烟草在线据《市场观察》报道编译
·奥驰亚正在努力争取将所有卷烟品牌每包提价6美分。
·制造万宝路和L&M卷烟的奥驰亚集团将对装运产品涨价,12月3日生效。
·雷诺美国公司和罗瑞拉德烟草公司尚未实施与奥驰亚旗鼓相当的行动。
奥驰亚集团正在力推公司的全部卷烟品牌每包上涨6美分,这是该公司今年第二轮上涨卷烟产品的价格。
制造万宝路和L&M卷烟品牌的奥驰亚集团证实,它将对12月3日装运的产品实施涨价。其竞争对手雷诺美国公司和罗瑞拉德烟草公司没有对这项举措做出相应的行动。
美国最大的烟草制造商奥驰亚集团通常引领着价格决策。今年6月,它将卷烟的标价每包提高了6美分。雷诺美国公司也响应这次提价而提高了自己的卷烟价格。最近,罗瑞拉德烟草公司也一直在力推涨价。
乍一看,涨价可以减轻投资者和分析师在最近几个月里对国内烟草公司产生利润的能力的担忧。在消费者仍然因经济疲软承受压力时,赢得或保持市场份额所展开的斗争中,美国三大烟草公司全都已经加大了价格促销宣传。
尽管三大烟草公司去年全都实施了两轮涨价,但在同期,上涨的价格未必就已经对消费者造成损害。实际上,奥驰亚通过帮助公司赢得市场份额的价格促销宣传,抑制了万宝路的价格。
Stifel Nicolaus公司的分析师克里斯托弗·格罗威说,考虑到最近几个月里加大了促销宣传力度,奥驰亚的定价政策使其松了口气,他预计雷诺美国公司和罗瑞拉德烟草公司将会效仿奥驰亚的做法。但格罗威先生也预计,那些竞争对手们会继续花重金搞促销宣传,以保持自己的竞争力。
格罗威先生在一篇分析报告中说:“按时地,并与历史及我们的模式保持一致地方式涨价,会使投资者内心感到放松。我们认为,12月份没有定价,或低定价的威胁,至少会对美国烟草公司的价值产生几分压力。”
奥驰亚的股票在最近的交易中上涨0.8%,涨至33.66美元。今年,该公司股票已经上涨了14%,表现优于大市。
Altria to Hike Cigarette Prices by 6 Cents A Pack
--Altria is pushing through a six-cent per-pack price increase across all cigarette brands
--The maker of Marlboro and L&M cigarettes will enact the rise on shipments effective Dec. 3
--Reynolds American, Lorillard haven't yet matched Altria's move
Altria Group Inc. is pushing through a six-cent per-pack price increase across all of the company's cigarette brands, the second round of price rises the tobacco producer has taken on those products this year.
The maker of Marlboro and L&M cigarettes confirmed it would enact the price increase on shipments effective Dec. 3. The move hasn't yet been matched by rivals Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard Inc.
Altria, the largest U.S. tobacco producer, typically leads on pricing decisions. In June, it raised the list price on cigarettes by six cents per pack, an increase that was matched by Reynolds American. Lorillard has been pushing through generally higher prices of late.
At first glance, the price increases could ease concerns investors and analysts have raised in recent months about the strength of profits generated by domestic tobacco companies. All three firms have heightened price promotions in a battle to win or defend market share as consumers remain under pressure due to a weak economy.
Though all three players enacted two rounds of list price increases last year, over that same period, the higher prices haven't necessarily hurt consumers. Altria has actually kept a lid on the per-pack price for Marlboro with pricing promotions that have helped the company gain market share.
Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher Growe said he was relieved by Altria's pricing decision given the heightened promotions in recent months, and expects Reynolds American and Lorillard will follow suit. But Mr. Growe also expects those rivals will keep spending on promotions to remain competitive.
"Raising prices on time and in line with history and our model should put investors' minds at ease," Mr. Growe wrote in an analyst note. "We believe the threat of no or low pricing in December at least somewhat weighed on the valuations of U.S. tobacco companies."
Altria's shares were up 0.8% to $33.66 in recent trading. The stock has gained 14% this year, better than the broader market. Enditem