Key Takeaways Altria's on! shipments rose 26.5% in Q2, lifting oral tobacco share to 8.7% and boosting margins.Philip Morris lifted 2025 EPS guidance to $7.43-$7.56, targeting 13-15% year-over-year growth.Philip Morris achieved $500M in cost savings in H1 2025, advancing toward a $2B efficiency goal.Altria Group, Inc. ((MO) and Philip Morris International Inc. ((PM) stand as two of the most recognized names in the global tobacco industry. While Altria primarily operates within the United States, Philip Morr ...

Key Takeaways Altria reached a new 52-week high of $67.87, rising nearly 15% over the past month.EPS grew 8.3% in Q2 2025 to $1.44, aided by pricing, efficiencies, and share repurchases.on! nicotine pouches surged 26.5% in shipments, lifting oral tobacco income and margins.Altria Group, Inc. (MO) hit a new 52-week high of $67.87 yesterday, a significant milestone that has caught investors’ attention. The company’s strong earnings, growth in oral tobacco, and shareholder returns have set a positive tone for ...

Core Viewpoint - Altria Group has maintained a strong dividend history, raising its dividend annually since 2009, with a current forward yield of 7%, but concerns exist regarding the sustainability of this dividend amid declining cigarette volumes and competition from alternative products [1][11]. Revenue and Volume Analysis - Cigarette smoking in the U.S. is declining due to health concerns and the rise of alternatives like vaping, with Altria's cigarette shipment volumes down 13.7% in Q1, including a 13.3% drop for Marlboro and a 24.9% plunge in discount brand shipments [2][3]. - Revenue from the smokeable segment fell 4.1% to $3.91 billion, although adjusted operating income rose 2.7% due to lower manufacturing costs [4]. - In the oral tobacco segment, shipment volumes decreased by 5% to 175.4 million cans, with overall revenue rising by 0.5% to $654 million, but adjusted operating income remained flat [5]. - Altria's Njoy vaping business saw consumable shipments increase by 23.9% to 13.5 million units, but device shipments fell 70% to 0.3 million units, indicating a mixed performance in the vaping segment [6]. Financial Health and Dividend Safety - Altria generated $2.72 billion in operating cash flow and $2.68 billion in free cash flow in the quarter, with a dividend payout of $1.73 billion, resulting in a coverage ratio of over 1.5 times based on free cash flow [9]. - The company ended the quarter with net debt of $21.3 billion and a leverage ratio of 1.7 times, indicating manageable debt levels [9]. Future Outlook - Altria maintained its full-year guidance for adjusted EPS between $5.30 and $5.45, reflecting growth of 2% to 5%, while acknowledging the impact of increased tariffs and cost inflation on consumer behavior [7]. - There are concerns that continued price increases may not be sustainable in the face of declining volumes, which could affect long-term profitability [10][12]. Market Position and Valuation - Altria's stock has performed well in a volatile market, but the overall cigarette business is declining, and its smoke-free products are not yet significant enough to offset this trend [11]. - The company trades at a forward P/E ratio of 11 based on 2025 analyst consensus, which is higher than British American Tobacco but lower than Philip Morris International, which is experiencing growth without facing similar volume declines [13].