(FORTUNE Magazine) – Allow us a note of self-puffery: Security analysts blame -- or credit -- FORTUNE for the $6 billion drop in the value of Philip Morris stock in two days in October. Investors were spooked by the company's decision to cut U.S. cigarette shipments by 10% this quarter. In ''The Dumbest Marketing Ploy'' (October 5), FORTUNE said the Marlboro maker habitually overships to puff up volume and profits. The cut will leave customers with at least 12 billion cigarettes, three weeks' inventory. Some say that is still excessive.