Standout Stocks in a Packed Tobacco Field

#2: Philip Morris International

Beating earnings estimates for a couple of quarters in a row is impressive. Beating estimates six quarters in a row is attention-getting. Beating estimates in eleven of the last thirteen quarters is downright investment-worthy. That’s what makes Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) so compelling right now.

Revenues have been steadily increasing for over a year, and not by chump-change increments. The top line grew by a whopping 26% in Q3 of last year, and though that was the best quarter of 2011, all of them were on par with that kind of improvement.

Simply put, Philip Morris International is a perennial winner. Though traders will have to pay something of a premium for shares — 18.0 times trailing income — that 3.4% yield and reliable growth makes it worth it.