America's 7 Most Profitable Products
Successful companies may become giants, with large catalogs of products, but they frequently rely heavily on just one brand for a major chunk of their sales and profits.
Altria
Marlboro Maker Moves Into E-Cigarettes
Altria Group said last week that it plans to roll out an e-cigarette later this year, as it tries to catch up to rivals like Lorillard who already have products on the market.
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.
Nothing Alike: The Odd Combos of Conglomerates
For most of the past decade, buying Oreos or Trident gum for your kids meant sending money to the Marlboro Man. Those brands have gone their separate ways, but there are still many odd matches in the wild world of conglomerates, where companies own siblings that don't really look like one another.
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.
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.
The Science Behind Naming Products and Companies
Vudu. JooJoo. Boorah. It almost seems as if companies randomly pick names out of a hat. But you would be surprised at how much actual thought (and money) goes into the process of dubbing a tobacco maker 'Altria' or an instant coffee 'Via.'
Voters Support a $1 Increase in Cigarette Tax
A new nationwide poll finds that two-thirds of U.S. voters support a $1 increase in tobacco taxes per pack. The tax could raise more than $9.1 billion in new annual revenue for states, says the report released by a coalition of public health organizations claims.
