10 Best Consumer Staples Dividend Stocks To Invest In

8. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is a tobacco company that manufactures a wide range of related products including cigarettes and other nicotine products. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported revenue of $5.11 billion, reflecting a 1.63% year-over-year increase and exceeding analyst estimates by $59.6 million. Strong brand performance drove income growth and improved margins in its core tobacco business, while the company continued investing strategically to support future expansion. For 2025, Altria expects adjusted diluted EPS to fall between $5.22 and $5.37, indicating a projected growth of 2% to 5% from its 2024 EPS of $5.12.

The tobacco industry has experienced significant changes in recent years. While global smoking rates have declined, there has been a noticeable shift toward smoke-free alternatives like e-cigarettes and oral tobacco, which are considered less harmful and are becoming increasingly popular. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), known for brands such as Marlboro and Parliament, has been adapting to these trends by broadening its range of smoke-free products. In the past 12 months, MO has surged by over 35%.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is a solid dividend payer, always remaining committed to its shareholder obligation. In FY24, the company returned $6.8 billion to investors in dividends. In addition, it has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 55 years, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.41%, as of February 24.