Altria Group

Whoa, Smoking! FDA Has Put the Brakes on New Tobacco Products

Tobacco companies have introduced almost no new cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products in the U.S. in more than 18 months because the FDA has prevented them from doing so -- an unprecedented pause for an industry that historically has introduced dozens of new products annually.

Occupy Wall Street Needs to Occupy Washington

People enraged by the status quo are occupying America's public spaces. Most agree that companies wield too much influence in government -- and that we need to change that. The way to do so is to limit corporate donations to politicians -- it's not even their money to give.

More Retirement Plans Get a Conscience

Americans may soon get the opportunity to invest more conscientiously in their workplace retirement accounts: A new survey shows that more and more employers are adding socially responsible investment choices to their plans, screening companies based on social and environmental impact.

How to Calculate a Dividend Yield

You are mere paragraphs away from mastering one of life's most important equations. This article kicks off a short series in which we'll review the major computations behind the numbers you see at AOL DailyFinance. You're about to learn Mathanese -- aka the numbers behind investing's big equations.

Big Tobacco Declares War on FDA

For decades, the government has been warning consumers about the dangers of tobacco. That campaign will soon undergo a serious escalation, with the introduction of large, graphic antismoking messages on cigarette packs. The industry is fighting back, and may have the constitution on its side. But will it ultimately matter?

A Sneaky Way Companies Boost Their Stock Price

Of all the ways a company might become more valuable, this has got to be the most superficial: a simple change of name. And yet a study of corporate name changes shows that it works. From 1-800 Flowers.com to Philip Morris-Altria Group, here are some of the most noteworthy nominal transformations.

Timberland Maker to Be Sold for More Than $2.2 Billion

VF Corp., whose brands include Wrangler, Nautica and The North Face, said Monday it will buy boot and clothing maker Timberland Co. for more than $2.2 billion. With the addition of Timberland, VF's outdoor and action sports business, will make up 50% of the company's total revenue.

10 Highest Dividend Stocks of the S&P

The S&P 500 is one of the most followed stock market index in the world. Mutual fund managers benchmark their returns against it, yet somehow the vast majority underperform the index every year. Many dividend investors choose to ignore the index, and instead focus on its components.

Where Charlie's Meltdown Is Fuel for Business

While painful (for most folks) to watch, the actor's explosion has created a bonanza for the tabloid mill. But on a broader level, Sheen has also offers a potential shot in the arm for companies across the spectrum, from media to pharmaceuticals. Hey Viacom, how about Charlie's Family?

Buzzword of the Week: Talking in Circles

In business jargon, it seems like round has come back around. We're hearing a resurgence of the defense-minded phrase "circling the wagons," as well as the extremely slippery phrase "circle back," which changes its meaning completely depending on who's saying it.

Walmart Sex Bias Case Takes Detour to Supreme Court

On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether all the female employees who claim Walmart discriminated against them can sue the world's largest retailer as a class, and if they can, whether they can sue for back pay or only for judicial orders to force it to change its behavior.

10 Best Stock Picks of the 10 Richest Hedge Funds

The smartest money on Wall Street may be at the top hedge funds, whose investment managers are paid billions a year to beat the market. Those gurus only take big money clients, but you can follow their lead: DailyFinance has the 10 best stock picks of the 10 highest-paid hedge fund managers.

The 10 Biggest Corporate Givers to Politicians

What companies have shelled out the most to America's political campaigns? Using data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, we've created a top-10 list, offering a look at the candidates they support, the issues that concern them and their lobbying habits.

Face-Off on Stocks: Tobacco Shares Are Smoking

Monday's Supreme Court ruling in favor of the tobacco industry at the expense of the Justice Department just left a bunch of tobacco companies off the hook to the tune of a few hundred billion dollars -- but not all tobacco stocks are created equal.