La cadena de opciones muestra datos clave de las opciones de acciones de Allakos a varios precios de ejercicio y fechas de vencimiento. Los operadores utilizan esta información para analizar posibles operaciones y evaluar el sentimiento del mercado para Allakos..

Allakos (NASDAQ:ALLK) Bolsa, Cadena de Opciones

Allakos

Allakos Inc is a clinical-stage company developing therapeutic antibodies that selectively target immunomodulatory receptors present on the surface of immune effector cells involved in allergic, inflammatory, and proliferative diseases. The company's lead program, AK006 targets Siglec-6, an inhibitory receptor expressed selectively on mast cells. Binding of AK006 to Siglec-6 is designed to activate the native inhibitory function of the receptor which in turn reduces mast cell activation.

Allakos Inc

Allkem Ltd

UBS analyst Mauricio Serna maintains Buckle (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKE#NYSE">BKE</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $43 to $41.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

UBS Maintains Neutral on Buckle, Lowers Price Target to $41

Macro Economic Events

Global

Economics

Commerce Secretary Lutnick Says It Is "Nonsense" That Chinese AI Company Deepseek Was Built Without U.S. Chips

Keybanc analyst Jason Celino maintains Block (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $115 to $85.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Block, Lowers Price Target to $85

UBS analyst Michael Lasser maintains Academy Sports (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASO#NASDAQ">ASO</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $58 to $55.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Academy Sports, Lowers Price Target to $55

SunCar Technology Group Inc. ("SunCar" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SDA#NASDAQ">SDA</a>), an innovative leader in auto e-insurance and cloud-based B2B auto services in China, today announced a significant expansion of its strategic partnership with Ping An Bank.
The enhanced partnership builds upon their existing relationship, which began in 2017. Under this renewed collaboration, SunCar will continue serving as the preferred aftermarket service provider for Ping An Bank's Credit Card Center and Automotive Consumer Finance Center throughout 2025.
The partnership will focus on delivering comprehensive automotive aftermarket services, including car wash, designated driver services, and premium vehicle care solutions. This collaboration further strengthens the "Finance + Automotive Services" ecosystem that both companies have been developing.

Market Index Target Term Securities Linked To The Dow Jones Industrial Average

SunCar Technology Expands Strategic Partnership With Ping An Bank; SunCar Will Continue Serving As The Preferred Aftermarket Service Provider For Ping An Bank's Credit Card Center And Automotive Consumer Finance Center Throughout 2025

Keybanc analyst Justin Patterson maintains Trade Desk (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $130 to $74.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Trade Desk, Lowers Price Target to $74

Adonis now supports the leading grocery technology company in North America, streamlining revenue cycle operations for Instacart Health nutrition programs offered through health plans
NEW YORK, March 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --&nbsp;Adonis, a leading revenue cycle technology partner, today announced its partnership with <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4382068-1&amp;h=1878599016&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.instacart.com%2Fcompany&amp;a=Instacart">Instacart</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>), the leading grocery technology company in North America, to support billing for health plans that offer <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4382068-1&amp;h=1567844948&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instacart.com%2Fcompany%2Fhealth&amp;a=Instacart+Health">Instacart Health</a> nutrition programs to their members. Using Adonis, Instacart will be able to submit claims for these programs in states across the country that offer pathways for nutrition support as part of Medicaid Section 1115 waivers and In Lieu of Services (ILOS) provisions.

CART

Adonis Announces Its Partnership With Instacart To Support Billing For Health Plans That Offer Instacart Health Nutrition Programs To Their Members

UBS analyst Robin Farley maintains Viking Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VIK#NYSE">VIK</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $54 to $55.

UBS Maintains Buy on Viking Holdings, Raises Price Target to $55

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer discretionary sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIN#NYSE">DIN</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 8.35%</li>
<li>Truist Securities analyst Jake Bartlett maintained a Hold rating and cut the price target from $37 to $27 on March 6, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>UBS analyst Dennis Geiger maintained a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from $32 to $25 on March 6, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 5, the company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 87 cents, missing the street view of $1.35. Quarterly sales of $204.77 million (down 0.7% year over year) outpaced the analyst consensus estimate of $200.552 million.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">DIN news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Carter&#8217;s, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRI#NYSE">CRI</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.79%</li>
<li>UBS analyst Jay Sole maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $57 to $49 on Feb. 26, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.</li>
<li>Citigroup analyst Paul Lejuez maintained a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from $50 to $45 on Feb. 26, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 25, Carter issued FY25 guidance below estimates.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest CRI news</a> </li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ford Motor Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.56%</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst Philippe Houchois downgraded the stock from Hold to Underperform and cut the price target from $12 to $9 on Dec. 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Wolfe Research analyst Emmanuel Rosner downgraded the stock from Peer Perform to Underperform on Dec. 5, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On March 3, the automobile giant witnessed electric vehicle sales increase of 15% in the U.S. in February despite a drop in sales of its E-Series van and F-150 Lightning truck (electric).</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest F news</a> </li>
</ul>

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="How to Find Dividend Stocks: Scan, Analyze, and Capture with Benzinga Pro" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVF0O2lsEH4?start=1&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44355158/jim-cramer-says-this-tech-stock-is-a-meme-stock-recommends-buying-accenture">Jim Cramer Calls This Stock A &#8216;Meme Stock,&#8217; Recommends Buying Accenture</a></li>
</ul>

Dividends

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Trading Ideas

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Consumer Stocks With Over 7% Dividend Yields

UBS analyst Gavin Parsons maintains Science Applications Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAIC#NASDAQ">SAIC</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $123 to $126.

SAIC

UBS Maintains Neutral on Science Applications Intl, Raises Price Target to $126

Keybanc analyst Jason Celino maintains Pinterest (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $46 to $41.

PINS

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Pinterest, Lowers Price Target to $41

<a href="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-undercuts-nvidia-aggressive-ai-chip-discounts" title="https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-undercuts-nvidia-aggressive-ai-chip-discounts">https://www.theinformation.com/articles/amazon-undercuts-nvidia-aggressive-ai-chip-discounts</a>

AMZN

NVDA

'Amazon Undercuts Nvidia With Aggressive AI Chip Discounts' - The Information

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">The Magnificent Seven</a> have had an iron grip on the market, but cracks are starting to show. Their earnings advantage over the broader market is narrowing, raising questions about whether tech's dominance is finally losing steam. 
In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, Violeta Todorova, senior research analyst at Leverage Shares, said she believes this could be the start of a more significant shift.
"We started seeing emerging signs of a more durable transition, as the earnings gap between the Magnificent Seven and the rest of the market is narrowing," she said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/03/44304426/from-magnificent-7-to-maleficent-7-goldman-sachs-slashes-year-end-sp-500-target">From &#8216;Magnificent 7&#8217; To &#8216;Maleficent 7,&#8217; Goldman Sachs Slashes Year-End S&amp;P 500 Target</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Are Investors Rotating Away From Tech?</h2>
The NASDAQ-100 tracking Invesco QQQ ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) is down 5.38% YTD while the broad technology sector tracking Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>) is down 7.13% YTD. 
With Big Tech stocks no longer delivering eye-popping outperformances, investors are looking for fresh opportunities. Capital is flowing into financials, industrials and even energy—sectors that have played second fiddle to tech for years. The Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) is up 1.18% YTD, the Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) is up 1.25% YTD and the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) is up 5.23% YTD.
While Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) remain AI darlings, the rest of the pack is facing valuation fatigue.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The AI Boom Can't Save Every Tech Stock</h2>
The artificial intelligence revolution has powered tech stocks to new highs, but Todorova warns that AI alone is not enough to sustain growth across the board.
While companies like Microsoft, Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) are leveraging their strong balance sheets to turn AI from hype into real-world application, concerns are mounting over the long-term returns on these massive investments. 
With AI adoption accelerating but stock market leadership shifting, the Magnificent Seven's dominance is being tested as earnings growth slows and broader economic uncertainties loom.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Temporary Pause Or A Real Shift?</h2>
The key question is whether this is just a momentary cooldown or the start of a multi-year rotation. Tech has led for so long that many investors struggle to imagine a different market landscape. 
But as earnings dispersion levels out and capital shifts elsewhere, the Magnificent Seven may no longer be a guaranteed one-way bet.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/03/44371661/ai-bubble-bursting-magnificent-7s-profit-margins-face-pressure-as-capital-spending-can-tumble-in-2025">AI Bubble Bursting? Magnificent 7&#8217;s Profit Margins Face Pressure As &#8216;Capital Spending Can Tumble&#8217; In 2025</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Exclusives

Tech

Interview

ETFs

GOOG

GOOGL

MSFT

EXCLUSIVE: The Mag 7 Slowdown - A 'More Durable Transition' Or Just Another Blip?

<ul>
<li>TSLA</li>
<li>NVDA</li>
<li>BYD</li>
<li>GLD</li>
<li>WAR</li>
<li>NIO</li>
<li>MSTR</li>
<li>CORN</li>
<li>GOOGL</li>
<li>TSLR</li>
</ul>
Data from <a href="https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment">https://swaggystocks.com/dashboard/wallstreetbets/ticker-sentiment</a>
&nbsp;

CORN

GOGL

MSTR

TSLA

TSLR

Top 10 Trending Stocks On WallStreetBets As Of March 18, 2025 (Via Swaggy Stocks)

Keybanc analyst Alex Markgraff maintains Oxford Industries (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXM#NYSE">OXM</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $95 to $80.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Oxford Industries, Lowers Price Target to $80

On Tuesday, Google parent Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) inked an agreement to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/n44375130/google-announces-agreement-to-acquire-wiz" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acquire</a> cloud security firm Wiz for $32 billion in an all-cash deal. Upon closing, Wiz will join Google Cloud.
The acquisition marks Alphabet's largest deal to date, surpassing its $12.5 billion <a target="_blank" href="https://blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/weve-acquired-motorola-mobility/" rel="noreferrer noopener">purchase</a> of Motorola Mobility in 2012.
Founded in 2020 by former Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) executives, Wiz provides rapidly growing cloud security solutions and partners with major cloud providers, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44372020/google-pixel-9a-fully-leaks-in-hands-on-videos-before-launchflat-design-48mp-camera-and-5100mah-battery-revealed" rel="noreferrer noopener">Google Pixel 9a Leaks In Hands-On Videos Before Launch: Flat Design, 48MP Camera, 5,100mAh Battery Revealed</a>
Headquartered in New York, Wiz was valued at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/03/44369083/google-in-advanced-talks-to-buy-cybersecurity-startup-wiz-for-30-billion-largest-deal-ever-amid-antitrust-uncertainty-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">$16 billion in late 2023</a> and backed by Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz. Alphabet <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/07/39764952/google-parent-alphabet-reportedly-eyes-23b-acquisition-of-cybersecurity-firm-wiz-to-take-on-microsof" rel="noreferrer noopener">attempted to acquire</a> the company for $23 billion earlier, but talks <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39907654/alphabet-wiz-deal-now-off-the-table-but-tech-bull-sees-consolidation-in-cybersecuri" rel="noreferrer noopener">fell through</a> over regulatory and structural issues.
To enhance Google Cloud, Alphabet also acquired Mandiant in March 2022 for $5.40 billion to integrate with the Google Cloud platform. It also acquired Looker in June 2019 for $2.60 billion and Apigee in 2016 for $625 million.
Google Cloud's acquisition of Wiz advances its strategy in two rapidly growing areas: cloud security and multicloud adoption in the AI era. As AI-driven cloud usage evolves, the need for scalable, advanced cybersecurity has become critical for businesses and national security.
Wiz offers a user-friendly platform compatible with major cloud providers, serving organizations of all sizes with growing security needs. With Google Cloud's AI and security expertise, it will become more automated, scalable, and cost-effective.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, commented, "From its earliest days, Google's strong security focus has made us a leader in keeping people safe online. Today, businesses and governments that run in the cloud are looking for even stronger security solutions, and greater choice in cloud computing providers. Together, Google Cloud and Wiz will turbocharge improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds."
At the end of the fourth quarter, Alphabet had $95.66 billion in <a target="_blank" href="https://abc.xyz/assets/a3/91/6d1950c148fa84c7d699abe05284/2024q4-alphabet-earnings-release.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">cash on its balance sheet</a>.
Price Action: GOOGL shares are trading higher by 0.03% at $164.34 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Photo by Laylistique via Shutterstock

Google Parent Alphabet To Acquire Wiz In $32 Billion Deal, Its Biggest Bet Yet

Nuam, the unified entity of the Santiago, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/03/g44370947/nasdaq-and-nuam-strengthen-technology-partnership-to-drive-capital-market-integration-in-latin-ame" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lima, and Colombia stock exchanges</a>, extended its partnership with Nasdaq Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>).
All three exchanges&#8217; central securities depositories (CSDs) will integrate Nasdaq&#8217;s CSD platform to enhance post-trade processing efficiency across the region.
The partnership comes as the exchanges consolidate their trading infrastructures on Nasdaq's platform to attract global liquidity.
It also builds on Nasdaq's long-standing relationship with Chile's one of the most advanced CSD systems, Depósito Central de Valores (DCV).
Nuam CEO Juan Pablo Córdoba stated, &#8220;Our alliance with Nasdaq reaffirms our commitment to building an integrated, efficient, and accessible capital market in Latin America.&#8221;
&#8216;The adoption of this technology will optimize connectivity, strengthen our infrastructure, and facilitate access for global investors, boosting competitiveness and the growth of the Latin American financial ecosystem, Córdoba explained.
Last month, Nasdaq disclosed a partnership with Austrian Reporting Services (AuRep) to supply regulatory reporting&nbsp;technology <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/contracts/25/02/44000716/nasdaq-secures-deal-to-upgrade-austrias-regulatory-reporting-infrastructure" rel="noreferrer noopener">for Austria's financial sector</a>.
Under the agreement, approximately 90% of Austrian credit institutions will transition their regulatory reporting infrastructure to the cloud, replacing their legacy on-premises system with Nasdaq AxiomSL.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Listed Funds Trust Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCDF#NYSE">BCDF</a>) and iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers &amp; Securities Exchanges ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAI#NYSE">IAI</a>)
Price Action: NDAQ shares are up 0.03% at $74.57 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/03/44190371/nasdaq-plans-24-hour-trading-to-tap-global-investor-demand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nasdaq Plans 24-Hour Trading To Tap Global Investor Demand</a></li>
</ul>

Equities

Large Cap

Contracts

Listed Funds Trust Horizon Kinetics Blockchain Development ETF

BCDF

iShares Dow Jones US Broker Dealers Index Fund

NDAQ

Nasdaq Expands Latin America Presence With Nuam Partnership

Keybanc analyst Jason Celino maintains Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $750 to $710.

Keybanc Maintains Overweight on Meta Platforms, Lowers Price Target to $710

Expected gross revenues at $2.0 billion TEN to become one of the largest independent Shuttle tanker operators
ATHENS, Greece, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEN, Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEN#NYSE">TEN</a>) (the "Company") announces the construction of nine DP2 Suezmax Shuttle Tankers with 15-year employment contracts for Petrobras Transporte S.A. ("Transpetro"), Brazil's largest oil and gas transportation company. The deliveries are scheduled for 2027 and 2028 and TEN intends to build the vessels at Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in South Korea, the yard that the Company is currently using for the construction of three DP2 Shuttle Tankers, all on long-term contracts to major oil companies, with deliveries in 2025 and 2026.
The charter will be in the form of a bareboat and the charterer will assume all operating and technical costs associated with the running of the vessels during the assigned employment period. With a proforma fleet of 16 DP2 Suezmax Shuttle tankers, TEN is now one of the world's largest Shuttle tanker owners. Gross revenues from this project are expected to be around $2.0 billion.

TEN Announces Construction Of Nine Suezmax Shuttle Tankers With Expected Gross Revenues Of $2B, 15-Year Petrobras Contracts; TEN Becomes Largest Independent Shuttle Tanker Operator; Deliveries In 2027-2028

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="900" height="600" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18084847/China-Tobaco-HK-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-8152" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18084847/China-Tobaco-HK-1.jpeg 900w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18084847/China-Tobaco-HK-1-300x200.jpeg 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18084847/China-Tobaco-HK-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></figure>
The majority-owned unit of China National Tobacco Corp. reported double-digit profit and revenue growth last year, lighting a fire under its stock
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Key Takeaways:</h4>
<ul>
<li>CTIHK's profit rose more than 40% last year, as it banked on its monopolistic advantages in China's massive market for tobacco products</li>
<li>Shares of the company, which is majority-owned by China's tobacco monopoly, rose 140% last year to record highs</li>
</ul>
It's well known that smoking is bad for your health, and the number of smokers worldwide is also declining. But that's not getting in the way of business for&nbsp;China Tobacco International (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd.&nbsp;(6055.HK) (CTIHK), the cigarette importing and exporting arm of China's tobacco monopoly, whose thriving business pumped up its profit last year by more than 40%, according to its latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www1.hkexnews.hk/search/titlesearch.xhtml">annual results</a>&nbsp;published earlier this month.
That strong performance has lit a fire under the company's shares, which rose 140% last year, significantly outperforming an 18% gain for the broader Hang Seng Index over that time. The gains have kept coming this year, as the stock continues to hit new record highs, marking the company as one worth following.
China's tobacco industry underwent major reforms in 2003, bringing together the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, tobacco companies and cigarette producers in an overhaul that also produced CTIHK in 2004. The company was tasked with operating China's cigarette and tobacco import and export business in 2018 and went public in Hong Kong a year later. It's still majority owned by the nation's tobacco monopoly, China National Tobacco Corp., which holds 72.3% of CTIHK's shares.
China National Tobacco Corp. is China's only business engaged in the production and sale of tobacco, including imports and exports. The head of China's tobacco regulator, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, concurrently serves as the general manager of the corporation, and CTIHK is its only publicly listed unit. That unusual relationship between the nation's tobacco monopoly and its regulator often means that the harmful effects of smoking are publicized, but only half-heartedly.
Among other things related to its import and export business, CTIHK sells Chinese cigarettes to overseas companies, including duty-free shops and wholesalers, and also sells new types of tobacco products.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">World's tobacco leader</h4>
China is, without question, the world's tobacco leader. It's the largest tobacco-growing country, with an output of 2.13 million tons in 2021, accounting for 36% of global production. Southwest China's Yunnan province is the country's largest tobacco-growing region, accounting for 40% of production. China is also the world's largest market for cigarette consumption.
But despite its own large domestic production, China mainly uses imported tobacco for its middle- to high-end cigarettes for taste-related reasons. Meanwhile, most of China's tobacco exports to Southeast Asia are low-end.
Despite its attempts to raise awareness about smoking's harmful effects, China's tobacco and cigarette market continues to grow quite robustly. According to Euromonitor International, the number of smokers in China fell from 278 million in 2009 to 276 million by 2023. But per-capita consumption of related products over that time doubled to 6,675 yuan as rising living standards led to more purchasing of higher quality products. The market was worth a massive 1.82 trillion yuan ($252 billion) in annual sales by 2023, up 120% compared with 2009.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Asset-light model</h4>
CTIHK uses an asset-light model that gives it virtually no fixed assets on its balance sheet and thus an average return on equity (ROE) of more than 20%. The company's revenue grew 10.5% year-on-year to HK$13.07 billion ($1.68 billion) in 2024, while its gross margin rose 1.3 percentage points and its net profit jumped 42.6% to HK$854 million. It rewarded its shareholders generously, distributing a dividend of HK$0.46 per share last year, up 43.8%.
Tobacco is the company's biggest import business category, contributing 63% and 60% of its revenue and gross profit in 2024. The company imports tobacco products from countries including Brazil, the U.S., Argentina and Canada, and distributes them to provincial-level companies in China.
The company is the only supplier of foreign tobacco and cigarette products in China, with no other access to the massive market for overseas suppliers. Such an arrangement puts CTIHK at a major advantage when negotiating with suppliers, including tremendous pricing power.
Still, the company's import volume dropped 4.5% last year to 112,000 tons. But that was offset by an increase in the aggregate sales price per unit. Cinda Securities data shows CTIHK's average sale price for its imported products rose as much as 24.4% in the second half of 2024, contributing to 2.2% growth in annual revenue and 12.7% gross profit growth for that part of the business to HK$8.25 billion and HK$826 million, respectively.
<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Heat-not-burn products as new growth driver</h4>
Heat-not-burn (HNB) products have become a major industry focus for traditional cigarette companies in recent years. Unlike traditional cigarettes, HNB products release nicotine and aerosol through the heating but not burning of tobacco, thus reducing the content of harmful substances such as tar. That lower harm level, combined with lower tax rates than traditional cigarettes, are making HNB products cheaper and all the rage lately.
The HNB market is highly concentrated, with&nbsp;Philip Morris&nbsp;(PM.US) the industry leader with 71% of the market. China has not opened up its market for such products, but CTIHK has been actively exploring such sales to overseas markets. Last year, the company's exports of new types of tobacco products rose 12.5% year-on-year, while its gross profit for that business rose 22.9%. According to Cinda Securities, CTIHK is pricing its HNB products at just one quarter of the unit price charged by the four top tobacco producers globally, which is likely to catalyze growth of its HNB business going forward.
Analysts polled by Bloomberg Data currently expect CTIHK's revenue to grow 14% this year. The stock now trades at a price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 18 times, trailing the 21.5 for Philip Morris, whose revenue is only forecast to rise 9% this year. That means that despite its recent price run-up, CTIHK's stock could still have some more potential upside.
The company has many factors going for it, from the relatively slow decline in the size of China's smoking population, to rapidly rising cigarette prices, and its position as the country's only cigarette importer and exporter. With the possibility of new business coming its way from its majority shareholder at any time, the stock looks well positioned to move on from its recent highs to even greater heights.

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CTIHK Luxuriates In The Shadow Of China's Tobacco Monopoly

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