Overview
- Altria beat Wall Street forecasts for first‑quarter results, posting revenue of $5.43 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $1.32, and the stock rose about 1% in early trading.
- Higher prices on cigarettes and nicotine pouches lifted sales even as shipments declined, preserving margins in a shrinking tobacco market.
- Cigarette shipment volumes fell 7.8% as Marlboro’s retail share slipped by 1.4 percentage points to 39.7%, showing ongoing pressure on the flagship brand.
- Oral tobacco revenue grew 2.3%, yet the group’s market share dropped by 5.5 percentage points, reflecting tougher competition in nicotine pouches.
- The company reaffirmed its full‑year adjusted earnings outlook with a $5.64 midpoint and cited slower e‑vapor growth and a recent NJOY e‑cigarette import block tied to a patent dispute as key risks.