Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.01, FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.45 earnings per share.

Here are the key takeaways from Altria Group’s conference call:

• Positive Sentiment: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance to $5.66–$5.74, representing 4.5%–6% growth, after adjusted EPS increased 4.8% in the third quarter and 5.1% year to date.
• Positive Sentiment: The smokeable products segment remained the primary earnings driver: adjusted operating income rose 3.9% in the quarter, while PM USA’s total retail share increased year over year as Marlboro’s premium share and Basic’s discount share both improved.
• Positive Sentiment: Nicotine pouch brand on! reported 13.3% third-quarter shipment growth to 47.8 million cans. Altria is expanding on! PLUS with 12-milligram products and new flavors, supported by premium retail placement and increased brand investment.
• Positive Sentiment: Altria returned more than $6 billion to shareholders through the first nine months, including $5.3 billion in dividends and $735 million in repurchases, and authorized a further $1 billion expansion of its share-buyback program.
• Negative Sentiment: Oral tobacco adjusted operating income declined 3.7% as lower moist smokeless tobacco volumes and investment behind on! more than offset pouch growth. E-vapor also remains challenging because illicit products dominate the category, although Altria plans to relaunch NJOY ACE with a more disciplined, profitability-focused approach.

Altria Group Trading Up 1.7%

Shares of NYSE MO traded up $1.28 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $78.03. The stock had a trading volume of 20,516,040 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,795,305. Altria Group has a 52-week low of $54.70 and a 52-week high of $79.81. The firm has a market cap of $130.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.42. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $70.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.75.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 91.74%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. UBS Group raised their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Citigroup upped their price objective on Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $71.00.

Key Altria Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria’s Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.