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Philip Morris International Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 22 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 4 lowered, 1 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenues passed $11 billion: Net revenues rose 10.4% (7.6% organically) to $11.2 billion, the first time above $11 billion per management; smoke-free was about 42% of revenue, up 0.5 points. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 15.2%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.20, up 15.2%, or 13.6% excluding a 3-cent currency benefit; reported diluted EPS was $1.80, down 7.7%. Source
  • IQOS remains primary growth engine: IQOS HTU shipments rose 7.6% and adjusted in-market sales 5.1%; excluding Japan and Poland, adjusted IMS grew 10%. Source
  • Japan volumes hit by price rise: Japan HTU adjusted IMS fell an estimated 3.4% after the April 1 excise-driven price rise, but grew 1.0% excluding pantry de-loading; IQOS exited June with 68% category share. Source
  • U.S. revenue improved from Q1: U.S. net revenue fell 0.7% (0.9% organically) to $856 million, a significant sequential improvement; cigar sales declined and Wellness phasing was unfavorable. Source
  • Gross margin widened on pricing: Adjusted gross margin was 68.5%, up 0.7 points; International Smoke-Free margin was 70.1%, up 1.8 points, on portfolio profitability. Source
  • RBH equity investment impaired: After RBH's May plan updated five-year projections, PMI recorded a $511 million non-cash impairment on its deconsolidated Canadian affiliate. Source

“We delivered outstanding results in the second quarter, driving net revenues to over $11 billion for the first time with excellent growth across all headline metrics,”

Jacek Olczak, Group CEO PMI

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$7.19 - $7.34Lowered from $7.56 - $7.71
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$8.26 - $8.41Lowered from $8.36 - $8.51
Adjusted diluted EPS, excluding currency Sourcefull year 2026$8.11 - $8.26Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS growth versus 2025 Sourcefull year 20269.5% - 11.5%Lowered from 10.9% - 12.9%
Favorable currency impact on full-year EPS Sourcefull year 2026$0.15Lowered from $0.25
Net revenue growth, organic Sourcefull year 20265% to 7%Kept
Organic operating income growth Sourcefull year 20267% to 9%Kept
Cigarette shipment volume change Sourcefull year 2026Decline of 2% to 3%Raised from Decline of around 3%
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 ratio Sourceend of 2026Close to 2.0xKept
Effective tax rate, excluding discrete tax events Sourcefull year 2026Around 21.5%Kept
Amortization of acquired intangibles Sourcefull year 2026$0.50 per shareKept
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcethird quarter 2026$2.20 - $2.25New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year reported diluted EPS forecast cut to $7.19 to $7.34 from $7.56 to $7.71. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted EPS forecast cut to $8.26 to $8.41 from $8.36 to $8.51; growth now 9.5% to 11.5% from 10.9% to 12.9%. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Currency benefit to full-year EPS reduced to $0.15 from $0.25. Source
  • Guidance raised: Total PMI cigarette and SFP shipment volume assumption moved to broadly stable to slightly growing from broadly stable. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter adjusted diluted EPS range of $2.20 to $2.25 given for the first time. Source
  • New: First ZYN ULTRA shipments made in June, including 9mg and 11mg moist variants at a lower price per pouch. Source
  • New: FDA granted MRTP authorization to 20 flagship ZYN variants on June 30. Source
  • New: Non-cash impairment of the RBH equity investment recorded in the second quarter, after RBH's updated five-year projections. Source
  • New: Argentina introduced legislation in May regulating commercialization and sale of the heat-not-burn category. Source
  • New: Massimo Andolina named incoming Group Chief Financial Officer, alongside Emmanuel Babeau, Group CFO. Source
  • New: Management intends to accelerate U.S. investment in the second half, supporting ZYN and preparing for a future IQOS ILUMA launch. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenues passed $11 billion: Net revenues rose 10.4% (7.6% organically) to $11.2 billion, the first time above $11 billion per management; smoke-free was about 42% of revenue, up 0.5 points. Source
  • Gross profit and operating income grew: Gross profit rose 11.5% (8.7% organically) and operating income rose 22.0% (10.7% organically), with gross margin widening on pricing, scale and smoke-free mix. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew 15.2%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.20, up 15.2%, or 13.6% excluding a 3-cent currency benefit; reported diluted EPS was $1.80, down 7.7%. Source
  • First-half net revenue growth: First six months net revenues rose 9.8% to $21.3 billion, or 5.3% organically, with pricing favorable and volume/mix unfavorable in combustibles and U.S. Source

Smoke-free products and markets

  • IQOS remains primary growth engine: IQOS HTU shipments rose 7.6% and adjusted in-market sales 5.1%; excluding Japan and Poland, adjusted IMS grew 10%. Source
  • Japan volumes hit by price rise: Japan HTU adjusted IMS fell an estimated 3.4% after the April 1 excise-driven price rise, but grew 1.0% excluding pantry de-loading; IQOS exited June with 68% category share. Source
  • Europe IQOS volume grew: European IQOS HTU adjusted IMS grew an estimated 5.1%, led by Germany, Romania, Greece and Spain; Italy rose 10.8%. Source
  • Modern oral growth offset by snus: Modern oral volume grew 14.7% to 0.6 billion pouches (26.3% excluding the Nordics), but Nordic legacy snus declines left total oral SFP volume down 7.0%. Source
  • E-vapor shipments and VEEV position: E-vapor shipments rose 55.1%; VEEV holds the clear #1 closed pod position in Europe, with growth in Germany, Romania and Greece. Source

“With a robust first half under our belt, including continued momentum and strong results in our smoke-free business, we are well positioned to deliver on our full-year targets while investing for future growth.”

Jacek Olczak, Group CEO PMI

Combustibles and U.S. segment

  • Combustibles pricing lifted revenue: International combustibles net revenue rose 9.8% (6.4% organically) on 10.0% pricing; cigarette volume rose 1.1%, with gains in Turkey, Indonesia and Egypt. Source
  • Marlboro share held at record: Cigarette category volume share held at 25.3%, flat year on year, despite adverse market mix; Marlboro gained 0.3 points to a record 11.0% share. Source
  • U.S. revenue improved from Q1: U.S. net revenue fell 0.7% (0.9% organically) to $856 million, a significant sequential improvement; cigar sales declined and Wellness phasing was unfavorable. Source
  • ZYN offtake flat amid competition: ZYN shipments rose despite a Q2 2025 inventory tailwind; offtake was flat to slightly growing in a growing category. Source
  • U.S. gross profit fell on costs: U.S. gross profit fell 8.9% organically on the same revenue factors and higher manufacturing costs linked to the expanded footprint. Source

Margins, pricing and costs

  • Gross margin widened on pricing: Adjusted gross margin was 68.5%, up 0.7 points; International Smoke-Free margin was 70.1%, up 1.8 points, on portfolio profitability. Source
  • Organic price drove Q2 growth: Organic revenue growth came mainly from pricing in international combustibles and favorable volume/mix from international smoke-free; currency added $299 million. Source
  • U.S. OCI fell on investment timing: Adjusted U.S. OCI fell 19.1% organically to $279 million, on lower adjusted gross profit and phasing of Aspeya Wellness investment. Source
  • Operating costs rose in first half: First-half operating income rose 6.1% organically; higher marketing, administration and research costs partly offset the favorable revenue factors. Source

Demand and industry conditions

  • Industry volume grew in Q2: Estimated industry volume excluding China and the U.S. rose 0.8% for cigarettes and HTUs in the quarter, and declined 0.4% in the first six months. Source
  • Middle East effects still limited: Management said the Middle East conflict has had a minor effect so far, with no discernible shift in consumer behavior yet; longer-term effects are hard to judge. Source
  • Poland flavor ban weighs on Europe: Excluding markets where the characterizing flavor ban took effect within the last year, European adjusted IMS grew about 8%. Source
  • Outside Europe and Japan grew: Adjusted IMS outside Europe and Japan grew 14.4%, with offtake share gains in several key cities. Source

Launches, regulation and leadership

  • FDA grants ZYN MRTP authorization: On June 30 the FDA granted MRTP authorization to 20 flagship ZYN variants, described as the first for a nicotine pouch product. Source
  • Argentina regulates heat-not-burn: Argentina introduced legislation in May regulating commercialization and sale of heat-not-burn products; PMI continues to unlock new markets. Source
  • Massimo Andolina named incoming CFO: Massimo Andolina is incoming Group Chief Financial Officer; Emmanuel Babeau, Group CFO, hosts the July 22 call with him. Source

RBH impairment and reported earnings

  • RBH equity investment impaired: After RBH's May plan updated five-year projections, PMI recorded a $511 million non-cash impairment on its deconsolidated Canadian affiliate. Source
  • Reported EPS absorbed impairment: Reported diluted EPS of $1.80 was affected by the impairment, while adjusted diluted EPS excludes it. Source
  • RBH stays deconsolidated: RBH remains outside PMI's consolidated group, with a $51 million carrying value at June 30 after the write-down. Source

Coming up, as management said on 22 July 2026

  • ZYN 1.5mg and 8mg dry launches: Management plans to launch 1.5mg and 8mg ZYN dry variants in the third quarter. Source
  • Accelerated U.S. spending in second half: U.S. investment to be stepped up in the second half, ahead of a future IQOS ILUMA launch. Source
  • Middle East developments monitored: Management will keep monitoring Middle East developments to assess mid-to-long-term consequences. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source205.2
SFP shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source48.2
HTU shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source41.8
Cigarette shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source156.9
Oral SFP shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source5.1
E-vapor shipment volume (billion equivalent units) Source1.3
IQOS share of combined cigarette and HTU industry volumes Source9.2%
ZYN shipments (pouches) Source2.9 billion pouches
Markets where PMI smoke-free products are available Source109

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management flagged increases in transport, energy and other input costs, plus energy supply disruption in some markets; the forecast assumes no prolonged impact. Source
  • Demand: Japan faces pantry de-loading and an initial consumer adjustment following the April 1 excise-driven price increase. Source
  • Regulatory: Ongoing disruptions in Ukraine and the characterizing flavor ban in Poland weighed on European volumes. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said second-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.20 was above prior expectations, against the $2.02 to $2.07 range given in April. Source
  • On track: Management described the Japan HTU result as broadly in line with its expectations after the excise-driven price increase. 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.