10 large-cap stocks whose dividend yield is more than 4%

                 Forward Dividend & Yield

• Rio Tinto Group (RIO)   4.35 (6.66%)

• Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)  2.71 (6.16%)

• Pfizer Inc. (PFE)  1.68 (5.75%)

• TotalEnergies SE (TTE)  3.43 (5.28%)

• BHP Group Limited (BHP)  2.92 (5.11%) 

• AT&T Inc. (T)  1.11 (5.08%)

• United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)   6.52 (4.80%)

• Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)    5.40 (4.49%)

• Chevron Corporation (CVX)  6.52 (4.33%)

• Shell plc (SHEL)  2.75 (4.11%)

         

Unusual Options Activity Mon 1/29/24

The following options are exhibiting notable trading, potentially indicating changing sentiment toward the underlying stocks, and/or potentially representing positioning for increased volatility.

Bullish Call Activity:

• CLF Feb 19 calls are seeing interest ahead of earnings tonight after the close (volume: 6820, open int: 1840, implied vol: ~79%, prev day implied vol: 59%).
• MO Feb 40.5 calls are seeing interest ahead of earnings Thursday before the open (volume: 4620, open int: 660, implied vol: ~35%, prev day implied vol: 25%).
• PM Feb 90 calls (volume: 1550, open int: 0, implied vol: ~21%, prev day implied vol: 15%). Co is confirmed to report earnings February 8 before the open.

Bearish Put Activity:

• VALE Apr 13 puts (volume: 10.2K, open int: 30, implied vol: ~41%, prev day implied vol: 24%). 8000 contracts traded in a single transaction. Co is expected to report earnings early May,
• ROKU Feb 85 puts (volume: 1800, open int: 490, implied vol: ~64%, prev day implied vol: 53%). Co is expected to report earnings mid-February.

Sentiment: The CBOE Put/Call ratio is currently: 0.91, VIX: (13.68, +0.42, +3.1%).

February 16 is options expiration -- the last day to trade February equity options.

Philip Morris (PM) in merger talks with Altria (MO)

• Update 9/25/19: PM Philip Morris International and Altria Group (MO) end merger discussions

Andr Calantzopoulos, CEO of PMI, said: "After much deliberation, the companies have agreed to focus on launching IQOS in the U.S. as part of their mutual interest to achieve a smoke-free future."

"While we believed the creation of a new merged company had the potential to create incremental revenue and cost synergies, we could not reach agreement," said Howard Willard, Altria's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "

• Philip Morris International (PM) and Altria Group(MO) have been in talks to merge. MO initially jumped about 10% on news that it would be an all-stock merger of equals, but shares have turned negative on reports that a merger might give Altria Group just 41% of the company with no premium.
• Philip Morris and Altria were at one time a single company, but the former was spun off a little more than a decade ago. Philip Morris was tasked with handling international markets, while Altria focused on the U.S.

Altria said it was considering a potential all-stock "merger of equals." But it said there was no guarantee a deal would be reached or approved.

The news comes as the tobacco industry looks for ways to pull sales higher amid waning demand for traditional cigarettes. The industry has turned its attention more toward e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products, but those are now facing more regulatory scrutiny amid a public-health backlash.

Altria in December also agreed to invest $1.8 billion in Canadian cannabis producer Cronos Group (CRON). Later that month, the tobacco company, which currently owns Philip Morris USA, said it had taken a 35% stake in vaping startup Juul.

-=Philip Morris (PM) reported earnings on Thur 19 Apr 2018 (b/o)

Philip Morris International beats by $0.12, misses on revs; guides FY18 EPS in-line 

• Reports Q1 (Mar) earnings of $1.00 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.12 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.88; revenues rose 13.7% year/year to $6.9 bln vs the $7.03 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
  • Cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volume of 173.8 billion, down by 2.3%
• Co issues in-line guidance for FY18, sees EPS of 5.25-5.40, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $5.26 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
  • Excluding a favorable currency impact, at prevailing exchange rates, of approximately $0.16, the forecast range represents a projected increase of approximately 8% to 11% versus adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.72 in 2017
  • This forecast assumes: 
  • Currency-neutral net revenue growth of approximately 8.0%; 
  • Operating cash flow of over $9.0 billion; 
  • Capital expenditures of approximately $1.7 billion;

=Philip Morris (PM) reported earnings on Thur 2 Feb 2017 (b/o)

Philip Morris International misses by $0.01, beats on revs; guides FY17 EPS in-line  :

• Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.10 per share, $0.01 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.11; revenues rose 9.1% year/year to $6.97 bln vs the $6.62 bln Capital IQ Consensus.
  • Cigarette shipment volume of 200.6 billion units, down by 4.4%
  • HeatSticks shipment volume of 3.7 billion units, up from 62 million units in 2015
• Co issues in-line guidance for FY17, sees EPS of $4.70-4.85 vs. $4.74 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.
• "We have entered 2017 confident that our base business fundamentals are in robust shape, and increasingly excited by the tremendous potential of our RRP portfolio to materially accelerate our overall business and contribute significantly to our commitment to generously reward our shareholders in the years to come." 

Philip Morris (PM) reported 4Q earnings on Thur 4 Feb 16 (b/o)

** charts before earnings **

 

** charts after earnings **

 

Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) on Thursday reported a steeper-than-expected drop in fourth-quarter revenue even as the cigarette giant benefited from higher pricing across all of its regions.

Philip Morris International reports EPS in-line, misses on revs; guides FY16 EPS below consensus :

• Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.81 per share, in-line with the Capital IQ Consensus of $0.81; revenues fell 11.2% year/year to $6.39 bln vs the $6.48 bln Capital IQ Consensus. Cigarette shipment volume of 209.8 billion units, down by 2.4% excluding acquisitions.
• Co issues downside guidance for FY16, sees EPS of $4.25-4.35 vs. $4.51 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. Excluding an unfavorable currency impact, at prevailing exchange rates, of approximately $0.60 for the full-year 2016, the reported diluted earnings per share range represents a projected increase of approximately 10% to 12% versus adjusted diluted earnings per share of $4.42 in 2015. 
  • Estimates 2016 international cigarette volume, excluding the People's Republic of China and the U.S., to decline by approximately 2.0%-2.5%, in line with the estimated decline of 2.4% in 2015

Philip Morris (PM) reported earnings on Thur 16 Apr 15 (b/o)

** charts before earnings **

 

** charts after earnings **