Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.58 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. Altria Group updated its FY 2026 guidance to 5.560-5.72 EPS.
Here are the key takeaways from Altria Group’s conference call:
- Delivered a strong start to 2026 with adjusted diluted EPS up 7.3% in Q1, reaffirmed full?year guidance of $5.56–$5.72, returned significant cash to shareholders (?$1.8B dividends + $280M buybacks) and reduced debt with total debt/EBITDA at 1.9x.
- Smokable business drove profit growth — segment adjusted OCI rose 6.3%, margins expanded to 65.1%, net pricing was +6.3%, and cigarette declines moderated (reported -2.4%, adjusted shipments ?-4%), while Marlboro strengthened premium share to 59.5%.
- ON!/On+ rollout progressing — total ON! shipments grew nearly 18% to >46M cans; On+ began national shipping in March, was in ~100,000 stores covering ~85% of pouch category volume, and is the first product authorized under the FDA Pilot program.
- Near?term weakness in the oral tobacco segment — total reported shipments down 3.1%, estimated adjusted volumes down ~8.5%, retail share fell 5.5 percentage points and margins declined ~1.8 p.p., driven partly by Helix marketing spend and mix shift from MST to pouches.
- E?vapor market appears to be moderating as illicit flavored disposable demand eases and enforcement increases; Altria estimates ~20.5M adult vapers and says faster, predictable FDA authorizations plus sustained enforcement are needed to restore a compliant e?vapor marketplace.
Altria Group Stock Up 6.4%
Altria Group stock traded up $4.37 during trading on Thursday, hitting $72.57. The stock had a trading volume of 24,763,814 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,789,090. Altria Group has a 1 year low of $54.70 and a 1 year high of $73.85. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $66.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.68. The stock has a market cap of $121.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.41.
Altria Group Dividend Announcement
Altria Group News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat expectations — Altria reported $1.32 EPS (above consensus) and revenue that topped estimates, which investors are citing as the primary catalyst for the rally. Altria beats quarterly profit estimates (Reuters)
- Positive Sentiment: Pricing power and Marlboro momentum drove results — management said higher cigarette pricing and strong Marlboro performance offset volume declines, supporting margin and cash flow expectations. What’s Going On With Altria Group Stock On Thursday? (Benzinga)
- Positive Sentiment: Income appeal reinforced — Altria was highlighted as a reliable dividend payer/dividend?king candidate, which supports demand from yield?focused investors. Want $1,307 in Passive Income? Invest $10,000 Into These 3 Dividend Kings (247WallSt)
- Positive Sentiment: Bullish analyses surfaced — retail/independent analysts published bullish theses highlighting valuation and cash?flow strengths, which may attract additional buyers. Is Altria Group, Inc. (MO) A Good Stock To Buy Now? (Yahoo)
- Neutral Sentiment: FY?2026 guidance reaffirmed — Altria set EPS guidance of 5.560–5.72, which management says is intact; the range is roughly in line with Street forecasts but leaves some dispersion for investors to debate. Altria Reports 2026 First-Quarter Results; Reaffirms Full-Year Guidance (Press Release/Slide Deck)
- Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings materials and call transcript available — investors can review the conference call and transcript for details on combustibles trends, JUUL/next?gen strategy, and cost initiatives. Altria Group, Inc. (MO) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript (Seeking Alpha)
- Negative Sentiment: Volume declines and competitive pressure remain a risk — management acknowledged declining cigarette volumes and tougher competition in nicotine products, which are structural challenges that could weigh on future topline if pricing cannot fully compensate. Altria beats quarterly profit estimates (Reuters)
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
MO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Altria Group in a report on Thursday. Citigroup upped their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Barclays upped their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Bank of America upped their target price on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $66.50.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MO
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. This represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group
Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MO. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 64.7% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the company’s stock valued at $926,000 after purchasing an additional 6,954 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 86.3% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the company’s stock valued at $373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. lifted its stake in Altria Group by 6.9% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the company’s stock valued at $565,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL purchased a new position in Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $346,000. Finally, AXA S.A. purchased a new position in Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $5,752,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.
Altria Group Company Profile
Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.
Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.
Further Reading
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