Latest news with #nicotine
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Monster Dividend Growth Stock Is Up 50% So Far This Year
Philip Morris International is seeing growing demand for its alternative nicotine products and is getting a boost from a depreciating dollar. The company is still harvesting a ton of cash flow from its legacy cigarette business. The stock is more expensive than previously but can still deliver sold returns for shareholders. 10 stocks we like better than Philip Morris International › The stock market has been choppy in 2025. Dipping and soaring seemingly each month, the S&P 500 index is basically now flat this year. Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) has gone straight up and to the right. Shares of the international nicotine giant have posted a 50% total return so far in 2025, making it one of the best-performing large-cap stocks of the last few months and crushing the index returns. It is a heavy dividend payer and benefiting from multiple tailwinds that should drive earnings much higher in the years to come. But is the stock still a buy today? Philip Morris International's returns are a cumulation of bets made over the past 10 years. The company rightfully saw that cigarette usage was declining around the world and pivoted its business to other nicotine products that are seeing strong consumer adoption. In the heat-not-burn category it has the leading brand called Iqos with 77% volume share in the markets it operates, making it the dominant player in the space. In nicotine pouches it owns the leading brand in Zyn with similar market share characteristics. Combined, Iqos and Zyn have changed the complexion of Philip Morris' business. Last quarter, 42% of the company's revenue came from smoke-free products, and 44% of gross profit. Higher gross profits from alternative nicotine products shows the better unit economics these brands have compared to cigarettes, which is a high bar. This is why Philip Morris' overall revenue has inflected higher in the last few years to $38 billion over the last 12 months. On top of its lead in new nicotine products, Philip Morris International is benefiting from a weaker U.S. dollar. The Dollar Index has fallen from around 110 to under 100 to start 2025, which shows the U.S. dollar depreciating compared to other currencies. Philip Morris International does not operate in the United States except with its Zyn brand (and with Iqos in the future), meaning that a depreciating dollar will help it earn more in revenue in U.S. dollar terms. Wall Street has anticipated this boost to revenue, adding more fuel to the stock price to start the year. Management at Philip Morris International made the brilliant move of investing in alternative nicotine products ahead of the competition. Cigarettes are going the way of the horse and buggy, likely becoming a smaller part of this business every year going forward. This does not mean the segment cannot generate heaps of cash flow for the next few decades. Outside of China and the United States -- where Philip Morris International does not operate for cigarettes -- global cigarette usage is expected to decline by 1% in 2025. Through pricing power, cigarettes can deliver revenue and earnings growth for Philip Morris International for a long while. This isn't the United States where volumes are declining by around 10% a year. Last quarter, combustibles gross profit grew 5.3% year over year for the company. Cigarettes are not dead yet. Especially not in the international markets where Philip Morris International operates. After delivering such strong returns to start 2025, investors may wonder if the stock's best days are behind it. Let's dive into the valuation to analyze whether that is true or not. The stock's forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) has risen to 24 compared to 14 at the start of last year. Its dividend yield is now 3% compared to close to 6% a year ago. Both these metrics make Philip Morris International stock more expensive in a vacuum compared to a year ago. Since price matters in investing, this rising valuation indicates to me that these monster 50% returns in less than a year are not sustainable for Philip Morris International stock. However, this does not mean the stock is a bad buy today. It still has a solid dividend yield of 3%, can keep growing its dividend payout, and trades at a P/E ratio around the market average. With the growth of Iqos and Zyn along with the pricing power of cigarettes, revenue and earnings can grow at a double-digit rate for many years into the future. This should lead to solid long-term returns for Philip Morris International shareholders. Just don't expect the same spectacular returns of the last few months. Before you buy stock in Philip Morris International, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Philip Morris International wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $828,224!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 979% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Philip Morris International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This Monster Dividend Growth Stock Is Up 50% So Far This Year was originally published by The Motley Fool
The Independent
21 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Farewell to disposable vapes (and hello to my stockpile)
Stockpiling is a real 2025 buzzword, but it's not just the rumblings of World War III that have got people clearing the shelves, for a more imminent threat looms: today is doomsday for disposable vapes. By banning them outright, the government aims to reduce the number of children getting hooked on their flavoursome, nicotine-laced steam, and to protect the environment from their unrecyclable innards. Both are honourable causes, but I'm still annoyed. Historically, I've always been a box of fags kinda girl, and it's important to stress that cigarettes did not always cost £18 nor pints £7.90. I found myself making the shift to vapes two years ago when my friend offered me a blast on a Lost Mary. I only tried it for a laugh after I'd seen Philip Schofield manically chuffing on one (kiwi passion fruit guava flavour, in case you were wondering) in his excruciating post- This Morning resignation interviews. 'They're only a fiver,' my friend grinned at me as I expressed my delight at how sickeningly sweet it tasted. 'And they last for ages.' It's worth noting that at the time of this conversation, we were both 40, thus I cannot deny that teenagers – and regrettably, even younger kids – have probably been having similar conversations. The devil on my shoulder whispers, 'But surely they'll just find something else to smoke now? It's what kids do and have always done.' After all, my dad delights in telling me that he started smoking when he was 10 and you could pick up a four-pack of Dominos for a sixpence. I can see why many people gave up traditional 'cancer sticks' for their exotic little cousins. Not only do they smell nicer but I've found that, since turning to vapes, I smoke less. I can get away with a few puffs on a vape rather than honking a whole cigarette. One vape can last me a month, or even longer. That will change now. I'm not the type to be faffing about with refillable vapes and little bottles of flavoured 'vape juice' and the idea of plugging my vape in next to my phone overnight doesn't really appeal. I'm a spontaneous and sporadic smoker so I expect I will just go back to buying old-fashioned fags – and many people who want to smoke will do the same. Because that's the thing. Until the government bans nicotine products altogether (which it won't, as they generate around £6.8 billion in taxes per year) then people will continue to use them. Over the past two decades, many laws have come in which were meant to deter people like me from sparking up, yet I still do it. As the clock neared midnight on June 30 2007, I enjoyed a last drawn-out drag on a cigarette on the dancefloor at London nightclub Corsica Studios, promising myself (somewhat dramatically) that I would never forget the joy of dancing and smoking indoors at the same time. The following year, the tobacco industry was forced to add gruesome picture warnings to packets, and in 2015, the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations insisted that any remaining brand personality was completely eradicated and replaced with the disgusting sludge brown we know today. In October 2011, cigarette vending machines vanished from pubs and clubs. A year later, nicotine products were hidden at the point of sale, banished behind the doors of a cupboard or squirrelled away in a drawer. For me, the most painful goodbye was to the humble box of 10s in 2016, but for many of my friends, the removal of menthol cigarettes in 2020 prompted tears… and a thriving black market as savvy stockpilers cashed in on people's forbidden cravings for a throat-cooling minty blast. I'm predicting something similar will play out over the next few months. Yesterday, hours before the ban became law, websites had totally sold out of disposable vapes, and panic buying has even spread to brick-and-mortar shops, too. I visited my local vape emporium, Vape Joint, in Woolwich. They had almost totally sold out of single-use vapes, with just three obscure flavours left. Next door, in the newsagent, they were eager to get rid of their remaining stock with some obscene bundle deals. I picked up a smorgasbord of vapes, handing over £30 for 10. Who knows what will play out decades from now? Will it be a show of wealth and status to bring out a platter of box-fresh single-use vapes, piled high like a tower of Ferrero Rocher at the ambassador's party? Perhaps single-use vapes will become as collectable as unboxed 1970s Star Wars toys, generating amazed headlines when a crate of them pops up on Antiques Roadshow in 2055. I know that the ban is for a good reason. Its aim is to protect the most vulnerable members of our society (both human and otherwise). I know that when I'm vaping I am technically sucking on a battery… but they're so delicious. And cheap. And I will miss them.
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
A Smokeless Canada is Within Reach -- Let's Talk Facts Français
MONTREAL, May 31, 2025 /CNW/ - On World No Tobacco Day, Imperial Tobacco Canada (Imperial) is calling on government, health advocates, and all Canadians to embrace harm reduction as a key strategy to achieve a smokeless Canada in the next decade. Despite years of public health efforts, approximately 11 percent of Canadian adults continue to smoke cigarettes — a figure that has remained relatively unchanged in recent years and which underscores the need to reevaluate the existing tobacco control approach and champion harm reduction as a key strategy to decrease smoking rates in Canada more quickly. At Imperial, the goal is clear: to help adults quit smoking or switch to less harmful alternatives. Similar to Health Canada's and Canadian health groups' goal of a Smoke Free Canada, Imperial is focused on reducing smoking rates to below 5% by 2035. But to do that adult smokers need a world where harm reduction is understood and supported. "For years, nicotine has been misunderstood, largely because its use was predominantly through the act of cigarette smoking." said Frank Silva, President and CEO of Imperial. "We need people to understand that nicotine, while addictive, does not cause cancer and is not the cause of smoking related diseases. By offering adult smokers access to less harmful alternatives that deliver nicotine without combustion, we can, in fact, significantly reduce the health impact on the Canadian Society." To that end, and to demonstrate our seriousness about reducing smoking in Canada, Imperial became the first company, in 2023, to launch a Health Canada approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product in the form of a nicotine pouch, called ZONNIC, to help smokers quit. A product that shortly after its introduction, was pulled from shelves by an unprecedented Ministerial Order and put behind the counter at pharmacies. "Restricting access to a Health Canada approved cessation tool contradicts the fundamental principle of harm reduction," said Silva. "ZONNIC was licensed by Health Canada following a three-year approval process and is now held to stricter standards than all other similar NRTs like gums and lozenges. The evidence shows that if you want to help smokers quit, make cessation alternatives available where cigarettes are sold. The discrimination of the Ministerial Order has now created two major public health issues. It has reduced the amount of time pharmacists have to provide front-line care for all Canadians. It has created another flourishing illegal nicotine market in Canada, where unregulated and unsafe products are available with zero regulatory oversight and underage prevention. Both seriously undermining public health progress. On this World No Tobacco Day, Imperial is committed to unmask the myths and the rhetoric by focusing on the irrefutable weight of evidence from leading health organizations around the world. "The only way we can truly help adults quit, is by embracing harm reduction and making approved products such as ZONNIC available where smokers buy their cigarettes." Silva concluded. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Japan, that have embraced this opportunity and implemented supportive policies are now recording the lowest smoking rates in their history. Imperial supports efforts to ensure that safer choices are available to those who need them. A smokeless Canada is possible, but only if we embrace the full range of solutions available. About Imperial Tobacco Canada Imperial Tobacco Canada is the leading tobacco and nicotine company in Canada, part of the global BAT group. Our mission at BAT is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by promoting a Smokeless World. We envision a future where smokeless products replace cigarettes, encouraging smokers to make a Switch to Better. Imperial is committed to advancing THR through transparency, innovation, and collaboration. One such initiative is Omni™, a platform developed by our parent company BAT, to support education and stakeholder engagement around THR. Omni™ serves as a dynamic resource for those working toward a smoke-free future.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
UK ban on disposable vapes goes into effect
The long-term health risks of vaping remain unclear. (AFP pic) LONDON : A ban on disposable vapes goes into effect across the UK tomorrow in a bid to protect children's health and tackle a 'throwaway' culture. 'For too long, single-use vapes have blighted our streets as litter and hooked our children on nicotine,' junior environment minister Mary Creagh said. She said the government was calling 'time on these nasty devices' – a type of e-cigarette which are very popular with young people – and banning sales of single-use vapes or their supply in a crackdown on UK corner shops and supermarkets. Those caught flouting the ban will face a £200 fine, while repeat offenders risk up to two years in prison. Young people and children in particular have been attracted to cheap and colourful disposable vapes, which have snazzy flavours such as mint, chocolate, mango or watermelon, since they were introduced in the UK in 2021. In 2024, nearly 5 million disposable vapes were thrown away each week, according to Material Focus, an independent UK-based non-profit. More than 40 tonnes of lithium, a key metal used in the technology industry, was discarded each year along with single-use vapes – enough to power 5,000 electrical vehicles, the NGO said. Fire services have also warned about the risk of discarded vapes catching light among household rubbish. 'Every vape has potential to start a fire if incorrectly disposed of,' said Justin Greenaway, commercial manager at electronic waste processing company SWEEEP Kuusakoski. The new law, first proposed by the previous Conservative government, also aims to stem a rise in vaping. 'This new law is a step towards reducing vaping among children, while ensuring products are available to support people to quit smoking,' said Caroline Cerny, deputy chief executive for health charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). A recent ASH survey said 11% of adults vape, or about 5.6 million people, and 18% of 11 to 17 year olds – about 980,000 under 18s. Among vapers, some 52% of young adults aged between 18 to 24 preferred single-use vapes. The long-term health risks of vaping remain unclear. E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke. But they do still contain highly addictive nicotine. The upcoming ban has already led to a fall in disposable vapes. According to ASH, the use of disposables by 18-24-year-old vapers fell from 52% in 2024 to 40% in 2025. The UK ban follows similar European moves. Belgium and France became the first EU countries to ban sales of disposable vapes. Ireland is also preparing to introduce new restrictions. But critics have argued many users will simply switch to refillable or reusable vaping devices, which will limit the impact on nicotine consumption. And industry experts say the ban could lead to more illegal products entering the UK market. The bill 'only makes it illegal to sell disposable vapes – it does not prohibit their use', warned Dan Marchant, director of Vape Club, the UK's largest online vape retailer. 'We risk a surge of illegal and potentially dangerous items flooding the black market.'
Mercury
2 days ago
- Health
- Mercury
Smokerlyzers tackling smoking in Tasmanian Aboriginal community
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News. For Sienna Scotney-Barron a reading on a new smokerlyzer was a shock. The 20-year-old, who is studying medical science at university, has been smoking on and off since she was 16. But with the help of Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre alcohol and other drugs co-ordinator Tina Goodwin (Burgess) she hopes to kick the habit. 'The first reading was a reality check,' Ms Scotney-Barron said. 'I want to focus on my health and getting the number down.' Her low green reading of two on the smokerlyzer – a carbon monoxide monitor that provides real-time, visual feedback on smoking's immediate effects – brought a smile to her face on Friday. The TAC is hoping to reduce smoking rates and drive better health outcomes for Aboriginal communities, with the help of the new smokerlyzers at its five health clinics across the state. Ms Goodwin (Burgess), said the technology was a gamechanger. 'Clients are either shocked, excited, intrigued or interested after receiving their smokerlyzer results,' she said. 'They can't wait to see if they can get their reading down at the next opportunity and they want to bring their family and friends in to have a go. 'At TAC, quitting smoking is everyone's business. 'Our team is committed to better outcomes for our people, and the Smokerlyzers have given us a new way to start life-changing conversations.' Ms Goodwin (Burgess) said while the internal effects of smoking are hard to see, putting the numbers on a screen can be a great motivator. 'We're seeing real curiosity, determination and even excitement from clients who want to understand and improve their results,' she said. 'We chose the advanced smokerlyzer model, with the capacity to safely measure carbon monoxide levels in pregnant women, who are an important cohort for us to educate and empower given the low birth weights we see in Aboriginal communities.' The initiative is one of several programs across the state as part of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service's Smoke-Free Communities Project, which aims to decrease nicotine rates among community service organisation clients and staff. TasCOSS CEO, Adrienne Picone, said the TAC's integration of new technology to show the effects of smoking demonstrated the power of taking innovative approaches. 'Community organisations such as the TAC have trusted relationships with the people they serve, making them uniquely positioned to support smoking cessation in ways that governments or clinical services alone can't achieve. 'Tasmania continues to see some of the worst rates of smoking and nicotine use in Australia, but organisations like TAC are doing the heavy lifting to turn this around, leading the way to create smoke free communities by empowering people to take small, practical steps to change addictive habits.'
