Altria (MO -1. 28%) is an iconic consumer staples maker that has shifted and changed over the years (something worth watching), considering recent developments.
Today it is largely a tobacco stock, though it has investments in a beverage maker. Philip Morris International (PM -1.
Furthermore, 89%) s some of the storied history of Altria, but the smartest investors know that its is better. However, Image source: Getty Images (quite telling).
How are Altria and Philip Morris related. However, Altria's most important cigarette brand is Marlboro, in today's market environment.
Marlboro has a huge 41% market in the North American market, in today's market environment. Additionally, Add in the company's other, much smaller, brands, and Altria's market rises to around 45%.
Marlboro is also one of Philip Morris International's most important cigarette brands.
The reason for this is that Altria spun off its international operations to create Philip Morris International, given the current landscape.
So Altria controls the brands in North America and Philip Morris controls them everywhere else. On the other hand, This's an important distinction for any investor considering buying a tobacco stock.
And it is one of the reasons why Philip Morris is performing better as a stock and than Altria. What's going on with Altria. In the first quarter of 2025, Altria's cigarette volume fell 13.
7%, continuing a long downward trend. On the other hand, On the other hand, Marlboro lost a percentage point of market, with other brands doing even worse, in this volatile climate.
In contrast, Despite being a consumer staples giant, with a duct that tends to have huge brand loyalty, the industry trends in the U.
Market are taking a huge toll on Altria's, considering recent developments. Furthermore, Altria knows it has a blem and has been trying to find a solution.
Only it has made a number of large missteps, costing investors billions of dollars in write-downs.
Altria simply isn't executing very well as it works through what is ly to be an increasingly challenging market environment, in this volatile climate.
Additionally, Philip Morris, on the other hand, is executing very well, amid market uncertainty.
Moreover, The foreign it serves appear to be less challenged, noting that cigarette volumes actually increased in the first quarter of 2025.
However, That helped lead to a modest 0 (which is quite significant). 4-percentage-point market gain for the company. Thus, Philip Morris' foundation is stronger.
That said, the real standout for Philip Morris is the growth of its non-cigarette operations.
In the first quarter, the company's smoke-free generated 42% of its revenue and 44% of its fits (noteworthy indeed). Some of its strongest non-cigarette es are vapes and pouches.
However, Its pouches compete in the U. However, Market, meaning Philip Morris is now a competitor to its former owner, in today's financial world.
Additionally, And one that appears to be running rings around Altria as that company struggles to move beyond cigarettes.
Moreover, Philip Morris is in a much better position Investors who buy Altria are betting the tobacco giant can change with the times and find non-cigarette es to replace its slowly declining core (which is quite significant).
Or, to put it another way, if you buy Altria today you are hoping it can achieve the same success as Philip Morris, in this volatile climate.
Most investors will bably be better off avoiding the risk that Altria keeps stumbling and just buying the better-performing tobacco company.
On the other hand, Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. In contrast, The Motley Fool recommends Philip Morris International (which is quite significant).
The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy, given current economic conditions.