MO vs. PM: Altria vs. Philip Morris Stock Comparison
How do Altria (MO) and Philip Morris (PM) 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
Altria (MO) and Philip Morris (PM) are both classified in the Tobacco sub-industry within the broader Tobacco industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Altria Group, Inc. | Philip Morris International Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| GICS Industry Group | Food, Beverage & Tobacco | Food, Beverage & Tobacco |
| GICS Industry | Tobacco | Tobacco |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Tobacco | Tobacco |
| Market Capitalization | 109.70 billion USD | 296.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | March 17, 2008 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.03% | 19.37% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.79% | 31.21% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.75% | 18.81% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.30% | 27.98% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.44 | 0.37 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -25.83% | -22.78% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.39M | 4.97M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.12 | 0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.16 | 0.81 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Neither Altria (MO) nor Philip Morris (PM) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
--
- Max
- 34.02%
- Q3
- 17.32%
- Median
- 12.17%
- Q1
- 3.66%
- Min
- -16.01%
- MO
- --
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
--
- Max
- 34.02%
- Q3
- 17.32%
- Median
- 12.17%
- Q1
- 3.66%
- Min
- -16.01%
- PM
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Altria (MO) at 39.00% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Philip Morris (PM) at 25.56% also retains a top-quartile share.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
39.00%
- MO
- 39.00%
- Max
- 25.56%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 1.08%
- Min
- -13.81%
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
25.56%
- PM
- 25.56%
- Max
- 25.56%
- Q3
- 11.22%
- Median
- 5.94%
- Q1
- 1.08%
- Min
- -13.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Before financing and tax, both Altria (MO) at 61.46% and Philip Morris (PM) at 40.00% run unusually efficient core operations — each operating margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
61.46%
- MO
- 61.46%
- Max
- 35.93%
- Q3
- 17.10%
- Median
- 11.30%
- Q1
- 3.99%
- Min
- -11.04%
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
40.00%
- PM
- 40.00%
- Max
- 35.93%
- Q3
- 17.10%
- Median
- 11.30%
- Q1
- 3.99%
- Min
- -11.04%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 29.55% | 14.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 39.00% | 25.56% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 61.46% | 40.00% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 87.17% | 67.48% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Philip Morris (PM) at 7.31% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Altria (MO) at -1.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Philip Morris (PM) at 60.26% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Altria (MO) at -37.00% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for PM.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -1.49% | 7.31% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.89% | 8.57% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -37.00% | 60.26% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.90% | 7.71% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Altria (MO) at 0.52 and Philip Morris (PM) at 0.98 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.52
- Max
- 4.39
- Q3
- 2.48
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 1.00
- MO
- 0.52
- Min
- 0.43
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
0.98
- Max
- 4.39
- Q3
- 2.48
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 1.00
- PM
- 0.98
- Min
- 0.43
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Neither Altria (MO) nor Philip Morris (PM) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
--
- Max
- 2.21
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.71
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.00
- MO
- --
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
--
- Max
- 2.21
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.71
- Q1
- 0.31
- Min
- 0.00
- PM
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.52 | 0.98 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.41 | 2.39 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Altria (MO) at 6.52% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Philip Morris (PM) at 3.11% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, MO the richer one.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
6.52%
- Max
- 9.10%
- MO
- 6.52%
- Q3
- 3.96%
- Median
- 2.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
3.11%
- Max
- 9.10%
- Q3
- 3.96%
- PM
- 3.11%
- Median
- 2.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Philip Morris (PM) at 80.73% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Altria (MO) at 89.26% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
89.26%
- Max
- 169.01%
- MO
- 89.26%
- Q3
- 81.71%
- Median
- 46.29%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
80.73%
- Max
- 169.01%
- Q3
- 81.71%
- PM
- 80.73%
- Median
- 46.29%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 6.52% | 3.11% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 89.26% | 80.73% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Altria (MO) at 13.83 and Philip Morris (PM) at 26.12 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
13.83
- Max
- 43.35
- Q3
- 30.96
- Median
- 18.87
- MO
- 13.83
- Q1
- 13.69
- Min
- 5.48
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
26.12
- Max
- 43.35
- Q3
- 30.96
- PM
- 26.12
- Median
- 18.87
- Q1
- 13.69
- Min
- 5.48
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Altria (MO) at 5.37 and Philip Morris (PM) at 6.97 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
5.37
- MO
- 5.37
- Max
- 4.77
- Q3
- 2.32
- Median
- 1.10
- Q1
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.00
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
6.97
- PM
- 6.97
- Max
- 4.77
- Q3
- 2.32
- Median
- 1.10
- Q1
- 0.56
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Altria (MO) at -41.11 and Philip Morris (PM) at -34.57 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.
MO
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
-41.11
- Max
- 6.14
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 1.77
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.00
- MO
- -41.11
PM
Food, Beverage & Tobacco industry group
-34.57
- Max
- 6.14
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 1.77
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.00
- PM
- -34.57
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MO | PM |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.83 | 26.12 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.37 | 6.97 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -41.11 | -34.57 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 8.24% | 3.27% |