BAT Rothmans, the Korean unit of British American Tobacco $BATS (+0,11%) today announced its plans to accelerate growth in the Korean vape market by expanding its product range and distribution network.

Since entering the Korean market 18 months ago - the first in Asia to launch the VUSE Go range - the brand has gained recognition for its use of high-quality natural nicotine and odor-free products, the company said.

The VUSE Go Slim 2ml, one of the flagship products, was initially only available in four districts in Seoul and is now being distributed throughout Seoul as well as in Incheon and Busan to reach a wider customer base.

The device has a transparent mouthpiece for checking the liquid level and a removable battery. It is now available in six new flavors including Cool Fresh, Pearl Spark, Forest Mix, Dark Smooth, Purple Smooth and Blossom Smooth to cater to different consumer preferences.

Another popular product, the VUSE Go Box 6ml launched last year, has been well received by adult users switching to vaporizing products. The device offers three times the liquid volume of the original VUSE Go 2ml and is competitively priced at 25,000 won ($17.15). Additional features such as a boost button for enhanced flavor have made it a preferred choice for those seeking functionality and affordability.

"VUSE is committed to meeting the diverse needs of consumers and supporting the transition to non-combustible alternatives," said a BAT Rothmans representative. "We remain committed to expanding the choices available to our users while strengthening VUSE's position as the leading vapor brand in the market."

I would like to add a tobacco stock to my dividend portfolio. Which one would you choose and on what basis?

• $MO (-0,41%) Altria
• $BATS (+0,11%) British American Tobacco
• $PM (+0,32%) Philip Morris

I look forward to your feedback!

To all those who have doubts about Bitcoin. Please don't forget the Bitcoin ETFs with their strong inflows, which enable institutional investors to invest in Bitcoin or save in $BTC (-1,7%) to save.

In addition, more and more companies are also running Bitcoin treasuries, i.e. building up financial reserves in Bitcoin as a long-term investment and hedge against inflation and currency devaluation.

What 99% of humanity does not understand is that Bitcoin is not a currency and is not intended to be. Bitcoin could be described as a store of value and compared to gold or a security.

Have you ever tried to pay with gold at the bakery? Would the greengrocer accept securities instead of money? At the supermarket checkout a $BATS (+0,11%) share, one day before the ex-date? 🥳

2024

Portfolio value (performance neutral)

Target 52 000€ -> +18 000€

Achieved 62 300€ -> +28 300€

Target 2025 -> 77 000€

Gross dividend

Target 1000€

Achieved 1018€

expected 2025 -> 1290€+

Daily allowance

Target 12 000€

Reached 13 300€

I would like to reach €15,000 by the end of 2025.

As I have an annual commute of 22,000 km, I'll have to buy a new car in 4 - 5 years' time if my current one no longer works.

In addition, several positions were sold in Q3 - Q4 ($O (+0,05%)
$BATS (+0,11%)
$SIX2 (+0%)
$ARCC (+0,11%)
$CVS (-0,29%)
$UNP (-0,49%)$NESN (+0%) ) and the focus was also placed on higher growth and dividend growth.

In principle, I have nothing against $UNP (-0,49%) but I see the growth opportunities at $CP (+0%) higher as well as a higher profit margin as soon as the acquisition of Kansas City has been optimally integrated into the company in order to work more efficiently.

Which tobacco share up to 2030 best?

$PM (+0,32%)

$MO (-0,41%)

$BATS (+0,11%)

And something else for the 2025 dividend.....

British American Tobacco
$BATS (+0,11%) signed on Thursday new
share buyback program

British American Tobacco (BATS.L, BTI.JO) has signed an agreement with Merrill Lynch International for a new share buyback program for 2025 to reduce its share capital.

Under the terms of the irrevocable, non-discretionary agreement with the tobacco giant, Merrill Lynch will repurchase shares between January 2, 2025 and February February 12, 2025 up to 223,642,156 shares as announced on Thursday.

The shares will subsequently be canceled.

British American Tobacco $BATS (+0,11%)
confirmed the FY2024 guidance

As expected, growth should pick up again in HY2 and the investments in the US market and strategic inventory sales should pay off.

RRP and Combusibles are expected to improve their sales growth compared to HY1.

The profitability of RRP is also expected to improve.

Debt reduction is also continuing according to plan.

Pictures are from the Investor Day 2024

Combustibles

• Volume share gains in AME and APME
• Value share gains in AME and APME
• Volume share flat in US
• Value share down 30 bps in US
• US volume continues to shrink by around 9%

Risk Reduce Products

Vuse

• Global Value Share maintained >40% in key markets.
• US performance continues to suffer from unregulated products.
• In Louisiana, the first major regulatory successes are driving growth in the regulated market again.

GLO

• HY2 should be significantly better than HY1

VELO

• Continued market leader outside the USA
• Strong momentum continues to drive volume, sales and profit growth
• New USA branding of VELO and Grizzly drives volume share gains +180bps to >6%
• Portfolio expansion in the USA with VELO Plus

A few more quotes from T. Marroco (CEO)

"Our Quality Growth imperative is delivering higher returns on more targeted investments across all three New Categories, and that prioritization and focus is already transforming our business in Europe. We are making further progress increasing profitability across New Categories, and I am particularly pleased with the improvements in Heated Products and Modern Oral."

"We will continue to reward shareholders through strong cash returns, including our progressive dividend and sustainable share buy-back, and we remain committed to returning to our mid-term guidance of 3-5% revenue and mid-single digit adjusted profit from operations growth on an organic constant currency basis by 2026."

BAT $BATS (+0,11%) France confirms that nicotine pouches can help reduce smoking in France

The aim of public health authorities should be to reduce the incidence of smoking and not to create barriers for smokers seeking an effective alternative to tobacco.

Despite criticism from certain health groups and the alarmist tone of some recent news reports, BAT France confirms that these tobacco-free nicotine products can offer French smokers an effective alternative to tobacco products.

In addition to the preventive measures already in place to limit access by young people, BAT France is in favor of stricter regulations prohibiting the sale of these products to minors and regulating the authorized points of sale as well as the maximum nicotine concentration in the pouches and their labeling. One of the aims of these measures is to prevent these products from becoming attractive to minors.

BAT's marketing guidelines require that all advertising material is aimed at adults. In addition, all persons depicted in the communication are adults. The company has also gone beyond the current legal requirements for these products by requiring retailers to verify the age of purchasers at the point of sale.

"We share the government's goal of achieving "the first smoke-free generation by 2032". However, to achieve this goal, it is essential to refocus current strategies to deliver tangible results. The figures are clear: the current method is not working, with the smoking rate stagnating at over 31% in France, health associations and industry need to work together in a meaningful way to find solutions. As far as nicotine pouches are concerned, the solution is not to ban them, but to regulate them by implementing a key measure of the National Tobacco Control Program: "Develop a coherent roadmap for the regulations applicable to all nicotine products such as nicotine pouches".

+++ News: Heated mood around US health insurers +++

The shares of well-known insurance companies such as $UNH (+0,17%) but also those of competitors $ELV (+0,1%)
$HUM (+0%) and $CI (+0,1%) have fallen surprisingly this week. Although the losses are limited, the reasons for this are more than just shocking.

As I reported earlier, the CEO of United Healthcare's insurance division was the victim of a targeted assassination. While the police are now investigating at full speed, the perpetrator is currently the target of downright hero worship on social media. The assassin is repeatedly equated with characters from pop culture such as Batman, Robin Hood or John Wick.

Insults against the victim and his family are also liked and shared thousands of times. It is not just the viciousness of the comments that is frightening - but the fact that, as is so often the case in such instances, the platforms simply let them stand.

Insurers' shares are currently falling because there are fears that there could be further murders of insurance employees. The management of the major insurance companies is alarmed and has hastily removed photos and other personal data of their "C-level executives" from their websites.

Commentary and classification: After the failed assassination attempt on Trump, I'm hardly surprised at the kind of people we're dealing with here. The same people who talk about democracy and human rights in every other sentence are the same people who are now calling for the assassination of their ideological opponents once again. Even a good ESG score doesn't help United Health against so much hatred.

From a purely shareholder perspective, this charged sentiment towards the banking and insurance sector is $JPM (+0,04%) is of course a systemic risk when investing. However, these are not necessarily particularly controversial sectors. Retailers $WMT (-0,19%) pharmaceuticals $PFE (+0,06%)
$CVS (-0,29%) consumer goods manufacturers $KVUE (-0,43%)
$BATS (+0,11%) defense companies $LMT (+0,01%) etc. could soon find themselves in the crosshairs.

If you really want to be absolutely sure of being invested in a politically correct way, simply put your money in Northvolt and make a 90% loss. This also ensures that you can "eat the rich" can no longer be meant.