whether Altria stock is a buy, sell, or hold in 2025. The case to buy or hold Altria stock The tobacco industry has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Even as smoking rates continue to decline worldwide, consumers are increasingly turning to smoke-free alternatives. These include electronic cigarettes and oral tobacco, seen as less-harmful replacements, which are proving to be highly popular. Altria, the leading U.S. cigarette manufacturer known for iconic brands like Marlboro and Parliament, appears to be successfully navigating these shifting market dynamics by diversifying into smoke-free products. In the company's third quarter (for the period ended Sept. 30), the story was the 7.8% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS), through a better than expected top-line figure and efforts at cost controls. Altria's NJOY e-cigarette brand posted a 16% climb in shipment volume for the consumable device cartridges, which allowed the company to capture a 6.2% retail market share, up from 3.2% in the third quarter of 2023. The other standout is ON! nicotine pouches posting a 46% volume increase. On the cigarette side, Altria managed to balance lower sales volumes with higher pricing, particularly in the premium category, supporting company-wide cash flows. For the full year 2024, management is targeting adjusted EPS in a range of $5.07 to $5.15, representing growth of 2.5% to 4% from 2023. That's great news for investors when thinking about the sustainability of the $1.02 per share quarterly dividend. The company is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased its annual payout for the past 55 years, with management reaffirming a commitment to continue that streak through at least 2028. Investors who are confident in Altria's ability to remain profitable and execute a long-term strategy have a good reason to buy or hold the stock today. MO dividend yield , data by YCharts. The case to sell Altria stock It's important to examine Altria's outlook critically to understand what could go wrong with the investment idea. The main challenge the company faces likely comes down to the intensely competitive industry environment. While ON! nicotine pouches contribute to growth, they struggle to match the success of ZYN from Philip Morris International . The category market share of 19.1% for ON! fell by 3.8 percentage points from last year, in contrast to ZYN's dominant 73% market position. There's also a question surrounding Altria's NJOY brand positioning and how the category will evolve given that consumers have many alternative technologies to choose from. For instance, Philip Morris plans to launch its Iqos Iluma heat-not-burn tobacco product across the United States late next year, which could potentially erode NJOY's market share if users decide to make the switch. All of this exists against a backdrop of complex federal and state-level regulations, adding another layer of risk that could undermine Altria's growth prospects. Investors skeptical of the company's relevance over the next decade may want to consider exiting their positions or reducing exposure. The decision: I'm bullish For all the uncertainties investors need to balance, my takeaway is that Altria's business is alive and well heading into 2025. The growth from the smoke-free products portfolio provides a financial runway while opening new doors of strategic flexibility. What I like about the stock as a buy right now is its attractive valuation. Besides the high-yield dividend, shares are trading at just 11 times the consensus 2024 EPS as a forward price-to-earnings ratio ( P/E ). That is well below Philip Morris' forward P/E of 19. My interpretation is that the stock is undervalued reletive to its bigger competitor. Ultimately, Altria stock offers excellent value that can work for investors within a diversified portfolio.
PETROAN, Dangote Refinery Sign Deal on Direct Petrol SaleThe green corridors served as a lifeline for the stranded Chinese citizens, providing a safe passage out of harm's way and towards the promise of a brighter future. The efforts of the diplomatic corps, local authorities, and humanitarian organizations in facilitating the evacuation process were commendable, showcasing the power of international cooperation in times of crisis.
In conclusion, Xiaohua's impromptu hairstyling session for Xiangzuo during the live stream not only entertained viewers but also ignited a cultural phenomenon that spread far beyond the virtual realm. With their infectious energy and genuine connection, the couple has left a lasting impression on fans, solidifying their place as icons of creativity and innovation in the digital age.
Tyler Technologies CFO sells shares for $1.58 million
App State hires S.Carolina's Loggains as new HCFor the first time, the Falmouth football team has reached the summit. Indi Backman and Gio Guerrette ran for touchdowns, Tres Walker threw for a score, and Falmouth’s defense dominated in a 26-13 victory over Kennebunk in the Class B final Saturday at Fitzpatrick Stadium. The Navigators finished 11-0 and captured their first state title. Kennebunk, the defending champion, finished 10-1. Falmouth struck quickly. The Navigators marched 61 yards on their first possession, converting a pair of third-and-7s before Walker found a wide-open Abram Wintersteen sprinting down the seam for a 38-yard touchdown reception and 7-0 lead. The Navigators held Kennebunk on the ensuing drive, then extended their lead. Joey Guerrette darted for 33 yards on a sweep around the right side and went 29 yards around the left to take the ball down to the Kennebunk 3. Backman got the call to finish the march, plunging in for the touchdown and a 14-0 advantage with 1:58 to go in the first quarter. The Rams continued to sputter on offense, but after a Luke Roy interception ended Kennebunk’s third drive, a Falmouth error swung momentum back. Walker tried to throw the ball away to avoid a sack, but his pass went right to Kennebunk lineman Calvin Johnson, who took it 15 yards for a touchdown that cut the deficit to 14-6. Falmouth bounced back from that misfortune, marching from its 28 to the Kennebunk 5. A penalty, a bobbled snap and and incompletion brought up fourth down from the 18, but Peter Kearns connected on a low kick for a 35-yard field goal, boosting the lead to 17-6. Kennebunk’s attempt to answer resulted in more frustration, as Sam Haley threw his second interception, this time to Logan McVeigh. Falmouth began the second half with another 35-yard field goal from Kearns, but Jaiden Homa fielded the ensuing kickoff, found a seam and outran the Navigators down the right sideline for an 88-yard touchdown return. The momentum was short-lived, however, as Gio Guerrette took a handoff on the next play from scrimmage, slipped two tackles and broke free for an 80-yard run that gave Falmouth a 26-13 lead. Needing points, Kennebunk’s offense got two quick first downs on the next series but was again forced to punt. Two more Rams possessions ended without points before Falmouth finished off the victory. Kennebunk entered the game looking for its second straight title after ending a 32-year drought last year. The Rams entered with a 14-game winning streak – the longest in the state. This story will be updated. Football: Falmouth’s secret for success? It’s in the details We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — Bryce Lindsay had 18 points in James Madison's 78-61 win against Utah Valley on Saturday night. Lindsay added five rebounds for the Dukes (6-4). Xavier Brown scored 12 points and added seven assists. AJ Smith went 4 of 6 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points, while adding seven rebounds and three steals. The Wolverines (4-5) were led in scoring by Osiris Grady, who finished with 12 points. Tanner Toolson added 10 points and two steals. Hayden Welling had nine points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Furthermore, Sony's strategic partnerships and exclusive game titles have helped solidify the company's position in the gaming industry. Blockbuster franchises like "God of War," "Uncharted," and "The Last of Us" have not only been critical and commercial successes but have also helped to enhance the overall appeal of the PlayStation brand.While congratulating the Jharkhand voters for defeating the “politics of polarisation,” the Congress party termed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s defeat in Maharashtra Assembly elections ‘unexpected’ and called it a result of “targeted manipulation” by the BJP. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the victory in Jharkhand of the JMM-led alliance is one for the protection of the Constitution as well as of water, forest and land. “Heartfelt thanks to the people of Jharkhand for giving a huge mandate to INDIA. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Chief Minister Hemant Sorenji, all the workers of the Congress and the JMM for this victory,” he wrote on X in Hindi. Election results 2024: Maharashtra | Jharkhand | Bypolls “The results of Maharashtra are unexpected and we will analyse those in detail,” Mr. Gandhi said as he thanked the voters of the State for their support and all the party workers for their hardwork. He also lauded his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for her victory in bypoll in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. At a press conference in party headquarters, Congress General Secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh countered the Mahayuti leaders’ contention that the Opposition had floated a “fake narrative” in Lok Sabha elections which did not work for them in the Assembly polls. “Let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the issues we raised during the Lok Sabha polls remain relevant and we shall continue to raise them,” he said. The Congress, he said, will continue to talk about economic inequalities, communal polarisation, caste census and need to defend the Constitution. He called the Maharashtra results as “very strange”. ANALYSIS | Ideology, welfare, and caste census: What do Maharashtra and Jharkhand results tell us about them Party’s chairman of Media and Publicity Department Pawan Khera said, “The Lok Sabha election was fought in the name of PM Narendra Modi in Maharashtra, the BJP lost it. The same State gives the same BJP 132 out of 148 seats within four to five months. What kind of strike rate is this? ...Is this strike rate possible? Democracy is our concern. Electoral transparency is our concern. Can the BJP reverse anti-incumbency?” Mr. Ramesh also rejected the contention that there were problems in the seat-sharing arrangement within the MVA. “The fact is that we had an alliance, there were differences which were resolved. We fought unitedly, but we were up against a machine which was manipulating on the ground, which had deliberately targeted seat after seat,” he said. Without mentioning any names, Mr. Ramesh said that several “non-entities” have won on BJP ticket in Maharashtra while several senior leaders of the three alliance partners in MVA have lost the polls. Published - November 23, 2024 09:58 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Maharashtra / Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 / Indian National Congress / Assembly Elections
ASTANA: The Kremlin on Thursday (Dec 26) cautioned against "hypotheses" over the crash of an Azerbaijani plane heading for Russia , killing 38 people, which Azerbaijan officials reportedly believe was caused by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons. Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died . "WHY?" The New York Times also reported that "two Azerbaijanis briefed on a government inquiry said that Azerbaijani officials now believe that a Russian Pantsir-S defence system damaged the plane". Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement. Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children. DAY OF MOURNING Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. "I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash ... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Aliyev said in a social media post on Wednesday. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the sea. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. BLOODIED SURVIVORS A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. "They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help," said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira. She said they saved some teenagers. "I'll never forget their look, full of pain and despair," said Elmira. "A girl pleaded: 'Save my mother, my mother is back there'." Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and "expressed his condolences in connection with the crash", Peskov told a news conference.
Despite the disappointment of Radu's imminent departure, Inter Milan will be hoping to continue their strong showing in Serie A this season. The team currently sits at the top of the league table and will be looking to maintain their position as they push for the title. The loss of Radu may be a setback, but it is a challenge that the club will have to overcome.
While the idea of retirement tickets may seem like a special opportunity for fans to show their support and appreciation for Wu Bai, it has sparked a debate over the ethics and intentions behind such a marketing strategy. Critics argue that by promoting retirement tickets, Wu Bai's management team is exploiting fans' emotions and creating a sense of urgency to purchase tickets. Some have even accused the team of using Wu Bai's retirement as a marketing ploy to boost ticket sales.South Korea's declaration of martial law and the dramatic upheaval in Syria have caught the United States off guard, leaving it in a challenging position as key allies became unstable and the Middle East underwent significant changes.Israel , renowned for its expertise in silicon chip design that powers global tech giants like Intel , Nvidia , and Apple , is expanding its innovation into a new frontier—biochips. Israel will soon host its first-ever research and development lab dedicated to biochip and smart sensor technology, focusing on medical diagnostics, environmental rehabilitation, and energy generation from waste. 2 View gallery After becoming a leader in the field of silicon, Israel is turning to a new field ( Photo: Shutterstock ) The lab, a collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israeli company Bacaromus, will integrate biology, engineering, and artificial intelligence. The $29.6 million project will be supported by a $19.6 million investment from the government through the Israel Innovation Authority. Biochips developed in the lab aim to revolutionize fields such as medicine and environmental science. Applications include accelerating drug development, real-time monitoring of health conditions from within the body, rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases from small samples, purifying contaminated water, and more. Biochips and biological devices have the potential to manipulate individual cells, perform microscopic processes, and detect molecular changes. Practical uses range from identifying airborne toxins, breaking down oceanic plastic and organic waste, diagnosing viral and bacterial diseases, detecting explosives at border crossings, cultivating food in harsh conditions, and pinpointing contaminated areas. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv The new facility will provide Israeli biotech researchers and companies with cutting-edge tools and infrastructure to drive biochip innovations across medicine, energy, and agriculture—reducing dependence on foreign resources. Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, stated the lab will serve as a hub for research, knowledge sharing, and technological development, attracting foreign investments, international collaborations, and fresh talent to Israel. 2 View gallery Biochips may help break down plastics that have long since become one of the planet's biggest problems ( Photo: Shuttertock ) The lab’s founders, IAI and Bacaromus, were chosen following a rigorous selection process. IAI brings decades of expertise in advanced technology development, including 3D printing, advanced materials, machine learning, simulation, and system integration. Bacaromus, based in Caesarea, specializes in chip packaging and optical components, offering cleanroom facilities, assembly support, and a skilled team with extensive experience in the field. Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel hailed the project as a strategic milestone. “The new lab marks a groundbreaking chapter where biology, engineering, and artificial intelligence converge to create transformative solutions that can change the world,” she said. >Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has emerged victorious in a decisive battle, securing a significant triumph as it prepares to dive deep into the realm of 3-nanometer chip manufacturing. With client orders potentially surpassing expectations for the cutting-edge 3nm process node, TSMC's latest feat marks a turning point in the semiconductor industry.
