Key Takeaways Philip Morris International ((PM) saw its e-vapor brand VEEV more than double shipment volumes year over year in the second quarter of 2025, a striking development in the multi-category smoke-free strategy. With nearly 1.5 billion equivalent units shipped in the first half of 2025, VEEV is increasingly emerging as a viable growth engine alongside the more mature IQOS and ZYN brands. Shares of Philip Morris have lost 10% in the past month compared with the industry's decline of 2.9%. VEEV shipm ...

Core Insights - Altria reported strong financial performance, exceeding both revenue and earnings expectations for its second fiscal quarter [1] - The company continues to benefit from robust profitability in its core business despite challenges in the traditional tobacco segment [1] Financial Performance - Altria's second fiscal quarter results showed significant growth, indicating resilience in its core operations [1] - The traditional tobacco segment is experiencing pressure due to declining demand, yet the overall profitability remains strong [1]

Group 1 - Altria has outperformed the market since the last investment recommendation, driven by a strong dividend yield exceeding 6.5% [2] - The company maintains continued earnings, reinforcing its value as an investment opportunity [2] - The Value Portfolio employs a fact-based research strategy, analyzing 10Ks, analyst commentary, market reports, and investor presentations to identify investments [2] Group 2 - The Retirement Forum aims to provide actionable ideas and a high-yield safe retirement portfolio to maximize capital and income [1] - The forum conducts comprehensive market searches to enhance returns for investors [1]

Group 1 - The focus is on growth and dividend income as a strategy for retirement planning [1] - The portfolio is structured to generate monthly dividend income that grows through reinvestment and annual increases [1] Group 2 - The article expresses personal opinions and is not intended as investment advice [2][3] - It emphasizes the importance of conducting individual research before making investment decisions [2]

"Pinnacle's conventional cigarette product lines have been very successful for this c-store chain, establishing strong brand loyalty with customers. We are excited to launch our new Pinnacle VLN® products, representing our second early adopter partner VLN® brand, expanding the reach and awareness of this innovative solution designed specifically to give smokers a choice with respect to their nicotine intake with an eye on improving public health," said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Centur ...

Overall revenue net of excise taxes fell 1.7% to $5.29 billion, while adjusted EPS climbed 8.3% to $1.44. That was above analyst expectations for revenue of $5.19 billion and EPS of $1.39, as compiled by FactSet. Altria's on! nicotine pouches, which compete with Philip Morris International's Zyn, saw strong growth, with shipment volumes climbing 26.5% to 52.1 million cans. Revenue net of excise taxes in the oral products segment that houses on! rose 6% to $728 million. Segment shipment volumes fell 1% to 19 ...

Group 1 - Altria is recognized for providing high dividend yields, making it a prominent choice for dividend-seeking investors [1] - The company has a long history of delivering substantial returns to investors through dividends [1] - The focus on stable and increasing dividends is seen as foundational for achieving high risk-adjusted long-term returns [1] Group 2 - The analysis emphasizes the importance of in-depth company evaluation and the formulation of compelling investment arguments [1] - Engaging with the investment community through platforms like Seeking Alpha enhances knowledge and investment strategies [1]

Oral tobacco products showed a different trend in Q2 2025. Revenue for this segment rose 5.9%, powered by a 26.5% year-over-year increase in on! nicotine pouch shipments. The segment's adjusted operating company income (OCI), a measure of profit before certain items, rose 10.9%. However, total shipment volume for the oral tobacco segment declined 1.0%, reflecting declining volumes in traditional moist smokeless tobacco brands like Copenhagen and Skoal. These brands lost retail share (down 3.5 percentage poi ...

Core Insights - Philip Morris International's smoke-free business is expanding significantly, with IQOS and ZYN being pivotal to this growth. In Q2 2025, smoke-free business contributed 41% of total net revenues and over 42% of total gross profit, indicating a strong shift from combustible products [1][8]. Smoke-Free Business Performance - Smoke-free business net revenues increased by 15.2% year-over-year (14.5% organically), while gross profit rose by 23.3% (21.5% organically), outpacing the growth of combustible products [1]. - IQOS, the heat-not-burn device, experienced an 11.4% increase in global sales in Q2, with a market share of 31.7% in Japan and a rise of 1.2 points to 10.9% in Europe [2][8]. - ZYN, the leading nicotine pouch, saw a 36% growth in June and 26% in Q2 in the U.S., with global shipments increasing by 43% year-over-year, driven by strong U.S. demand and international expansion [3][8]. Competitive Landscape - Altria Group's on! nicotine pouch brand reported a 26.5% increase in shipments to 52.1 million cans in Q2 2025, capturing an 8.7% retail share of the U.S. oral tobacco market [5]. - Turning Point Brands' modern oral nicotine pouch sales surged nearly tenfold year-over-year, generating $22.3 million in revenues, with a revised full-year sales guidance of $80–$95 million [6]. Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Philip Morris shares have declined by 8.6% in the past month, compared to a 1.7% decline in the industry [7]. - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26X, higher than the industry's average of 14.56X [10]. - Zacks Consensus Estimates indicate year-over-year earnings growth of 14% for 2025 and 12% for 2026 [11].

Key Takeaways Altria Group, Inc.'s (MO) focus on pricing strength remains central to its strategy for managing persistent cigarette volume declines. In the second quarter of 2025, domestic cigarette shipment volumes in the smokeable products segment fell 10.2% year over year. Yet, adjusted operating companies' income for the segment rose 4.2%, with margins expanding to 64.5%, supported by a solid 10% increase in net price realization during the period. The company's ability to use pricing gains to counter d ...