Philip Morris Smokin' Up To $69, Boss

Source from:  Forbes 07/08/2011

Philip Morris International is the world's leading international tobacco company with eight of the world's top 15 international brands, including Marlboro, the number one cigarette brand worldwide. Until a spin-off in March 2008, Philip Morris International was an operating company of the Altria Group. The newly independent Philip Morris International sells tobacco products in the international markets while Altria maintains its operations in the US. Philip Morris International competes with British American Tobacco , Japan Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco Group plc in its various geographical segments. After the spin-off, PMI has become the world's largest international tobacco company and the third most profitable international consumer goods company. While the U.S. tobacco sales revenues have been in decline as Altria struggles to cope with higher state tobacco tariffs and the tobacco industry's negative image in the US, the international sales continue to grow for Philip Morris International. In 2010, Philip Morris International's brands sold in approximately 180 countries, giving it an industry leading estimated share of 28% of the total international cigarette market, excluding China and the U.S., with number one or number two market position in many countries. Its portfolio has a wide range of premium, mid-price and low-price brands, which include both international and local brands. Enditem