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Altria Group, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Second-quarter adjusted EPS rose 2.8%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 2.8% to $1.48 on higher adjusted OCI and fewer shares outstanding. Reported diluted EPS fell 2.8% to $1.37. Source
  • Smokeable adjusted OCI rose on pricing: Smokeable adjusted OCI rose 2.4% to $3.0 billion and its margin rose 0.3 points to 64.8%, helped by higher pricing and refunds of taxes and duties on imported cigarettes. Source
  • Domestic cigarette volume down 3.2%: Reported domestic cigarette shipments fell 3.2% and about 4.5% after adjusting for trade inventory. Management linked the industry decline to discretionary income pressure on adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Oral adjusted OCI fell on volume: Oral adjusted OCI fell 8.0% to $460 million and its margin fell 2.0 points to 66.7%, mainly on lower shipment volume and higher promotional investments, partly offset by higher pricing. Source
  • USSTC consolidation drove quarterly charges: Asset impairment, exit and implementation costs were $88 million pre-tax in the quarter, or $0.04 per share, mainly from the USSTC Facilities Consolidation. Source
  • Nearly $3.9 billion returned to shareholders: Dividends and share repurchases together returned nearly $3.9 billion in the first half. Dividends paid were $1.8 billion in the quarter and $3.6 billion in the first half. Source

“In the second quarter, our operating companies continued to deliver against the priorities we outlined at the start of the year”

Sal Mancuso, Altria’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull-year 2026$5.61 to $5.72Raised from $5.56 to $5.72
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2026$375 million to $450 millionRaised from $300 million to $375 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Lower end of full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised from $5.56, with the upper end kept at $5.72. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 capital expenditure range raised to $375 million to $450 million from $300 million to $375 million. Source
  • New: Plan to consolidate USSTC manufacturing operations, referred to as the USSTC Facilities Consolidation, with 2026 costs recorded in the quarter. Source
  • New: Sal Mancuso is named Chief Executive Officer in this release. The April release named Billy Gifford in that role. Source
  • New: Helix resumed shipments of 12-milligram on! PLUS in three states during the quarter. Source
  • New: Helix plans additional on! PLUS flavors across 6-, 9- and 12-milligram strengths, starting in the fourth quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Second-quarter adjusted EPS rose 2.8%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 2.8% to $1.48 on higher adjusted OCI and fewer shares outstanding. Reported diluted EPS fell 2.8% to $1.37. Source
  • First-half reported EPS up on impairment: First-half reported diluted EPS rose 30.9% to $2.67, mainly because the 2025 period included a non-cash impairment of e-vapor reporting unit goodwill. First-half adjusted diluted EPS rose 4.9% to $2.80. Source
  • Net revenues essentially flat in quarter: Net revenues were $6.1 billion, essentially unchanged, as smokeable and all other revenues rose and oral tobacco revenues fell. Revenues net of excise taxes rose 1.2% to $5.4 billion. Source

Smokeable products

  • Smokeable adjusted OCI rose on pricing: Smokeable adjusted OCI rose 2.4% to $3.0 billion and its margin rose 0.3 points to 64.8%, helped by higher pricing and refunds of taxes and duties on imported cigarettes. Source
  • Domestic cigarette volume down 3.2%: Reported domestic cigarette shipments fell 3.2% and about 4.5% after adjusting for trade inventory. Management linked the industry decline to discretionary income pressure on adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Marlboro share down, discount share up: Marlboro retail share of total cigarettes was 39.5%, down 1.5 points year on year. Industry discount share rose 2.6 points to 33.8%, which management linked to discretionary income pressure. Source
  • PM USA portfolio and cigar volume: PM USA advanced its total portfolio approach to drive profitability, with Marlboro Cowboy Cut drawing interest among premium smokers and Basic gaining traction in discount. Cigar volume rose 5.0%. Source

“This performance reflects steady, disciplined execution and confidence in our full-year plan, which allowed us to narrow our earnings guidance for the year.”

Sal Mancuso, Altria’s Chief Executive Officer

Oral tobacco products

  • Oral adjusted OCI fell on volume: Oral adjusted OCI fell 8.0% to $460 million and its margin fell 2.0 points to 66.7%, mainly on lower shipment volume and higher promotional investments, partly offset by higher pricing. Source
  • Domestic oral volume down 8.5%: Reported domestic oral shipments fell 8.5%, or about 2% after trade inventory adjustment. Management attributed the decline to retail share losses and trade inventory movements. Source
  • On! share up, Copenhagen and Skoal down: on! retail share rose 0.3 points year on year to 8.6%. Copenhagen fell 2.8 points to 13.1% and Skoal fell 1.0 point to 5.1%. Source
  • Nicotine pouches grew within oral category: Nicotine pouches reached 59.9% of the oral tobacco category, up 8.1 points year on year. on! held 14.4% of the pouch category, down 1.7 points. Source

Smoke-free portfolio and Helix

  • On! PLUS 12-milligram shipments resumed: Helix resumed shipments of 12-milligram on! PLUS in Florida, North Carolina and Texas in three flavors during the quarter. Source
  • On! PLUS reached 120,000 stores: Helix expanded on! PLUS to 120,000 stores nationwide and engaged in trial-generating activities during the quarter. Source

“We are raising the lower-end of our full-year 2026 guidance.”

Sal Mancuso, Altria’s Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and special items

  • USSTC consolidation drove quarterly charges: Asset impairment, exit and implementation costs were $88 million pre-tax in the quarter, or $0.04 per share, mainly from the USSTC Facilities Consolidation. Source
  • Litigation and ABI items reduced reported EPS: Tobacco and health and certain other litigation charges were $95 million pre-tax in the quarter, or $0.05 per share. ABI-related special items were a $77 million pre-tax loss. Source
  • Tax items and lower effective rate: Adjusted effective tax rate was 23.0%, down 0.3 points. Reported rate was 21.5%, down 2.2 points, helped by a tax benefit from resolving prior-year tax audits. Source

Cash and returns to shareholders

  • Nearly $3.9 billion returned to shareholders: Dividends and share repurchases together returned nearly $3.9 billion in the first half. Dividends paid were $1.8 billion in the quarter and $3.6 billion in the first half. Source
  • Share repurchases in first half: In the first half, the company repurchased 5.3 million shares for $335 million, at an average price of $62.78. Second-quarter repurchases were 0.8 million shares for $55 million. Source
  • Repurchase authorization remaining: $665 million remained under the $2 billion repurchase program at June 30, 2026. The program expires December 31, 2026. Source
  • Cash balance lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,367 million at June 30, 2026, down from $4,474 million at December 31, 2025. Total debt was $24,577 million. Source

Guidance assumptions and cost savings

  • Import and export benefit weighted to second half: Management expects a greater benefit from cigarette import and export activity in the second half than in the first half. Second-half timing is now more balanced between the third and fourth quarters. Source
  • Cost savings reinvested in Vision: Guidance assumes anticipated Optimize & Accelerate savings are reinvested and that investments support the Vision and contract manufacturing capabilities. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Helix national on! PLUS expansion: Management said the national expansion of 12-milligram on! PLUS is planned for the third quarter. Source
  • New on! PLUS flavors in fourth quarter: Helix plans to expand on! PLUS with additional flavors across 6-, 9- and 12-milligram strengths, beginning with Blueberry Mint and Mango Pineapple. Source
  • Additional Helix line extensions later this year: Management said it is prepared for additional Helix line extensions later in 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Domestic cigarette shipment volume, second quarter Source15,554 million sticks, down 3.2%
Oral tobacco cans shipped, second quarter Source181.7 million cans, down 8.5%
Marlboro retail share of total cigarette category Source39.5%
On! retail share of oral tobacco category Source8.6%
Helix on! PLUS store count Source120,000 stores nationwide

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management's guidance contemplates moderated e-vapor industry growth affecting volumes and increased macroeconomic uncertainty for adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Demand: Industry discount share rose 2.6 points to 33.8%, which management linked to continued discretionary income pressures on adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes NJOY ACE does not return to the marketplace in 2026, following the import and sale restrictions in the United States. Source
  • Operational: Guidance includes investments in support of contract manufacturing capabilities, and USSTC manufacturing is being consolidated. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management cites steady, disciplined execution and confidence in the full-year plan as the basis for narrowing guidance. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the guidance contemplates the items it previously disclosed, including moderated e-vapor growth effects on volumes. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the second-half import and export benefit is now expected to be more balanced between the third and fourth quarters, due to timing of second-quarter benefits. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.