Altria Group Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? Altria Group Inc trades at $67.98 (market cap $113.83B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $225.95 (market cap $73.25B). The key difference: Altria Group Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Altria Group Inc pays the higher dividend (6.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| MO | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $113.83B | $73.25B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $74.92 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $54.72 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $136.04B | $73.70B |
Dividend Yield | 6.51% | 0.78% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Altria Group (MO) trades at $68.18, down 1.02% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The stock offers a high dividend yield of 6.45% following its 61st annual increase. Recent earnings show mixed quarterly results, with Q1 2026 beating expectations but Q2 2026 missing. Revenue remains stable around $20.1 billion (2025), with strong profitability margins, though net income declined to $6.95 billion in 2025 from $11.3 billion in 2024. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $68.50 price target.
MO presents a value opportunity with a low P/E of 14.35 and robust cash flows supporting dividends, but faces risks from regulatory lawsuits, declining cigarette volumes, and high debt levels. The stock's appeal hinges on dividend sustainability amid secular challenges in the tobacco industry.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $229.31, down 0.6% on the day, showing bearish technical signals despite strong fundamental performance. The company reported three consecutive quarterly earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.66 beating expectations by 36%. Revenue growth accelerated to 13% in Q2 2026, with comparable store sales surging 10% driven by increased traffic and margin expansion. The stock faces technical resistance near $234 while maintaining strong analyst support with a $271.33 consensus price target.
ROST presents a compelling growth story with robust fundamentals but faces near-term technical headwinds. The company's value-focused retail strategy resonates with cost-conscious consumers, driving consistent earnings outperformance. Key risks include competitive pressures in off-price retail and macroeconomic sensitivity. With 64% of analysts maintaining buy ratings and a 19% upside to consensus targets, the stock offers growth potential for investors comfortable with current technical weakness.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Helix Innovations, and Philip Morris Capital, although the company plans to wind down Philip Morris Capital by the end of 2022. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 43% share in 2020. Altria holds strategic investments in JUUL Labs (35% economic interest) and Cronos (42%).
Read more on MO →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →