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Altria Group, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS up 4.8%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45, driven by higher adjusted OCI and higher adjusted earnings from the ABI investment. Source
  • Smokeable adjusted OCI up 3.9%: Adjusted smokeable OCI was $3,072 million, up 3.9%, with adjusted margin at 64.5%, up 0.1 point, on higher pricing and higher import refunds. Source
  • Oral adjusted OCI down 3.7%: Adjusted oral OCI fell 3.7% to $443 million, with adjusted margin down 2.8 points to 66.4%, on lower volume, higher costs and higher promotions. Source
  • On! PLUS expanded nationwide: Helix expanded on! PLUS 12-milligram nationwide, according to management, which described the expansion as meaningful progress. Source
  • Litigation charges in nine months: Tobacco and health and certain other litigation charges were $120 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first nine months, including related interest costs. Source
  • Smokers trading down to discount: Management attributed the rise in the discount share of cigarettes to continued discretionary income pressure on adult smokers. Source
  • Third-quarter buybacks of $400 million: Management repurchased 5.9 million shares in the third quarter at an average of $68.52, for $400 million in total. Source

“Altria delivered strong financial performance in the third quarter, growing adjusted diluted earnings per share by 4.8%, while continuing to invest in our Vision and building on our foundation for the future,”

Sal Mancuso, Altria’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$5.66 to $5.74Raised from $5.61 to $5.72
Adjusted diluted EPS growth rate SourceFull year 2026 versus 2025 base of $5.424.5% to 6.0%Raised from 3.5% to 5.5%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised: range now $5.66 to $5.74, up from $5.61 to $5.72, with growth of 4.5% to 6.0%. Source
  • New: Board authorized a $1 billion expansion of the share repurchase program, which now expires December 31, 2027. The July release described a $2 billion program expiring December 31, 2026. Source
  • New: In August the Board raised the regular quarterly dividend by 4.7%, the 61st increase in 57 years. Source
  • New: Blueberry Mint and Mango Pineapple flavor extensions are now at retail, after the July release had planned them for the fourth quarter. Source

Results and earnings growth

  • Adjusted EPS up 4.8%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45, driven by higher adjusted OCI and higher adjusted earnings from the ABI investment. Source
  • Reported EPS up 7.1%: Reported diluted EPS rose to $1.51 from $1.41, driven by higher reported OCI and higher reported earnings from the ABI investment. Source
  • Net revenues rose 1.0%: Net revenues rose 1.0% to $6.1 billion, mainly from smokeable products. Revenues net of excise taxes rose 3.6% to $5.4 billion. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted EPS up 5.1%: Nine-month adjusted diluted EPS rose 5.1% to $4.33. Reported EPS rose 21.2% to $4.18, against a 2025 non-cash goodwill impairment. Source

Smokeable products performance

  • Smokeable adjusted OCI up 3.9%: Adjusted smokeable OCI was $3,072 million, up 3.9%, with adjusted margin at 64.5%, up 0.1 point, on higher pricing and higher import refunds. Source
  • Reported cigarette volume down 2.9%: Reported domestic cigarette shipments fell 2.9% in the quarter, mainly from the industry decline, partly offset by trade inventory and retail share gains. Source
  • Trade-adjusted cigarette volume down 4%: Adjusted for trade inventory movements, smokeable domestic cigarette shipments fell an estimated 4% in the quarter. Source
  • Discount brands grew sharply: Discount shipments rose 40.5% to 1,704 million sticks, while Marlboro shipments fell 6.4% to 13,324 million sticks in the quarter. Source
  • Marlboro retail share eased: Marlboro retail share of total cigarettes was 39.5%, down 1.0 point from a year earlier and unchanged sequentially. Source
  • Contract export volume rose: Contract manufactured export cigarettes shipped 1,595 million sticks in the quarter, against 311 million a year earlier. Source

“Our strong performance through the first nine months and confidence in our full-year plan allowed us to raise our earnings guidance for the year.”

Altria Group, Inc., press release

Oral tobacco products performance

  • Oral adjusted OCI down 3.7%: Adjusted oral OCI fell 3.7% to $443 million, with adjusted margin down 2.8 points to 66.4%, on lower volume, higher costs and higher promotions. Source
  • Oral volume down 4.3%: Reported oral domestic shipment volume fell 4.3%, mainly from retail share losses and other factors. Adjusted for trade inventory, it fell an estimated 5%. Source
  • Copenhagen and Skoal cans fell: Copenhagen cans fell 10.1% to 79.8 million and Skoal fell 12.6% to 27.1 million in the quarter, while on! cans rose 13.3% to 47.8 million. Source
  • Nicotine pouches gained category share: Nicotine pouches were 61.2% of the oral category, up 5.8 points versus a year earlier. Source
  • Total oral industry volume grew: Total oral industry volume rose an estimated 5.5%, driven by oral nicotine pouches, partly offset by declines in moist smokeless tobacco. Source

Smoke-free and Helix portfolio

  • On! PLUS expanded nationwide: Helix expanded on! PLUS 12-milligram nationwide, according to management, which described the expansion as meaningful progress. Source
  • Two new flavors added: Helix added Blueberry Mint and Mango Pineapple to the on! PLUS portfolio, across 6-, 9- and 12-milligram nicotine strengths. Source
  • Brand-building and innovation pipeline: Management said Helix is investing in brand-building initiatives and preparing for its next wave of innovation. Source

“Our highly cash-generative businesses supported significant returns to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases, while we continued to invest in support of our Vision.”

Altria Group, Inc., press release

Costs, litigation and special items

  • Litigation charges in nine months: Tobacco and health and certain other litigation charges were $120 million, or $0.05 per share, in the first nine months, including related interest costs. Source
  • USSTC plant consolidation charges: Asset impairment, exit and implementation charges of $106 million in nine months mainly reflect plans to consolidate USSTC manufacturing operations. Source
  • Higher manufacturing costs in smokeable: Smokeable OCI growth was held back by higher manufacturing costs, higher promotional investments and lower shipment volume. Source
  • Amortization of intangibles lower: Amortization of intangibles was $67 million in the first nine months, or $0.04 per share, against $112 million a year earlier. Source

Demand and adult consumer pressure

  • Guidance assumes e-vapor slowdown: Guidance contemplates moderated e-vapor industry growth affecting combustible and e-vapor volumes, and increased macroeconomic uncertainty for adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Smokers trading down to discount: Management attributed the rise in the discount share of cigarettes to continued discretionary income pressure on adult smokers. Source
  • Oral retail share declined: Total oral tobacco retail share was 27.9%, down 2.7 points from a year earlier, with Copenhagen down 2.0 points. Source

Cash returns and capital

  • Third-quarter buybacks of $400 million: Management repurchased 5.9 million shares in the third quarter at an average of $68.52, for $400 million in total. Source
  • Nine-month buybacks of $735 million: Through nine months, repurchases totaled 11.2 million shares at an average of $65.78 per share, for $735 million in total. Source
  • Dividends paid of $5.3 billion: Dividends paid were $1.7 billion in the third quarter and $5.3 billion over the first nine months. Source
  • Cash balance lower than year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,697 million at September 30, 2026, down from $4,474 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Equity stakes and strategy

  • Equity securities income higher: Income from equity securities was $242 million in the third quarter, against $107 million, with ABI at $228 million against $123 million. Source
  • ABI gains in the quarter: ABI-related special items were net pre-tax income of $37 million in the third quarter, mainly mark-to-market gains on ABI financial instruments. Source
  • Vision framed beyond smoking and nicotine: Management describes the Vision as moving beyond smoking and exploring growth beyond the United States and beyond nicotine. Source
  • Guidance includes investment and savings: Guidance includes investment in contract manufacturing and the Vision, and reinvestment of anticipated Optimize & Accelerate cost savings. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2026

  • Watermelon Mint planned for fourth quarter: Helix plans to expand on! PLUS with Watermelon Mint in the fourth quarter, across 6-, 9- and 12-milligram strengths, in select retail locations. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Domestic cigarette shipment volume, third quarter (sticks in millions) Source15,725, down 2.9%
Oral tobacco cans shipped, third quarter (millions) Source170.6, down 4.3%
Marlboro retail share of total cigarettes, third quarter Source39.5%, down 1.0 point
On! retail share of oral tobacco category, third quarter Source8.3%, up 0.1 point
Cigar shipment volume, third quarter (sticks in millions) Source457, up 0.9%
Contract manufactured export cigarettes, third quarter (sticks in millions) Source1,595
Nicotine pouch share of oral tobacco category, third quarter Source61.2%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Guidance reflects increased macroeconomic uncertainty facing adult nicotine consumers. Source
  • Demand: Oral domestic volume declined on retail share losses and trade inventory movements in the nine months. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance assumes NJOY ACE does not return to the marketplace in 2026. Source
  • Regulatory: Tobacco and health and certain other litigation charges, with related interest, were recorded in the first nine months. Source
  • Operational: Oral reported OCI included 2026 costs for the USSTC Facilities Consolidation, along with higher promotional investments. Source
  • Financial: A dilution loss from ABI share activity reduced Altria’s ABI ownership interest in the nine months. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The July release planned a national 12-milligram on! PLUS expansion for the third quarter. This release says Helix expanded it nationwide, with no timing comment.
  • Not stated: The July release planned these flavors beginning in the fourth quarter. This release says they are now at retail, with no timing comment.

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.