Core Insights - Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) is launching a North American animal feed joint venture with Alltech to enhance customer advantages through optimized organizational and operational structures [1][10] Company Overview - ADM will retain its Canadian facilities and U.S. premix and additive businesses, while Alltech will contribute its Hubbard Feeds and Masterfeeds businesses, which include 18 feed mills in the U.S. and 15 in Canada [2][4] - The joint venture will leverage the complementary strengths of both companies in feed production, utilizing their expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and established product portfolios [3][10] Strategic Initiatives - ADM is focusing on productivity, innovation, and aligning operations with trends in food security, health, and wellness, while advancing initiatives in biosolutions and health & wellness to meet customer demand [6] - The company is improving processing capacities and creating additional margin opportunities through digital technologies and partnerships, emphasizing strategic simplification [7] Market Performance - ADM's shares have increased by 16% over the past three months, contrasting with a 1.5% decline in the industry [8]

Core Insights - Altria Group Inc. reported second-quarter 2025 results with both revenue and earnings exceeding expectations and showing year-over-year growth [1][2][11] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter were $1.44, an increase of 8.3% year over year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.37 [2][11] - Net revenues totaled $6,102 million, a decline of 1.7% year over year, primarily due to decreased revenues in the smokeable products segment, partially offset by growth in oral tobacco products [3][11] - Revenues net of excise taxes increased by 0.2% to $5,290 million, beating the consensus estimate of $5,190 million [3] Segment Performance - **Smokeable Products**: Net revenues fell 2.5% year over year to $5,357 million, driven by reduced shipment volumes, although higher pricing provided some offset [4][5] - Domestic cigarette shipment volumes decreased by 10.2%, attributed to industry decline and retail share losses, while cigar shipment volumes increased by 3.7% [5] - Adjusted operating companies' income (OCI) in this segment rose 4.2% to $2,947 million, with adjusted OCI margins growing by 2.9 percentage points to 64.5% [6] - **Oral Tobacco Products**: Net revenues increased by 5.9% to $753 million, mainly due to higher pricing, despite a decline in domestic shipment volumes by 1% [7][8] - Adjusted OCI in this segment grew by 10.9%, with adjusted OCI margins increasing by 3.1 percentage points to 68.7% [8] Shareholder Returns and Guidance - The company repurchased 4.7 million shares for $274 million in the second quarter, with $400 million remaining under its $1 billion share repurchase program [10] - Altria paid dividends totaling $1.7 billion in the second quarter [10] - The company narrowed its full-year 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $5.35 to $5.45, indicating a year-over-year growth of 3% to 5% [11][12]