U.S. tobacco stocks have luxurious yields. Yet, a big problem lurks: Cigarette companies are in a declining business. Americans are smoking less. Surprisingly, earnings have held up well, and are, in many cases, rising. Still, although those juicy dividends beckon, tobacco should look for companies bucking the trend and actually selling more product.
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For some, the upside may be worth the risk, while for others, addiction compels them to continue.
Smoking can also kill you quickly.
But officials said there’s no upside to risking fire, as highlighted by a recent ruling that “unattended smoking materials” caused the Altoona blaze on March 22 that killed five people: Thomas Boyles, 57; Baron R. Snyder Sr., 40; Christopher S. Alvord, 23; Warren A. “Boo” Carter Jr., 35; and Joey A. Middaugh, 17.
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A new study shows teen smokers who start exercising have a better chance of quitting the habit.
Those with the West Virginia Prevention Center started their research back in October of 2009. More than 200 students from 19 schools participated. Their average age was 16 and a half.
“The kids in the study were regular smokers. They smoked about a half a pack a day during the week and up to a pack on a weekend day, so these were addicted teen smokers.”
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Last week, the board of directors of tobacco giant Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) approved a 20.3% increase in its quarterly dividend to 77 cents per share. This was the fourth consecutive annual dividend increase for the company since it was spun off from Altria Group (NYSE:MO) in 2008.
In a previous article, I outlined a few reasons why I am buying Philip Morris International now. The company is well positioned to capitalize on its strong brand in emerging economies, Ream more »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week two new SMS smoking cessation programs, QuitNowTXT and SmokeFreeTXT, as part of their Text4Health initiative. The programs, a collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, are aimed separately at adults, and teens/young adults, respectively.
HHS formed the Text4Health Task Force in November 2010 to provide recommendations for HHS’ role in encouraging and developing health text messaging initiatives, Ream more »
Medical marijuana businesses in operation in Glenwood Springs will have to pay a series of license and registration fees once the city’s moratorium on such businesses expires on Oct. 1.
The Glenwood Springs City Council approved the fee structure at the council’s regular meeting Thursday.
Earlier in the evening, a group of about a dozen area residents appealed to the council to participate in a community dialogue on the hazards of medical marijuana. They say the presence of medical marijuana businesses is making the drug more available to youth. Ream more »
One pile of tobacco is dry, cut into thin shreds like Parmesan cheese grated off a block. A darker pile to its right, moist to the touch, has a strong poignant smell and is cut like shredded cheddar cheese.
For a nonsmoker, recognizing the differences between pipe tobacco and roll-your-own cigarette tobacco would be a challenge. But for tobacco manufacturers, knowing the difference means paying almost ten times less in taxes. Ream more »
Suddenly your lungs have been blackened as your immune system tries to expel the toxins, forcing you to cough. You failed to notice that fellow Cougar in front of you holding a cigarette. Better luck next time.
The US Surgeon General, the nation’s leading spokesperson on public health, has continuously reported that there is absolutely no level of safe exposure to secondhand smoke.
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Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death. About half of the people who don’t quit smoking will die of smoking-related problems. Quitting smoking is important for your health and provides many benefits. There are many different plans to stop smoking, some take gradual steps and some just quit cold turkey, but what is important is to make the decision to quit. Ream more »
Officials continued Friday to respond to a forbidding Mother Nature with public policy, expanding a burn ban in city parks to include a prohibition on smoking as Houston’s record heat and drought intensifies what a council ordinance this week described as “an imminent threat of conflagration.”
Although the mayor made no public statements about signing an executive order on Friday to temporarily outlaw smoking in the city’s 380 parks, her directive followed two fires this week at George Bush Park, a county park inside Houston’s city limits. Ream more »