Core Viewpoint - British American Tobacco (BAT) is focusing on a smoke-free future while achieving solid organic growth and strong shareholder returns [2] Group 1: Company Performance - BAT has demonstrated strong momentum in new product categories and effective management of its combustible portfolio [2] - The company has generated significant free cash flow, enabling it to return substantial cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [2] Group 2: Leadership and Sponsorship - Tadeu Marroco, CEO, and David Waterfield, President of Reynolds American, represented BAT at the CAGNY event [1] - BAT sponsored the lunch following their presentation, indicating their commitment to engaging with stakeholders [1]

Altria Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Altria Group, Inc. - **Industry**: Tobacco and Nicotine Products Key Points Transition to Smoke-Free Products - Altria is transitioning smokers to a smoke-free future while competing for existing smoke-free nicotine consumers and exploring growth opportunities beyond the U.S. and nicotine [3][4] - The U.S. nicotine space is evolving with innovative smoke-free products driving change, creating unprecedented opportunities for Altria's businesses [4] Market Dynamics - In 2025, growth in e-vapor and oral tobacco offset cigarette industry volume declines, leading to a total equivalized nicotine volume growth of approximately 2.5% last year [5] - Over half of the 55 million U.S. nicotine consumers now use smoke-free products, with more than one-third using them exclusively [5] Consumer Segmentation - Altria identifies three consumer groups: 1. **Traditionalists**: Loyal to established brands like Marlboro and Copenhagen [6][7] 2. **Transitioners**: Open to switching to smoke-free alternatives [8] 3. **Variety Seekers**: Early adopters of innovation, seeking different product forms and flavors [9] Product Performance - The oral tobacco category grew by 12.5% last year, with nicotine pouches driving over 40% growth [10] - Altria's oral tobacco products segment grew adjusted OCI by a CAGR of 1.3% over the past five years [10] - The introduction of on! PLUS, a premium nicotine pouch, is expected to meet evolving consumer preferences [11][12] Regulatory Environment - Altria is advocating for improved enforcement against illicit markets, which represent a significant portion of the e-vapor category [17][18] - The company is optimistic about FDA authorizations for new products, including additional flavors and strengths for on! PLUS [13][14] Financial Performance - Altria's smokable product segment has grown adjusted OCI by more than $950 million over the past five years, with adjusted OCI margins expanding to 63.4% [26] - The company has delivered over $100 billion in cash returns to shareholders since the 2008 PMI spinoff, with a recent quarterly dividend increase of 3.9% [35][36] Future Growth Opportunities - Altria is exploring international and non-nicotine opportunities, including energy products through collaboration with Proper Wild [33][34] - The company aims to commercialize at least five non-nicotine products by 2028, with strong consumer interest in energy shots and gummies [34][35] Strategic Initiatives - The Optimize and Accelerate initiative aims to generate at least $600 million in savings to reinvest in growth, enhancing operational and financial flexibility [21][22] - Altria is modernizing its marketing strategies to engage consumers through new channels, including social media and in-person events [14][15] Conclusion - Altria is well-positioned to capture the growing smoke-free opportunity while maintaining strong cash returns and shareholder value through its traditional tobacco businesses [38]

Core Viewpoint - Philip Morris International Inc. is expected to show growth in both revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue estimates around $9 billion, reflecting a 1.8% increase year-over-year [1]. Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly earnings is $1.61 per share, indicating a 7.3% increase from the previous year [2]. - The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise average of 4% [2]. Smoke-Free Product Performance - Smoke-free products contributed 40% to the company's net revenues in Q4 2024, showcasing the success of its IQOS device and other innovations like IQOS ILUMA, ZYN nicotine pouches, and VEEV ONE e-vapor [3]. - The estimated revenue from smoke-free products for Q1 2025 is $3,576.89 million, up from $3,296 million in the same quarter last year [4]. Cost Management and Strategic Initiatives - Philip Morris has implemented cost-saving measures and strategic initiatives that have positively impacted its margins [4]. Currency Impact and Regulatory Challenges - The company anticipates a 4-cent unfavorable impact on adjusted EPS due to volatile currency movements [5]. - Strict government regulations, including mandatory precautionary labels and self-critical advertisements, are challenges that may affect cigarette consumption [5]. Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for Philip Morris, with a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of -1.83% [6].