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MNST vs MO
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Monster Beverage (MNST) vs. Altria Group (MO) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- MNST trades at a premium P/E ratio of around 39x, reflecting growth expectations in the energy drink sector, while MO offers a lower P/E of about 16x with a high dividend yield appealing to income investors.
- Recent market activity shows MO outperforming year-to-date with gains around 15-17%, compared to MNST's flat to slightly negative YTD returns amid a pullback from its 52-week high.
- MNST reported strong Q4 results with net sales up 17.6% year-over-year, yet shares have underperformed consumer staples peers recently due to competition pressures.
- MO benefits from resilient cash flows and analyst upgrades, including UBS raising its price target, amid moderating cigarette volume declines.
- Market caps stand at approximately $79B for MNST and $115B for MO, highlighting MO's larger scale in tobacco.
- Both stocks operate in consumer staples but diverge in growth profiles: MNST emphasizes international expansion, while MO focuses on smoke-free transitions and dividends.
Introduction
This stock comparison between MNST (Monster Beverage Corporation) and MO (Altria Group, Inc.) examines two consumer staples giants with distinct profiles: a high-growth energy drink leader versus a dividend powerhouse in tobacco. Traders seeking momentum and sector rotation opportunities, as well as long-term investors prioritizing relative performance and stability in volatile markets, will find value in analyzing their recent trajectories, valuations, and market positioning. Amid broader economic shifts, understanding these contrasts aids informed decisions on stock comparison and portfolio allocation.
MNST Overview and Recent Performance
Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST), headquartered in Corona, California, develops, markets, and distributes energy drinks like Monster Energy, alongside strategic extensions into craft beers and hard seltzers. The company leverages partnerships, such as with Coca-Cola, for global distribution.
In recent market activity, MNST shares pulled back from a 52-week high of $87.38, trading around $77, down over 13% from the peak amid underperformance versus consumer staples ETFs like XLP. Despite strong Q4 results—net sales up 17.6% to $2.13 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.51 beating estimates—sentiment has softened due to heightened competition and trading below the 50-day moving average. Analysts maintain a Moderate Buy rating with targets around $87-$100, viewing the dip as a potential entry amid long-term growth prospects.
MO Overview and Recent Performance
Altria Group, Inc. (MO), based in Richmond, Virginia, is a leading U.S. tobacco producer through subsidiaries like Philip Morris USA, offering cigarettes (Marlboro), smokeless products (Copenhagen, Skoal), and oral nicotine pouches (on!). The company diversifies into smoke-free alternatives amid industry shifts.
Recent weeks have seen MO shares resilient, trading near $67-68 and up approximately 17% year-to-date, outperforming broader indices. Analyst actions, such as UBS raising its price target to $74 on expectations of slowing cigarette volume declines, have bolstered sentiment. Strong cash flows support a high dividend yield, attracting income-focused investors despite regulatory headwinds in tobacco. The stock's stability contrasts with market volatility, reinforced by a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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Head-to-Head Comparison
MNST and MO both anchor consumer staples but diverge sharply in business models: MNST drives growth via innovative beverages and international expansion, while MO relies on mature tobacco volumes with a pivot to oral nicotine. Valuation contrasts highlight trade-offs—MNST’s 39x P/E premiums future potential against MO’s 16x for value and yield. Recent momentum favors MO’s YTD gains versus MNST’s pullback, though MNST boasts lower debt. Risk factors include competition for MNST and regulation for MO; sentiment tilts toward MO’s stability amid volatility.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently leans toward MO based on superior recent trend consistency, YTD relative performance, lower valuation multiples, and resilient positioning in defensive staples amid market rotations. Factors like analyst upgrades and dividend reliability enhance its probabilistic edge over MNST’s growth volatility and pullback, though MNST could regain favor on earnings catalysts.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is MNST is a Hold and MO is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
MNST’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileMO’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- MNST’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- MO’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
MNST’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while MO’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- MNST’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
- MO’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
MNST (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) experienced а +1.32% price change this week, while MO (@Tobacco) price change was -4.76% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -0.77%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.88%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2073.90%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Tobacco industry was -1.34%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -0.47%, and the average quarterly price growth was -9.25%.
Reported Earning Dates
MNST is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
MO is expected to report earnings on Apr 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (-0.77% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
@Tobacco (-1.34% weekly)The industry is engaged in the growth, preparation for sale, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco and tobacco-related products like cigarettes. In 2017, tobacco companies spent an estimated $9.36 billion marketing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the U.S. – an amount that translates to more than $25 million each day (according to a CDC report). Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group Inc., and British American Tobacco plc are some major cigar makers. In recent times, vaping or the use of e-cigarette (does not burn tobacco) is gaining momentum – several established cigarette makers are trying to expand their footprint in this new market.
| MNST | MO | MNST / MO | |
| Capitalization | 75B | 107B | 70% |
| EBITDA | 2.53B | 10.8B | 23% |
| Gain YTD | 0.065 | 13.155 | 0% |
| P/E Ratio | 39.55 | 15.58 | 254% |
| Revenue | 8.29B | 20.1B | 41% |
| Total Cash | 2.77B | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 199M | 25.7B | 1% |
MNST | MO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 70 | 56 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 92 Overvalued | 8 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 14 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 35 | 9 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 50 | 34 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 15 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
MO's Valuation (8) in the Tobacco industry is significantly better than the same rating for MNST (92) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO’s stock grew significantly faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Profit vs Risk Rating (14) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as MNST (24) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO’s stock grew similarly to MNST’s over the last 12 months.
MO's SMR Rating (9) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as MNST (35) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO’s stock grew similarly to MNST’s over the last 12 months.
MO's Price Growth Rating (34) in the Tobacco industry is in the same range as MNST (50) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO’s stock grew similarly to MNST’s over the last 12 months.
MO's P/E Growth Rating (15) in the Tobacco industry is somewhat better than the same rating for MNST (62) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that MO’s stock grew somewhat faster than MNST’s over the last 12 months.
| MNST | MO | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 79% | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 35% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 40% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 3 days ago 40% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 31% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 58% | 11 days ago 53% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 47% | 5 days ago 37% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 55% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 23% |
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MNST and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, MNST has been loosely correlated with CCEP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 46% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if MNST jumps, then CCEP could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To MNST | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNST | 100% | +1.80% | ||
| CCEP - MNST | 46% Loosely correlated | +2.09% | ||
| KO - MNST | 43% Loosely correlated | +0.74% | ||
| PEP - MNST | 42% Loosely correlated | -0.45% | ||
| CELH - MNST | 36% Loosely correlated | +1.15% | ||
| KDP - MNST | 31% Poorly correlated | +1.88% | ||
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