奥驰亚计划提高无烟烟草价格

　　奥驰亚计划提高无烟烟草价格

　　卷烟制造商奥驰亚集团计划提高其美国无烟烟草品牌的价格，如哥本哈根、干杯和Red Seal。

　　对于大多数品牌，每罐价格将提高10美分，平均每罐的零售价格为4.15美元。

　　当被问及提价的原因时，这家位于弗吉尼亚州里士满的公司的发言人比尔·菲尔普斯上周五（5月21日）表示，公司一直在评估它的战略。

　　本月（5月）早些时候，奥驰亚集团的菲利普莫里斯美国公司宣布将大多数卷烟品牌，如万宝路的价格每包提高8美分。他说，每包万宝路的平均零售价格为5.42美元。

　　美国投资公司Stifel Nicolaus的分析师Christopher Growe早些时候在一份报告中说，卷烟提价超出了他的估计。

　　他以万宝路为例，说：“根据这一优质品牌的强劲市场份额表现，我们认为这种定价是完全合理的。”

　　他说，虽然消费者仍然受到经济和卷烟提税的挑战，但销量可能不会受到影响。

　　Growe对该公司的股票给予“买入”评级，目标价格为22美元。

　　在5月21日最后的交易中，奥驰亚的股票上涨了20美分，达到20.87美元。

　　Altria boosting smokeless tobacco prices

　　Friday May 21, 2010

　　AP

　　RICHMOND, Va. - Cigarette maker Altria Group Inc. plans to raise prices on its U.S. smokeless tobacco brands like Copenhagen, Skoal and Red Seal.

　　For most brands the increase will be 10 cents a can, which cost on average $4.15 each at retail.

　　Bill Phelps, a spokesman for the Richmond, Va., company, said Friday the company is always evaluating its strategies, when asked the reasons for the price increase.

　　Earlier this month, the company's Philip Morris USA announced it would raise its price of 8 cents a pack on most cigarette brands, such as Marlboro. Packs of Marlboro have an average retail price of $5.42, he said.

　　Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher Growe said in a note earlier this week the price increase for cigarettes was above his estimates.

　　"We believe this pricing is fully justified in the context of the strong market share performances of the premium brands of late," he said, citing Marlboro.

　　He said sales volume likely won't be affected even though consumers are still challenged by economics and tax increases on cigarettes.

　　Growe rates the stock a "buy" with a $22 target price.

　　Shares of Altria rose 20 cents to $20.87 in late trading Friday.