Group 1 - Altria has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with KT&G to expand nicotine pouches [4] - KT&G Corporation is recognized as South Korea's leading tobacco company [4] - KT&G's main business activities include the production, distribution, and sale of tobacco products [4]

Core Insights - Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) reported strong second-quarter 2025 results, with both net sales and earnings increasing year over year, although net sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate while earnings exceeded it [1][10] - The company has raised its full-year guidance reflecting robust momentum across regions and product categories, particularly in smoke-free products like IQOS and ZYN [1][10] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter were $1.91, a 20.1% increase year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.85 [2][10] - Net revenues reached $10,140 million, a 7.1% increase on a reported basis and 6.8% on an organic basis, but fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $10,255 million [3][10] - Adjusted operating income rose 16.1% to $4,246 million, driven by improved pricing and positive volume/mix, despite increased costs in marketing and administration [6][10] Product Performance - Revenues from smoke-free products increased 15.2%, accounting for 41% of total revenues, with strong performance in both IQOS and ZYN [5][10] - Net revenues from combustible products grew 2.1% year over year, supported by strong pricing despite expected volume declines [4][10] Regional Performance - European region net revenues grew 8.7% to $4,234 million, driven by positive pricing and volume mix, although total shipment volumes decreased [8][10] - In the Americas, revenues rose 12.7% to $1,272 million, primarily due to nicotine pouch sales, with total shipment volumes increasing [11][10] - The SSEA, CIS & MEA regions saw net revenues increase by 5.6% to $2,926 million, while the EA, AU & PMI GTR regions grew 2.1% to $1,708 million [8][9] Future Outlook - For 2025, adjusted EPS is now projected in the range of $7.43-$7.56, indicating 13-15% growth, up from the previous range of $7.36-$7.49 [13][10] - PM expects net revenues to increase 6-8% on an organic basis and operating income to rise 11-12.5% [15][10] - The company anticipates operating cash flow exceeding $11.5 billion in 2025, with capital expenditures around $1.6 billion to support smoke-free business investments [15][10]

Core Viewpoint - The stock market in 2025 has shifted towards value stocks, with British American Tobacco (BTI) showing resilience and a year-to-date increase of 17% in U.S. dollar terms, outperforming broader market indices [1][2]. Financial Performance - British American Tobacco offers a dividend yield of 7%, significantly higher than the market average, with potential for continued growth in dividend payouts [2]. - The company has maintained healthy free cash flow generation, exceeding $10 billion annually since 2020, with $11.9 billion generated last year and an expected cumulative free cash flow of $67 billion from 2024 to 2030 [4][5]. Market Dynamics - Despite a 5% decline in global cigarette volumes in 2024, British American Tobacco's combustibles segment reported flat organic revenue when adjusted for currency movements, indicating resilience in earnings [4]. - The company is investing in alternative nicotine products, such as pouches and vaping, to adapt to changing market conditions, with nicotine pouches generating around $6 billion in revenue last year [6][7]. Growth Opportunities - The smokeless segment has grown significantly, contributing billions in revenue annually, which is expected to offset declines in cigarette volumes and support free cash flow [8]. - The Vuse brand faces competitive pressure from illicit disposable vaping devices, but potential regulatory crackdowns could facilitate a return to growth for Vuse [7]. Capital Management - British American Tobacco has utilized its free cash flow to pay down debt and engage in share repurchases, reducing shares outstanding by 3.4% over the last four years, which aids in growing the dividend per share [11]. - The company is positioned to sustainably grow its dividend per share due to ample free cash flow accumulation [10][11].