These are top 10 stocks traded on the Robinhood UK platform in July
On Thursday, Stifel analysts increased their price target on Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) shares to $186.00, up from the previous target of $168.00, while reaffirming a Buy rating. The stock, which has delivered an impressive 41% return year-to-date according to InvestingPro data, is currently trading near its 52-week high of $171.63. This adjustment follows Philip Morris’s announcement of a strong first quarter, showcasing significant organic revenue and profit growth, along with a consistent currency earnings per share (EPS) increase.
The tobacco company reported over 10% organic revenue growth, which included nearly 4% volume growth. Additionally, Philip Morris experienced a 16% rise in organic operating profit and a 17% growth in constant currency EPS. The reported EPS of $1.69 exceeded Stifel’s estimate by $0.07 and was $0.06 higher than the upper end of the company’s guidance range. With impressive gross profit margins of 65.7% and annual revenue of $38.4 billion, Philip Morris maintains its position as a prominent player in the tobacco industry. Get deeper insights into PM’s financial health and 15+ exclusive ProTips with InvestingPro. This performance took into account an incremental $0.03 foreign exchange (FX) drag.
The robust financial results were attributed to factors such as the company’s pricing power, the expansion of its smoke-free product line, and overall volume growth. These elements are believed to provide a sustainable foundation for continued growth through 2025 and beyond. The company’s ability to leverage these strengths has led to a promising start to the year.
Moreover, Philip Morris has reiterated its underlying guidance for the year 2025, with reported growth projections being adjusted upwards to reflect favorable foreign exchange conditions. Based on InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis, the stock appears to be trading above its intrinsic value, though analysts maintain positive sentiment with a consensus recommendation of 1.88 (Strong Buy). An additional positive development is the increase in U.S. volumes of ZYN, a smoke-free product, which has benefited from improvements in the supply chain sooner than anticipated.
In summary, the price target increase by Stifel reflects confidence in Philip Morris’s growth trajectory and its potential for continued financial success, underpinned by its strategic focus on smoke-free products and strong market positioning.
In other recent news, Philip Morris International Inc reported a strong performance for Q1 2025, surpassing earnings and revenue forecasts. The company achieved earnings per share of $1.69, exceeding the anticipated $1.60, and reported revenues of $9.3 billion, which were $240 million above expectations. Philip Morris highlighted a 10.2% increase in organic net revenue, with smoke-free products contributing significantly to its growth. The company raised its guidance for ZYN shipments to 800-840 million cans for 2025, reflecting confidence in its smoke-free strategy. Analysts from firms like Goldman Sachs and Stifel noted the company’s robust margin expansion and positive outlook for continued growth. Despite the declining cigarette industry, Philip Morris’s focus on smoke-free alternatives has bolstered its market position, with smoke-free products now accounting for 44% of total gross profit. The company remains optimistic about its double-digit adjusted diluted EPS growth and organic net revenue growth for the year.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.