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DEO vs. MO: Diageo vs. Altria Stock Comparison

How do Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO) both fall under the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group, but DEO is classified in Beverages while MO is classified in Tobacco.

Altria (MO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Diageo (DEO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
Profile ItemDEOMO
NameDiageo plc Sponsored ADRAltria Group, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer StaplesConsumer Staples
GICS Industry GroupFood, Beverage & TobaccoFood, Beverage & Tobacco
GICS IndustryBeveragesTobacco
GICS Sub-IndustryDistillers & VintnersTobacco
Market Capitalization55.56 billion USD126.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 14, 1991January 2, 1962
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DEO
MO
GSPC
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Total Return (1Y)13.51%38.55%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-11.57%32.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-10.73%19.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DEO
MO
GSPC
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)33.21%25.52%
Beta (5Y)0.520.44
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.41%-25.83%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.07M8.44M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DEO and MO are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.281.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.381.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Diageo (DEO) earns 14.99% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Altria (MO) has no ROE this period.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

14.99%

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
DEO
14.99%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
32.02%
Q3
16.61%
Median
10.05%
Q1
4.10%
Min
-10.50%
MO
--
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; DEO is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 39.33% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Diageo (DEO) at 8.84% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

8.84%

Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
DEO
8.84%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

39.33%

MO
39.33%
Max
24.83%
Q3
11.22%
Median
5.94%
Q1
2.05%
Min
-11.49%
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their net margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 61.48% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Diageo (DEO) at 27.04% also operates in the top quartile.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

27.04%

Max
34.91%
DEO
27.04%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

61.48%

MO
61.48%
Max
34.91%
Q3
17.57%
Median
11.06%
Q1
4.15%
Min
-15.06%
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
ROE (TTM)14.99%--
ROA (TTM)7.48%22.73%
Net Margin (TTM)8.84%39.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.04%61.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.82%72.43%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Diageo (DEO) at -2.97% and Altria (MO) at -1.49% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Diageo (DEO) at -26.30% and Altria (MO) at -37.00% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-2.97%-1.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.50%-0.89%
EPS Growth (YoY)-26.30%-37.00%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-27.84%8.90%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Diageo (DEO) at 1.60 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Altria (MO) at 0.58 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MO.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.60

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
DEO
1.60
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
Min
0.33

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.58

Max
4.01
Q3
2.35
Median
1.53
Q1
1.02
MO
0.58
Min
0.33
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Diageo (DEO) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71 against its industry range, while Altria (MO) reports no figure this period.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

1.71

Max
2.19
DEO
1.71
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

--

Max
2.19
Q3
1.11
Median
0.68
Q1
0.33
Min
0.00
MO
--
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): MO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; DEO is benchmarked against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.600.58
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.71--
Net Debt / EBITDA3.181.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 5.53% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Diageo (DEO) at 0.50% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MO the richer one.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

0.50%

Max
9.38%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
DEO
0.50%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

5.53%

Max
9.38%
MO
5.53%
Q3
3.77%
Median
1.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Diageo (DEO) reports payout ratio above 100% at 106.52%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Altria (MO) reports 88.45%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

106.52%

Max
199.19%
DEO
106.52%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

88.45%

Max
199.19%
MO
88.45%
Q3
81.03%
Median
41.52%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.50%5.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)106.52%88.45%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Altria (MO) at 15.69 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Diageo (DEO) at 31.97 sits in the richer quartile — DEO needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

31.97

Max
52.52
DEO
31.97
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

15.69

Max
52.52
Q3
30.78
Median
18.76
MO
15.69
Q1
12.77
Min
4.72
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Diageo (DEO) at 2.83 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Altria (MO) at 6.14 prices even higher, above its industry range.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

2.83

Max
4.64
DEO
2.83
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

6.14

MO
6.14
Max
4.64
Q3
2.27
Median
1.17
Q1
0.52
Min
0.00
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Altria (MO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -56.93, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Diageo (DEO) reports 91.95, ranking against industry peers normally.

DEO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

91.95

DEO
91.95
Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00

MO

Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group

-56.93

Max
6.35
Q3
3.07
Median
1.58
Q1
0.82
Min
0.00
MO
-56.93
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Diageo (DEO) vs. Altria (MO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Diageo (DEO) and Altria (MO)
MetricDEOMO
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.9715.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.836.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)91.95-56.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.62%5.57%