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Reynolds American. The seller of Camel, Winston and Kool cigarettes
Reynolds American. The seller of Camel, Winston and Kool cigarettes gained $4.59 to $118.95. It will likely use the cash returned from escrow to pay down debt and possibly increase its dividend, says Greggory Warren, research analyst at Morningstar.
Investors shouldn't assume tobacco stocks will stay hot, though, because they already reflect much of the good news, says Warren, who rates most of the stocks a hold. Legal risks still loom, too. The Florida decision doesn't prevent individuals from pursuing their own legal actions. And there are lawsuits pending regarding the marketing of light cigarettes, Warren says.
But Charles Norton, portfolio manager of Vice Fund, thinks the Florida decision clears the air for tobacco stocks, which suffered for years due to fears about litigation. "A big legal risk is taken off the table," he says.
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