One Stock Smoking the Rest

I always sift through the list of stocks hitting new 52-week highs on a daily basis to see who is outperforming. But more importantly to see if there is a trend that is forming. For example, if a number of bank stocks (which they are not) begin to hit new highs it could suggest others will join and could generate new investment ideas.

The list has not been too long lately as the market drifts sideways, however from time to time I see a stock that catches my eye. Today was a stock that we own for some of Investment Advisory Clients at Penn Financial Group (PFG). The stock is Philip Morris International ($PM).

The stock is up 29% in 2011 and currently pays a 4.3% dividend. The company distributes tobacco products to hundreds of countries around the globe, not including the US. As I mentioned we own the stock and purchased it because we felt it would hold up well in a volatile market, which it has, and the dividend was attractive. Buying on a pullback is the only strategy at this point.

Some competitors include: $BTI, $RAI, $LO, $MO.