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Philip Morris International Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 lowered, 1 new, 9 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue growth and smoke-free share: Net revenues rose 9.1% to $10.1 billion, 2.7% organically; smoke-free was 43% of net revenues, up 1.3pp. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up, reported EPS down: Reported diluted EPS fell 9.3% to $1.56, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 16.0% to $1.96. Source
  • International smoke-free growth broad-based: Smoke-free net revenues grew 24.7% (15.8% organically) on 11.9% volume growth; gross profit grew 28.6% (19.4% organically). Source
  • IQOS passes Marlboro as top nicotine brand: IQOS surpassed Marlboro as the #1 nicotine brand where present, reaching 10.9% of combined cigarette and HTU volumes, up 1.7pp; PMI holds about 77% of heat-not-burn volume. Source
  • ZYN offtake up 10%: ZYN offtake grew 10% per Nielsen, though the company does not yet have access to all of the most dynamic strength and flavor segments. Source
  • Smoke-free shipments down 21.2%: U.S. smoke-free shipments fell 21.2%; ZYN shipments fell 23.5%, which management tied to offtake growth against its prior estimate and to channel normalization. Source
  • VEEV passes one billion units: VEEV quarterly shipments exceeded one billion equivalent units for the first time; VEEV now shares the #1 closed pod position in Europe, per Nielsen offtake data. Source
  • Gross margin expanded on pricing and mix: Adjusted gross profit margin was 68.1%, up 0.6pp; international smoke-free margin rose 2.1pp to 70.0%, with pricing, operating leverage and SFP mix cited. Source

“Our performance exceeded our expectations in the first quarter, with an outstanding delivery from IQOS driving very good growth for the group against a strong prior-year comparison,”

Jacek Olczak, Group CEO PMI

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$7.56 - $7.71Lowered from $7.87 - $8.02
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$8.36 - $8.51Lowered from $8.38 - $8.53
Adjusted diluted EPS excluding currency Sourcefull year 2026$8.11 - $8.26Kept
Currency effect on adjusted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.25Lowered from $0.27
Total 2026 EPS adjustment Sourcefull year 2026$0.80 per shareRaised from $0.51 per share
Second-quarter adjusted diluted EPS Sourcesecond quarter 2026$2.02 to $2.07New
Net revenue growth, organic Sourcefull year 20265% to 7%Kept
Operating income growth, organic Sourcefull year 20267% to 9%Kept
Amortization of acquired intangibles Sourcefull year 2026$0.50 per shareLowered from $0.51 per share
Shipment volume Sourcefull year 2026Broadly stable total cigarette and SFP volume; high-single digit SFP growth; cigarette decline of around 3%Kept
Industry volume Sourcefull year 2026decline of around 2% for cigarettes and HTUs, excluding China and the U.S.Kept
Effective tax rate Sourcefull year 2026around 21.5%Kept
Operating cash flow Sourcefull year 2026around $13.5 billionKept
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026$1.4 to $1.6 billionKept
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA Sourceend of 2026close to 2.0xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 EPS forecast reduced in reported and adjusted terms; the release title describes the adjusted EPS update as currency-only. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter adjusted diluted EPS forecast added in this release. Source
  • New: Reporting moved to three segments: International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles and U.S., effective January 1, 2026.
  • New: Middle East conflict cited as a small first-quarter effect on shipments to Global Travel Retail and some regional markets; forecast does not assume a prolonged impact. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue growth and smoke-free share: Net revenues rose 9.1% to $10.1 billion, 2.7% organically; smoke-free was 43% of net revenues, up 1.3pp. Source
  • Operating income up on investment: Operating income rose 9.8% reported; management said the company continued to invest for future growth. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up, reported EPS down: Reported diluted EPS fell 9.3% to $1.56, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 16.0% to $1.96. Source

International smoke-free segment

  • International smoke-free growth broad-based: Smoke-free net revenues grew 24.7% (15.8% organically) on 11.9% volume growth; gross profit grew 28.6% (19.4% organically). Source
  • IQOS passes Marlboro as top nicotine brand: IQOS surpassed Marlboro as the #1 nicotine brand where present, reaching 10.9% of combined cigarette and HTU volumes, up 1.7pp; PMI holds about 77% of heat-not-burn volume. Source
  • HTU in-market sales grew 10.9%: HTU adjusted in-market sales grew 10.9%, close to 11.3% shipment growth; TEREA, DELIA/SENTIA and LEVIA all contributed. Source
  • Japan adjusted IMS grew about 10%: Japan adjusted IMS grew an estimated 10.4%, with IQOS near 70% of heat-not-burn volume and IQOS share of total nicotine up 2.7pp to 34.9%. Source
  • Europe adjusted IMS grew about 5%: Europe IQOS HTU adjusted IMS grew about 5.4% and share rose 1.1pp to 12.6%; excluding flavor-ban markets, volumes grew around 8%. Source
  • Growth outside Europe and Japan: Adjusted IMS outside Europe and Japan grew 19.4%, with offtake share gains in key cities; Taiwan IQOS offtake share reached almost 6% in March. Source

“Building on excellent broad-based momentum in the international smoke-free business and 16% adjusted diluted EPS growth in Q1, we are well positioned to continue delivering best-in-class performance in 2026.”

Jacek Olczak, Group CEO PMI

International combustibles segment

  • Volumes fell after a high base: Shipment volume declined 5.1% against exceptional prior-year growth; management said this was as expected. Source
  • Pricing offset geographic mix: Net revenues grew 6.8% (1.0% organically) on pricing of 8.5%, partly offset by geographic mix; gross profit grew 9.8% (3.9% organically). Source
  • Category share down on mix: Overall cigarette category volume share was 24.8%, down 0.6pp, on unfavorable market mix and lower share in Indonesia, Russia and Turkey. Source
  • Marlboro gained share: Marlboro gained 0.4pp of category share, reaching 10.7% in the first quarter. Source

U.S. segment

  • ZYN offtake up 10%: ZYN offtake grew 10% per Nielsen, though the company does not yet have access to all of the most dynamic strength and flavor segments. Source
  • Smoke-free shipments down 21.2%: U.S. smoke-free shipments fell 21.2%; ZYN shipments fell 23.5%, which management tied to offtake growth against its prior estimate and to channel normalization. Source
  • U.S. net revenues down 30.8%: U.S. net revenues fell 30.8% reported and 31.6% organically to $0.6 billion; gross profit fell 44.5%, with higher manufacturing costs cited. Source
  • Adjusted OCI down 75.3%: Adjusted OCI fell 75.3% to $100 million, on lower gross profit and higher marketing, administration and research spending. Source

Products and customers

  • Oral SFP shipments down 5.1%: International oral SFP shipments fell 5.1%: modern oral pouches reached 0.5 billion, but Nordic snus declines more than offset that growth. Source
  • VEEV passes one billion units: VEEV quarterly shipments exceeded one billion equivalent units for the first time; VEEV now shares the #1 closed pod position in Europe, per Nielsen offtake data. Source
  • ZYN in 58 markets: ZYN is now in 58 markets and outperforms the industry outside the Nordics, with share gains in Pakistan, Poland and the UK; 1.5mg variants cover over 80% of ZYN markets. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin expanded on pricing and mix: Adjusted gross profit margin was 68.1%, up 0.6pp; international smoke-free margin rose 2.1pp to 70.0%, with pricing, operating leverage and SFP mix cited. Source
  • Marketing and research costs rose: Marketing, administration and research costs rose 17.7% to $2,857 million, weighing on adjusted operating income alongside the same factors as net revenues. Source
  • Higher HTU pricing lifted smoke-free: International smoke-free net revenues also benefited from a favorable pricing variance on higher HTU pricing. Source

Demand and industry volumes

  • Industry volume down 1.0%: Estimated industry volume for cigarettes and HTUs, excluding China and the U.S., declined 1.0% in the quarter. Source
  • Ukraine and Poland flavor ban weigh on Europe: Europe faced ongoing disruptions in Ukraine and the initial impact of Poland's characterizing flavor ban, which took effect in January. Source
  • Japan pantry-loading distorts comparison: Japan adjusted IMS growth excluding consumer pantry-loading ahead of the April 1 excise-driven price increase was an estimated 9.4%. Source

Earnings adjustments and currency

  • India stake fair value hit reported EPS: A $0.22 per-share fair value adjustment on the India minority shareholding reduced reported EPS; the prior-year quarter showed an adjustment of $(0.09). Source
  • Swedish Match financing tax item: A $0.05 per-share income tax impact tied to Swedish Match AB financing was excluded from adjusted EPS, against $(0.06) a year earlier. Source
  • Currency added 18 cents: Currency contributed $0.18 to adjusted diluted EPS; excluding currency, adjusted EPS was $1.78, up 5.3%. Source

Investment and regulatory position

  • Continued U.S. investment behind ZYN: Management said it continues to invest behind the ZYN brand and in U.S. capabilities for long-term growth. Source
  • Complex U.S. regulatory environment: Management described the regulatory environment as complex and dynamic while it plans product launches. Source
  • VEEV built in a focused way: Management said it remains committed to building and commercializing VEEV in a focused, responsible and profitable manner. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 April 2026

  • ZYN ULTRA launch planned: Management said it is preparing to launch innovations in the coming months, including ZYN ULTRA, which remains under active FDA review. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total shipment volume Source184.3 billion equivalent units, down 1.9%
Cigarette shipment volume Source137.3 billion units, down 5.1%
Smoke-free product shipment volume Source47.0 billion equivalent units, up 9.1%
HTU shipment volume Source41.3 billion equivalent units, up 11.3%
Oral SFP shipment volume Source4.5 billion equivalent units, down 16.1%
Smoke-free product markets Source108 markets

Risks management discussed

  • External: Middle East conflict has uncertain duration and impact; energy prices and supply disruption have risen in some markets. Source
  • Operational: Higher transport, energy and other input costs are included in the forecast, while a prolonged conflict impact is not assumed. Source
  • Demand: U.S. channel inventory normalization was anticipated and flagged in the prior quarter, affecting the year-on-year volume comparison. Source
  • Demand: ZYN faces an uneven competitive landscape in which the company does not yet have access to all of the most dynamic segments. Source
  • Regulatory: Management cited a complex and dynamic U.S. regulatory environment as a factor in its planning. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter performance exceeded its expectations; adjusted diluted EPS was reported at $1.96. Source
  • Met: Management said the combustibles volume decline was as expected. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the anticipated normalization of channel inventories that it had flagged in the prior quarter. 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.