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Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Down 38%, is this one of the FTSE 100's greatest value shares?
Another solid trading statement has just propelled British American Tobacco's (LSE:BATS) share price to new multi-year peaks. Total gains since the start of 2025 are 18%, making it one of the FTSE 100's best performing shares over the period. Yet at £34.97, the tobacco titan remains 38% lower than the record peak of £56.44 struck in the summer of 2017. And as the broader tobacco industry remains in steady decline, doubts persist over whether it will ever reclaim those heights. British American's first-half update on Tuesday (3 June) gave more optimistic investors reason for cheer. The firm upgraded its sales guidance thanks to strong momemtum among its non-combustible products. Mark Crouch, analyst at eToro, noted that Investors don't seem put off by the long-term global decline in smoking rates and are instead placing their faith in [British American's] transition to smokeless alternatives. So should investors consider opening a position in the FTSE company? In this week's update, British American said that sales for the first half of 2025 are so far 'slightly ahead of our previous guidance', meaning full-year growth is now tipped at 1%-2%, up from 1% previously. Critically in the US, its largest single market, the business said it expects to return to growth for January-June as well as for the full year. Though the wider combustibles industry continued to decline (down 9% in the first half), the business said 'we have stabilised our total industry volume and value share'. Among British American's smokeless ranges, performance was strong among its Velo nicotine pouches. Industry growth and volume share gains (up 350 basis points in the modern oral segment, to 29.7%) resulted in double-digit turnover growth. However, sales were far less impressive for its Vuse e-cigarette brand — the firm's expecting a 'mid-teens revenue decline' for the first half, reflecting the widescale use of illicit single-use vapes in the US and Canada. The market may have broadly liked what British American had to say. But I remain far from convinced by what I see. Without doubt, the company's next-generation technologies are the key to future earnings. Yet sales of Vuse remain under intense pressure from the illegal e-cigs market, and while Velo revenues are booming this remains a tiny part of the overall business. What's more, tightening regulations on their sale and usage pose another significant threat to their widescale adoption, as the severe decline in the traditional cigarette market shows. With their far weaker margins, British American's future profitability may disappoint even if demand for Vuse et al lights up. According to eToro's Mark Crouch: It's important not to overlook the scale of the challenge ahead… combustible tobacco products still account for over 80% [of revenues], and the company's ambition to become 'smokeless' by 2035 raises questions about whether new categories can generate comparable returns. Today, British American Tobacco shares trade on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10 times. This is just below the decade-long a average of 10.9 times, but still not cheap enough given the company's enormous risk profile, in my view. I think investors should consider giving the business a wide berth. The post Down 38%, is this one of the FTSE 100's greatest value shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
CNN
24-05-2025
- General
- CNN
The best smokeless fire pits in 2025, tried and tested by editors
The best fire pit we tested Best fire pit: Tiki 25-Inch Smokeless Patio Fire Pit Parking one of the best fire pits in your backyard opens up a world of outdoor fun. It's the perfect centerpiece for friends and family to get together while dinner cooks on the grill and an icy cooler chills your drinks. If it's brisk out, the heat of the fire beats any blanket, and if the bugs are circling, those flames will help keep those pests at bay. If you've ever sat around a fire and been stuck in that one camp chair that can't seem to dodge the smoke, you'll be glad to hear that most backyard fire pits these days are designed to burn without a cough-inducing haze. They follow the science by using air and ventilation to create a fire so efficient that it burns off everything, leaving no debris to escape in the form of smoke. Is it really that simple, though? Can any smokeless fire pit create a setting so sublime that it's worth whatever the price is? I set up four of the most popular fire pits in my backyard to find out, and after scorching bundles and bundles of firewood, it became clear that one made the experience better than the rest. Tiki 25-Inch Smokeless Patio Fire Pit Tiki's fire pit cuts down on smoke while making setup and cleaning a breeze. Its striking design creates a blaze that burns above the rim, giving off the light and heat you want around the fire. The Tiki 25-Inch Smokeless Patio Fire Pit rose to the top of my rankings because it produces a controlled, comfortable fire in a design that simplifies every step — lighting, maintaining and cleaning — and is pleasing to the eye in any setting. Sitting around a wood-burning fire in the Tiki Patio Smokeless Fire Pit was a delight. Because its main drum is not as deep as most of the competition, flames crested above the rim of the pit consistently, even if I didn't burn many logs. This resulted in a cozy glow at night and steady warmth around the entire unit. The design of the Tiki fire pit promoted an efficient yet not overwhelming burn. The structure stands on a three-legged metal ring, which mounting with three screws is the only step for setup. The slight elevation provided by the stand promotes terrific airflow through the holed bottom of the pit. Combine that with another ring of ventilation around the rim of the drum, and you get plenty of heat and not a lot of smoke. The Tiki pit found the right balance of not burning so hot that you need a ton of wood but not burning so weak that smoke gushed out of the pit. If it's a (safe) inferno you desire, fear not. You could always add more wood. Or try the Tiki Wood Pack, a bag of wood pellets that make lighting the fire absurdly easy. When you're ready to blaze, place the included dome into the fire pit's drum and stack the bag of pellets on top. Light each corner of the bag with a lighter. It'll only take a few seconds for the pellets to evenly pour out of the bag and fill the pit, and mere minutes for a significant fire to catch. When I burned the one bag that came included with the Tiki pit (in the video above), I saw flames reach 3 feet above the rim of the pit. The fire died down after about 40 minutes, though that gave me the perfect smoldering base to throw on a few logs and keep the fire going. Additional Wood Packs are sold at Amazon and Tiki's site, where you can subscribe to refills for a discount. A removable pan at the bottom of the Tiki 25-Inch Smokeless Patio Fire Pit was a small inclusion, but it made for the easiest clean-out of any fire pit I tested. Once your fire has completely died out — seriously, wait until the next day to ensure you're not working with embers or hot ash — push any loose ash through the holes in the bottom of the pit and into the tray. Pull it out, dump it in the trash, then replace. Other fire pits I tested involved more cumbersome processes, like taking the entire unit apart or purchasing an additional scooper. Prev Next The Tiki 25-Inch Smokeless Patio Fire Pit also includes a cover. Considering this 43-pound pit isn't something I'd want to lug around even for storage in a garage or shed, I appreciate being able to protect it from the elements at no additional cost. To get the conveniences of the ashtray and cover in an attractive, versatile fire pit that's typically discounted to under $300 is a major win. Throw in a 30-day return period and a two-year warranty, and I love the value for anyone who sees themselves sitting around the fire dozens of times every summer. I'll bring the s'mores supplies! I burned multiple fires in four different fire pits, assessing each one according to the following criteria. Design Setup and installation: Most of the fire pits didn't require a lot of steps beyond a simple unboxing, though I noted any action required before lighting an initial fire. Size and weight: In moving each fire pit to a suitable spot for lighting, I accounted for its dimensions and how those figures affected portability and positioning. Aesthetics: It's all about the vibes. A fire pit is often the centerpiece of a backyard, so I gave my opinion on its looks. I admit, though, that not everyone has the same visual taste. Burning Lighting: There are few things more frustrating than a fire that just won't start. I timed my efforts in starting fires in each pit, evaluating any features that aided, altered or hindered each attempt. Flame height: In burning fires with six seasoned wood logs assembled in a log-cabin formation, I measured the height of the flame above the rim of the pit. Heat radius: The construction of a fire pit can affect just how big a fire you can build and how far the heat of that flame will be felt. I assessed how far away from the fire pit heat radiated, which is important to know when determining if a fire pit is right for your space or not. Smoke: All the fire pits I tested claimed to be smokeless, but that doesn't mean there's never any smoke. I noted how smoky the fires were during different stages and how efficiently they burned fuel. Cleanup: There is always some cleanup after a fire, but I valued fire pits that simplified the process. Value Features and add-ons: What comes in the box? Are there add-ons available, and if so, how much do they cost? While much of my evaluation hinged on the base fire pit, I analyzed each model's capabilities beyond the basics. Price: Any time you're spending hundreds of dollars on something, you want to get your money's worth. I held up my evaluations against the cost of each fire pit to see if it was worth it. Warranty: I noted the length and coverage of each fire pit's warranty. Size and portability Where you're going to use your fire pit should guide your purchase. If you're planning on planting it on your backyard patio and never moving it, something as portable as the BioLite FirePit+ probably doesn't make sense. If it's going to live in the back of your truck and come along on every camping trip, a massive unit like the 62-pound Breeo X Series 24 is ruled out. Fuel source When I imagine a fire pit, I see a neat stack of logs burning inside. But the truth is, there are options for how you fuel a fire. Each fire pit I tested is compatible with traditional wood logs, but only some of them have wider capabilities. If you want added convenience, burning wood pellets is easier than starting a fire with logs. In the Tiki fire pit, all it took was a few clicks of a lighter to have a roaring pellet fire in a few minutes. Pellets are also a bit easier to purchase — you can buy some bags online in a few clicks — but they'll cost you more in the long run than a supply of logs. Cooking Though it was not the primary focus of my testing in this exercise, cooking over a live fire is something to consider if you're in the market for a fire pit. It takes practice, but with the right tools (and a lot of patience), cooking over a fire can lead to smoky, delicious results for all sorts of foods. You'll want to evaluate the surface area atop your fire pit, as the more you plan to cook, the more space you'll want. All the brands I tested sell additional products that get the most out of their respective pits' cooking capabilities. Tiki's griddle pops right on top of the Patio Fire Pit. Breeo sells a plethora of grilling add-ons; really, it's the focus of the entire brand. Cuisinart has a grill-griddle combo, and BioLite's compatibility with charcoal means you already have a grill built in. Breeo X Series 24 Smokeless Fire Pit Durability is not in doubt with this fire pit that can form the foundation of a heavy-duty live-fire cooking setup. The Breeo X Series 24 is a beast of a fire pit. Weighting in at 62 pounds and measuring nearly 28 inches across, it's a bigger, burlier setup to get serious backyard fires going. The 'X' naming convention is for the ventilation system in the shape of that letter on the bottom of the drum. It's an ideal base for a tic-tac-toe-style log formation to get your fire started, and paired with a double wall for heat retention and added combustion, it leads to a healthy burn that cuts down on smoke more effectively than every other pit I tested. High heat in a huge container creates perfect conditions for live-fire cooking, and that is where Breeo butters its bread. You'll probably want to start with the Outpost Grill to cook over the flames, but that's just the beginning. Pop the pizza oven on top or spin kabobs with the just-released rotisserie. (I plan on testing these cooking functions in a future update to this guide.) The sheer mass of the Breeo X 24 means it's best suited as a permanent presence and not known for its portability. But I wouldn't want to move it anyway. This is the kind of monster that can be the pillar of your summer, powering cookouts and illuminating long nights of stories around the fire. Use it often enough and the corten steel exterior (it also comes in stainless steel) will start to show proof of all the good times (don't confuse that weathered appearance for wear and tear; it's all by design). Ultimately, the price is what makes the X 24 an outlier. Though it's backed by a lifetime warranty, it's twice as expensive as our top pick, and it opens a gateway to even more spending on accessories. If money were no object, those possibilities would likely make Breeo my top choice. If you're similarly wary of a $600 commitment, the X 24 does have a smaller sibling, the X Series 19. At $400, it knocks off a third of the price while retaining all the same impressive qualities in a slightly more compact frame. Cuisinart 24-Inch Cleanburn Fire Pit It's shaped like a giant torch, and my oh my, it sure burns like one. There were a few flaws in the Cuisinart 24-Inch Cleanburn Fire Pit that dropped it below the Tiki in my evaluations. First, its top rim acts as a wind guard to protect the fire, but the looseness of that guard was frustrating and borderline concerning when I needed to tend to the fire or add another log; I always felt I was close to knocking it off. The Cleanburn also needs to be completely disassembled to dispose of the ash it creates. Users have to twist the main drum off the base, then pick up the base to toss the ashes. It's not hard, but it's much more tedious than Tiki's pull-out drawer or Breeo's scoopable basin. If these are qualms you can look past, the Cleanburn is priced right and burns a mean fire. Its torch-shaped drum promotes an intense fire that whips above the rim and creates a wide heat radius. My initial fire created a lot of smoke, but that was likely because of a coating on the metal that burned off. Subsequent fires burned cleaner, with less smoke and a more pleasant smell. BioLite FirePit+ Smokeless Fire Pit and Grill The FirePit+ is not like the others I tested. I still really liked it for what it is: a portable pit that creates its own conditions for the perfect smokeless fire. If you're trying to buy a fire pit to throw in your backyard forever, you're probably not looking for the BioLite FirePit+. But if you know you want your pit to tag along to the beach or a campsite or friend's house, BioLite is onto something here. Portability is the calling card of the FirePit+, which, when folded up, is about the size of a bundle of firewood. That's much more transportable than the heavy metal drums I tested. Instead of designing a pit for maximum airflow, the FirePit+ breathes the air itself. A battery-powered fan (which is also a portable charger for your devices) attaches to one end of the pit to send air underneath and along the sides of your fire. It really works. My fires in the FirePit+ burned steadily and without smoke. Because the sides of the structure are metal mesh, improved visibility minimizes the overall flame size, and naturally, a smaller fire meant it didn't radiate as much heat. A common complaint with BioLite's rig is that the fan's noise is a total vibe killer. I disagree. Most of the time, I kept the fan on the lowest or second-lowest setting of four speeds. It didn't bother me or my family as we chatted about life and listened to our beloved Phillies on the radio. How do smokeless fire pits work? How do smokeless fire pits work? Smokeless fire pits work by circulating lots of air. The design of nearly every fire pit I tested places holes below where the fuel source burns, allowing more air to enter the pit. Then, tall metal walls — sometimes two layers — trap heat and air for extra combustion. It all creates an environment that fully burns the fuel, limiting the amount that escapes as soot and smoke. Can I cook over a smokeless fire pit? Can I cook over a smokeless fire pit? Absolutely. Smokeless fire pits can be especially effective for cooking because they trap so much heat. The makers of my favorite fire pits from testing sell a ton of cooking accessories to make the most of your super-hot kitchen, including Breeo's Outpost Grill and BioLite's accessory set that features a grill lid, a griddle and grilling tools. Are smokeless fire pits safe? Are smokeless fire pits safe? Yes. Smokeless fire pits are safe as long as you follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. They're made to handle extreme heat. That said, most fire pits aren't recommended to be used on flammable surfaces, such as dry grass and wooden decks, though many brands sell barriers and platforms that allow it. As always, wear proper protection like work gloves when managing your fire, and always keep an eye on children in the vicinity. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss burned multiple fires in each pit included in this guide, carefully analyzing their performance and durability along the way. Bloss has been building fires for as long as he can remember, dating back to his days camping during childhood. He's an experienced product tester for CNN Underscored, penning a guide to the best car vacuums and the Ninja FlexFlame outdoor grill.
Washington Post
12-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
5 percent of 10th- and 12th-graders say they've used nicotine pouches
More U.S. high-schoolers used nicotine pouches — smokeless nicotine powder products — last year than the year before, according to new research published in JAMA Network Open. The researchers, who used data from a nationally representative survey of 10,146 youths in 2023 and 2024, said 5.4 percent of 10th- and 12th-graders reported having used nicotine pouches, up from 3 percent the year before. The 10th- and 12th-graders' use of pouches in the 12 months and 30 days before the surveys also increased year to year. Males were also more likely to use pouches than females.
