British American Tobacco PLC vs McKesson Corporation — how do they compare? British American Tobacco PLC trades at $58.78 (market cap $124.84B), while McKesson Corporation trades at $795.37 (market cap $94.06B). The key difference: British American Tobacco PLC is the larger of the two by market cap, and British American Tobacco PLC pays the higher dividend (5.74%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| BTI | MCK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $124.84B | $94.06B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Health |
52-Week High | $66.70 | $995.69 |
52-Week Low | $50.39 | $659.01 |
Enterprise Value | $166.06B | $98.70B |
Dividend Yield | 5.74% | 0.41% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
British American Tobacco (BTI) trades at $58.95, down 1.78% on the day, with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. Fundamentally, the company maintains strong profitability with 30.32% net income margin and attractive valuation at 12.79 P/E ratio. Recent earnings show beats in Q2 and Q4 2025, though Q4 2024 missed expectations. The company is undergoing restructuring with 5,500 job cuts announced in June 2026 to streamline operations and reduce costs.
BTI presents a compelling value opportunity with strong dividend yield and improving earnings trajectory, though facing regulatory headwinds and declining cigarette volumes. The stock's current valuation appears attractive relative to historical levels, supported by robust cash flow generation and strategic pivot toward smoke-free products. Key risks include ongoing regulatory pressures and consumer shift away from traditional tobacco products.
McKesson (MCK) trades at $812.28, up 0.78% with a bullish technical signal. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $11.69 exceeding expectations. Revenue grew to $359.05B in 2025, though net margins remain thin at 1.18%. Analysts maintain strong buy consensus (80%) with a $932.83 price target. Recent news highlights growth in specialty pharma and oncology services, supporting positive momentum.
Outlook remains positive driven by earnings strength and sector tailwinds, but risks include policy changes and high liabilities. The stock offers value with a P/E of 21.16 and P/S of 0.25, though investors should monitor debt levels and execution risks amid competitive pressures.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Following the acquisition of Reynolds American, British American Tobacco is neck-and-neck with Philip Morris International to be the largest listed global tobacco company--slightly larger than PMI on net revenue, but slightly smaller on total tobacco volume. British American's Global Drive Brands are Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Rothmans, and it also owns Newport and Camel in the U.S. The firm also sells vapor e-cigarettes, including its Vype brand, heated tobacco, with Glo, as well as roll- your-own and smokeless tobacco products. The company holds 31% of ITC Limited, the leading Indian cigarette-maker.
Read more on BTI →McKesson is a leading wholesaler of branded, generic, and specialty pharmaceutical products to pharmacies (retail chains, independent, and mail order), hospitals networks, and healthcare providers. Along with AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, the three account for well over 90% of the U.S. pharmaceutical wholesale industry. McKesson is currently divesting from its pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution in Europe and Canada in order to redeploy capital to strategic growth areas in the U.S. (oncology network and ecosystem, and biopharma services). Additionally, the company supplies medical-surgical products and equipment to healthcare facilities and provides a variety of technology solutions for pharmacies.
Read more on MCK →