The buzz about big tobacco and e-cigarettes is still going after a recent industry analyst call about the topic. Investment site Trefis is on the bandwagon along with nearly everyone else that Altria needs to get into the electronic cigarette game like Lorillard and RJ Reynolds. The site observes that sales of traditional tobacco products continue to shrink as smoking continues its downward slide.  Cigarette companies can only raise prices so much to compensate. Something will have to give, so smokeless alternatives seem to be the hot item in the industry.

NJoy continues to be the odds-on favorite for a buyout for the parent company of Marlboro. The company holds about 40% of the US market according to analysts. As an independent company, I'm sure it can be had for chump change relative to the amount of cash raked in by big tobacco.