Core Insights - Altria Group, Inc. experienced a decline in share price due to a decrease in smokeable and oral tobacco sales, impacting year-over-year revenue growth [1][2] Financial Performance - The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.45, reflecting a 3.6% increase year over year, aligning with analyst expectations [2] - Quarterly sales totaled $6.072 billion, down 3% year over year, but exceeded the analyst consensus of $5.309 billion [2] - Net revenues from smokeable and oral tobacco products decreased, with revenues net of excise taxes falling 1.7% to $5.3 billion [2][3] Segment Performance - Oral tobacco product revenues declined by 4.6% due to lower shipment volumes [3] - Smokeable product revenues decreased by 2.8%, attributed to softer volumes and increased promotional investments [3] Operational Highlights - Gross profit increased by 0.1% year over year to $3.812 billion, while operating income rose by 2.5% to $3.230 billion [4] - The company ended the quarter with cash and equivalents amounting to $3.472 billion [4] Shareholder Returns - The board expanded the share repurchase program to $2 billion, effective through December 31, 2026, contingent on market conditions [5] - The company aims for mid-single digits dividend per share growth annually through 2028 [5] Future Outlook - Altria raised its fiscal 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to a range of $5.37 to $5.45, slightly above the previous estimate [6] - The company anticipates moderated EPS growth in the fourth quarter due to the completion of the accelerated share repurchase program and the expiration of the Master Settlement Agreement legal fund [6] Market Reaction - Altria Group shares fell by 6.74% to $57.79 at the time of publication [7]

Core Insights - Altria Group Inc. reported third-quarter 2025 results with a revenue miss but an earnings beat, showcasing resilience in its core tobacco business and progress in smoke-free products [1][10] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter were $1.45, a 3.6% increase year over year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44 [2] - Net revenues totaled $6,072 million, reflecting a 3% decline year over year, primarily due to decreased revenues in smokeable and oral tobacco products [3] - Revenues net of excise taxes decreased by 1.7% to $5,251 million, missing the consensus estimate of $5,321 million [3] Segment Performance - **Smokeable Products**: Net revenues fell 2.8% year over year to $5,387 million, driven by reduced shipment volume and increased promotional investments, partially offset by higher pricing [4] - Domestic cigarette shipment volumes dropped 8.2%, influenced by industry decline and retail share losses, although cigar shipment volumes increased by 2% [5] - Adjusted operating companies' income (OCI) in this segment rose 0.7% to $2,956 million, with adjusted OCI margins growing 1.3 percentage points to 64.4% [6] - **Oral Tobacco Products**: Net revenues decreased 4.6% to $689 million, attributed to reduced shipment volume and a change in shipment mix, despite increased pricing [7] - Domestic shipment volumes fell 9.6%, with adjusted OCI decreasing 0.9%, although adjusted OCI margins improved by 2.4 percentage points to 69.2% [8] Shareholder Returns and Guidance - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3,472 million and long-term debt of $24,132 million [9] - Altria repurchased 1.9 million shares for $112 million in Q3 2025, raising its buyback plan to $2 billion and narrowing 2025 EPS growth guidance to 3.5-5% [10][11] - The adjusted EPS for 2025 is now expected to be in the range of $5.37 to $5.45, indicating a year-over-year growth of 3.5% to 5% [12] Strategic Outlook - The company is factoring in the impact of increased tariffs and minimal disruption from enforcement actions targeting the illicit e-vapor market into its 2025 guidance [13] - Altria continues to assess economic factors such as inflation, purchasing patterns, and regulatory developments while investing in smoke-free product research and development [14] - The expected adjusted effective tax rate for 2025 is 23-24%, with capital expenditures projected between $175-$225 million [15]

Core Viewpoint - Altria (MO.US) experienced a decline of over 7% on Thursday, retreating 14% from its historical high in August, currently trading at $57.07. The company's Q3 adjusted EPS was $1.45, a 4% increase from $1.40 last year, aligning with market consensus. However, net revenue fell by 1.7% to $5.25 billion, missing market expectations by $50 million due to high prices not fully offsetting a decline in sales volume, with combustible product sales down 8.0% and oral tobacco product sales down 9.6% [1]. Financial Performance - Q3 adjusted EPS was $1.45, up from $1.40 year-over-year, indicating a 4% growth [1]. - Net revenue decreased by 1.7% to $5.25 billion, falling short of market expectations by $50 million [1]. - Sales volume for combustible products declined by 8.0%, while oral tobacco product sales fell by 9.6% [1]. Guidance and Future Outlook - The company raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from $5.35-$5.45 to $5.37-$5.45, suggesting a Q4 adjusted EPS of $1.25-$1.33, compared to the current market consensus of $1.33 [1]. - Management indicated that due to an accelerated stock buyback plan in 2024 and the diminishing benefits from the "Master Settlement Agreement" legal fund expiration, Q4 growth is expected to slow down [1].

Core Viewpoint - Altria (MO.US) experienced a decline of over 7% on Thursday, retreating 14% from its historical high in August, currently trading at $57.07 [1] Financial Performance - The company reported an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.45 for the third quarter, a 4% increase from $1.40 in the previous year, aligning with market consensus [1] - Net revenue decreased by 1.7% to $5.25 billion, falling short of market expectations by $50 million, primarily due to higher prices not fully offsetting a decline in sales [1] - Sales volume for combustible products dropped by 8.0%, while oral tobacco product sales fell by 9.6% [1] Guidance and Future Outlook - Altria raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance from $5.35-$5.45 to $5.37-$5.45, indicating an expected fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.25-$1.33, compared to the current market consensus of $1.33 [1] - Management noted that due to an accelerated stock buyback plan in 2024 and the diminishing benefits from the "Master Settlement Agreement" legal fund, growth in the fourth quarter is expected to slow down [1]

Financial Performance - For the third quarter, adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 3.6%, and for the first nine months, it grew by 5.9% [5][20] - Adjusted operating companies income (OCI) for the smokeable products segment grew by 0.7% to nearly $3 billion in the third quarter and by 2.5% to $8.4 billion for the first nine months [20] - Adjusted OCI margins expanded to 64.4% for both the third quarter and first nine months, representing margin growth of 1.3 percentage points and 2.7 percentage points, respectively [20] Business Segment Performance - Domestic cigarette volumes declined by 8.2% in the third quarter and 10.6% for the first nine months when adjusted for trade inventory movements and calendar differences [21][22] - Marlboro expanded its share of the premium segment by 0.3 to 59.6% in the third quarter, while the discount segment of the industry expanded by 2.4 share points year over year, with Basic capturing over half of that growth [22][23] - In the oral tobacco products segment, adjusted OCI declined by less than 1% in the third quarter, but adjusted OCI margin expanded by 2.4 percentage points to 69.2% for the first nine months [24][25] Market Data - The nicotine pouch category saw an estimated 14.5% increase in industry volume over the past six months, with ON's retail share of the total oral tobacco category at 8.7% for the third quarter [6][8] - The e-vapor category included approximately 21 million vapers at the end of the third quarter, up nearly 2 million from a year ago, with flavored disposable e-vapor products representing over 60% of the category [13][15] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company announced a collaboration with KT&G to explore opportunities in international innovative smoke-free products and non-nicotine products [5][18] - The FDA's pilot program to streamline PMTA reviews for oral nicotine pouches is seen as a positive development, with ON+ applications included in the program [16][17] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumers are under pressure but are seeing some consistency in gas prices and inflation, which may influence purchasing behavior [33] - The company raised the lower end of its 2025 guidance range, now expecting adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $5.37 to $5.45, representing a growth rate of 3.5% to 5% from a base of $5.19 in 2024 [26][27] Other Important Information - The company returned nearly $6 billion to shareholders in the first nine months, including $5.2 billion in dividends and $712 million in share repurchases [27] - The board authorized the expansion of the share repurchase program from $1 billion to $2 billion, which now expires on December 31, 2026 [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on fourth quarter earnings growth and smokeable OCI - Management acknowledged the impact of share repurchase and MSA legal fund expiration on earnings growth, emphasizing the need to monitor consumer spending in a dynamic marketplace [30][31] Question: Drivers behind moderation in cigarette industry decline - Management indicated that consistency in consumer pressures, such as gas prices and inflation, may be contributing to the moderation observed [32][33] Question: Performance and initiatives for the nicotine pouch category - Management expressed satisfaction with ON's performance despite competitive pressures and highlighted the importance of retail takeaway volume as a measure of consumer demand [36][38] Question: KT&G partnership and operational efficiencies - Management outlined three prongs of the partnership: expanding ON and ON+ internationally, exploring non-nicotine opportunities, and improving operational efficiencies [39][41] Question: ON+ pricing strategy and controllable costs - Management confirmed ON+ is positioned as a premium product and discussed the importance of long-term cost management strategies in the smokeable category [46][49]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 3.6% in Q3 and by 5.9% for the first nine months [20] - Adjusted operating companies income (OCI) for smokeable products grew by 0.7% to nearly $3 billion in Q3 and by 2.5% to $8.4 billion for the first nine months [20] - Adjusted OCI margins expanded to 64.4% for both Q3 and the first nine months, representing margin growth of 1.3 percentage points and 2.7 percentage points respectively [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Domestic cigarette volumes declined by 8.2% in Q3 and 10.6% for the first nine months when adjusted for trade inventory movements [21] - The oral tobacco products segment saw adjusted OCI decline by less than 1% in Q3, but adjusted OCI increased by 3.3% with margin expansion of 1.8 percentage points to 69% [24][25] - Helix's reported shipment volume for on! increased by nearly 1% in Q3 and approximately 15% for the first nine months [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The nicotine pouch category grew to 55.7 share points, an increase of 11.1 share points year-over-year [7] - The e-vapor category included approximately 21 million vapers, up nearly 2 million versus a year ago [13] - The discount segment of the industry expanded by 2.4 share points year-over-year, with Basic capturing over half of that growth [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its smoke-free portfolio and exploring international opportunities through a collaboration with KT&G [5][18] - The launch of on! PLUS is seen as a premium product aimed at appealing to both adults who dip and competitive nicotine pouch consumers [10] - The company is committed to returning value to shareholders, as evidenced by a recent dividend increase and an expansion of the share repurchase program [5][27] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumers are under pressure but are seeing some consistency in gas prices and inflation [33] - The company is optimistic about the regulatory environment, particularly with recent FDA actions that may streamline product authorizations [16] - The company raised the lower end of its 2025 guidance range, expecting adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $5.37-$5.45, representing a growth rate of 3.5%-5% from a base of $5.19 in 2024 [26] Other Important Information - The company returned nearly $6 billion to shareholders in the first nine months, including $5.2 billion in dividends and $712 million in share repurchases [27] - The balance sheet remains strong, with a debt to EBITDA ratio of 2x as of September 30 [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on fourth quarter earnings growth and smokeable OCI - Management acknowledged the impact of share repurchase and MSA legal fund expiration on earnings growth, while monitoring consumer spending in a dynamic marketplace [31] Question: Drivers behind the moderation in cigarette industry decline - Management indicated that consistency in consumer pressures and stepped-up enforcement in e-vapor are influencing market dynamics [34] Question: Performance and positioning of on! in a competitive environment - Management expressed satisfaction with on!'s performance despite competitive pressures, highlighting steady retail takeaway volume [37] Question: Opportunities from the KT&G partnership - Management outlined three prongs of the partnership: expanding modern oral initiatives, exploring non-nicotine opportunities, and improving operational efficiencies [40] Question: Pricing strategy for on! PLUS - Management confirmed that on! PLUS is positioned as a premium product, with introductory price promotions planned for its launch [48] Question: Impact of FDA pilot program on product launches - Management emphasized the importance of a functioning regulatory system and indicated that decisions will be made in the long-term best interest of the company [57]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased by 3.6% in Q3 and by 5.9% for the first nine months [18] - Adjusted operating companies income (OCI) for smokeable products grew by 0.7% to nearly $3 billion in Q3 and by 2.5% to $8.4 billion for the first nine months [18] - Adjusted OCI margins expanded to 64.4% for both Q3 and the first nine months, representing margin growth of 1.3 percentage points and 2.7 percentage points respectively [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Domestic cigarette volumes declined by 8.2% in Q3 and 10.6% for the first nine months when adjusted for trade inventory movements [18] - Marlboro expanded its share of the premium segment by 0.3 to 59.6% in Q3 [19] - The oral tobacco products segment saw adjusted OCI decline by less than 1% in Q3, but adjusted OCI margin expanded by 2.4 percentage points to 69.2% for the first nine months [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The nicotine pouch category grew to 55.7 share points, an increase of 11.1 share points year over year [5] - The e-vapor category included approximately 21 million vapers, up nearly 2 million versus a year ago [11] - Retail share for oral tobacco products was 31.1% for Q3 and 32.9% for the first nine months [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on expanding its smoke-free portfolio and exploring international opportunities in innovative smoke-free products [4][15] - A collaboration with KT&G was announced to explore opportunities in international innovative smoke-free products and non-nicotine products [4][16] - The company aims to maintain profitability in the premium segment while also investing in the discount segment to capture price-sensitive consumers [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer spending remains under pressure due to macroeconomic factors, but they are optimistic about maintaining profitability [30] - The company raised the lower end of its 2025 guidance range, expecting adjusted diluted EPS in the range of $5.37 to $5.45 [24] - Management emphasized the importance of a functioning regulatory system and the need for accelerated product authorizations from the FDA [14][54] Other Important Information - The company returned nearly $6 billion to shareholders, including $5.2 billion in dividends and $712 million in share repurchases [25] - The board authorized the expansion of the share repurchase program from $1 billion to $2 billion, which now expires on December 31, 2026 [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on fourth quarter earnings growth deceleration - Management acknowledged the impact of share repurchase and MSA legal fund expiration on earnings growth, while monitoring consumer spending [29][30] Question: Drivers behind the moderation in cigarette industry decline - Management indicated that consistency in gas prices and inflation may have contributed to the moderation in decline [31][32] Question: Performance and positioning of ON in the nicotine pouch category - Management expressed satisfaction with ON's performance despite competitive pressures and highlighted the importance of retail takeaway volume [33][34] Question: Opportunities from the KT&G partnership - Management discussed three pronged opportunities: expanding ON internationally, exploring non-nicotine products, and improving operational efficiencies [36][39] Question: Clarification on duty drawbacks and EPS growth - Management stated that duty drawbacks are an additional benefit but emphasized the need for a functioning regulatory system for long-term decisions [52][54] Question: Impact of FDA pilot program on ON+ launch - Management clarified that decisions will be based on long-term interests and the functioning of the regulatory system [53][54]

Core Viewpoint - Altria reported mixed Q3 financial results, beating earnings expectations but missing revenue targets [1] Financial Performance - The company exceeded earnings expectations, indicating strong profitability [1] - Revenue figures fell short of market expectations, suggesting potential challenges in sales growth [1]

Altria (MO) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.45 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.44 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.38 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.69%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker would post earnings of $1.37 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.44, delivering a surprise of +5 ...

Financial Performance - Altria's adjusted diluted EPS increased by 3.6% from $1.40 in Q3 2024 to $1.45 in Q3 2025[8] - For the first nine months of 2025, Altria returned nearly $6 billion to shareholders, including $5.2 billion in dividends and $712 million in share repurchases[98] - Altria increased its quarterly dividend by 3.9% to $1.06 per share[19] - The company expanded its existing share repurchase program from $1 billion to $2 billion[19] - The company is raising the lower-end of its full-year 2025 guidance range and now expects to deliver adjusted diluted EPS in a range of $5.37 to $5.45, representing a growth rate of 3.5% to 5.0% from 2024[95] Oral Tobacco Category - The oral tobacco industry volume increased by 14.5% for the six months ended September 30, 2025[22] - Oral nicotine pouches retail share of the oral tobacco category increased by 11.1 percentage points from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025, reaching 55.7%[22] - on! reported shipment volume increased by 0.7% in Q3 2025, with 42.2 million cans shipped[25] - For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, on! reported shipment volume increased by 14.8% to 133.6 million cans[25] - on!'s share of the oral tobacco category increased by 0.8 percentage points to 8.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2025[28] Regulatory and Enforcement - Horizon submitted a combined PMTA & MRTPA to the FDA[32] - The FDA launched a pilot program to streamline PMTA reviews for oral nicotine pouches, and applications for on! PLUS are included in the program[47, 49]