Why Altria Stock Dropped Today

Core Insights - Altria Group's stock price fell over 5% following significant market share losses in the cigarette sector [1] Market Performance - Altria's domestic cigarette shipment volumes decreased by 7.9% in Q4, reflecting a continued decline in smoking rates in the U.S. [2] - The retail market share of Altria's Marlboro brand dropped to 39.8%, a year-over-year decline of 1.5 percentage points [2] Product Segments - Altria's oral tobacco products also experienced a decline, with shipment volumes falling by 6.3% due to market share losses [3] - The on! brand's share in the nicotine pouch category decreased by 5.3 percentage points to 13.4% [3] Financial Performance - Altria's revenues, net of excise taxes, slightly declined by less than 1% to $5.1 billion, with price increases offsetting lower shipment volumes [4] - Adjusted earnings per share remained flat at $1.30, supported by stock buybacks [4] - Management projects a growth in full-year adjusted earnings of 2.5% to 5.5% in 2026, estimating a range of $5.56 to $5.72 per share, aided by cost-cutting measures [4]