When most investors take a glance at British American Tobacco's (BTI -0.28%) financials, the first thing they probably notice is the stock's huge 7.3% dividend yield. That yield is far higher than the 1.2% being offered by the average S&P 500 stock today, and it's a huge draw if you are trying to live off the income your portfolio generates.

Human vices like alcohol, tobacco, and sex persist; companies in these industries remain profitable and offer attractive dividends despite societal disapproval. The tobacco industry is in slow decline but still profitable; British American Tobacco, Altria, and Philip Morris offer high dividends and are transitioning to less harmful products. Alcohol consumption remains high despite narratives of decline; Brown-Forman and Constellation Brands are undervalued with strong fundamentals and dividends.

BTI missed revenue estimates but is on the right track in transitioning away from combustibles at an accelerating clip. EBIT margins have improved due to higher profitability in new categories and cost savings, with further margin levers ahead in FY25 and over the next 5 years. Valuations are attractive, trading at a discount to peers, supported by rising earnings expectations.

Philip Morris is currently overvalued at 23x earnings, making it less attractive compared to its peers like British American Tobacco. PM excels in heated tobacco with its IQOS but faces slowing growth rates, rising competition, and potential tax increases. Despite strong performance in smokefree products, PM's valuation gap with British American Tobacco is unjustified, even if we expect double-digit growth rates for PM going forward.

British American Tobacco (BTI 1.84%) is one of the world's largest cigarette makers. That places the company in the consumer staples sector, since cigarette smokers tend to keep buying cigarettes no matter what the economic environment looks like.

Need investment income? Dividend stocks are obviously your best bet.

High dividend yields are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you can get a sizable amount of cash back from these investments each year.

British American Tobacco p.l.c.'s Q4 and FY 2024 earnings report indicates slow growth ahead due to various headwinds. But its total shareholder yield still makes it a solid hold. The stock's current dividend yield is about 7.8%.

Inflation erodes purchasing power, and retirees must maintain their lifestyle during their golden years. We emphasize deep diversification and reinvesting a portion of collected dividends to combat inflation and ensure growing income for a secure retirement. We discuss our top picks with up to 10% yields.

British American Tobacco is my largest stock investment that lies outside the traditional income areas such as BDCs, REITs, and midstream players. After the full 2024 report, BTI has dropped by ~10%. As a result of this, the P/CF has decreased accordingly, reaching 6.6x. The yield has bounced back to ~7.7%.