We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Altria (MO) Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Down Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
Altria Group Inc. (MO - Free Report) came out with third-quarter 2021 results, with the bottom line missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues declined year on year, while earnings improved from the prior-year quarter’s number.
The company’s quarterly performance was affected by lower shipment volumes in the smokeable and oral tobacco categories. Nevertheless, higher pricing continued to remain an upside. The company’s wine category witnessed growth in the reported quarter. Management announced an expansion to its existing share repurchase program. It also raised the lower end of its adjusted earnings view for 2021.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings came in at $1.22 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26. The bottom line rose 2.5% year over year, owing to higher adjusted earnings from Altria’s equity investment in ABI, favorable net periodic benefit income, lower adjusted income tax rate and interest expenses as well as fewer shares outstanding. The upsides were partially countered by lower adjusted operating companies income (OCI).
Net revenues declined 4.7% year over year to $6,786 million due to lower net revenues in the smokeable segment. Revenues, after deducting excise taxes, were down 2.6% to $5,531 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues was pegged at $5,768 million.
Altria Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Smokeable Products: Net revenues in the category declined 5.4% year over year to $5,975 million due to lower shipment volumes, partially offset by higher pricing and lower promotional investments. Revenues, net of excise taxes, were down 3% year over year to $4,757 million.
Total smokeable products shipment volumes fell 12.9% to 24,475 million. Domestic cigarette shipment volumes were also down 12.9% year over year, mainly driven by the industry’s rate of decline and trade inventory changes. On adjusting for trade inventory movements, smokeable products’ domestic cigarette shipment volumes fell an estimated 7%. Altria’s reported cigar shipment volumes declined 9.8%. Total cigarette retail share inched down 0.4 percentage points to 48.9%, year on year.
Adjusted OCI in the segment dropped 2.2% to $2,761 million due to lower shipment volumes and a rise in resolution expenses, partly mitigated by higher pricing and lower promotional investments. Adjusted OCI margin increased 0.5 percentage points to 58%.
Oral Tobacco Products: Net revenues in the segment fell 2.2% from the year-ago quarter’s level to $626 million, due to lower shipment volumes and higher promotional investments — partly countered by greater pricing. Revenues, net of excise taxes, declined 2.1% to $594 million.
Domestic shipment volumes in the segment went down 3.8%, mainly due to retail share losses (from an increase in oral nicotine pouch sales) and trade inventory movements. The drawbacks were partially mitigated by industry growth, calendar differences and other factors. On an adjusted basis, oral tobacco products shipment volumes went down an estimated 2.5%. Total oral tobacco products’ retail share fell 2.2 percentage points to 47.8%.
Adjusted OCI declined 8% to $405 million owing to lower shipment volume, higher promotional investments in on! and higher costs, partially offset by higher pricing. Adjusted OCI margin contracted 4.3 percentage points to 68.2%.
Wine: Net revenues in the segment rose 12.7% year on year to $177 million due to increased pricing and improved mix. The segment’s revenues, net of excise taxes, increased 13.2% to $172 million. Reported wine shipment volumes went up 5.1% to about 5.4 million cases.
Adjusted OCI in the category went up 35% to $27 million, resulting from higher pricing as well as improved mix. Adjusted OCI margin expanded 2.5 percentage points to 15.7%.
Financial Updates
Altria ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,957 million, long-term debt of $27,022 million and total stockholders’ deficit of $1,265 million.
Altria expects capital expenditures for 2021 in the range of $150-$200 million compared with the previous expectation of $200-$250 million.
The company’s board authorized the expansion of its existing $2-billion share repurchase program to $3.5 billion. Altria expects to complete the expanded program by December 31, 2022. During the third quarter, Altria bought back 6.7 million shares for $322 million. In the first nine months of 2021, the company repurchased 20.2 million shares for $972 million. Following the company’s share expansion move, it now has shares worth approximately $2.5 billion remaining under the share repurchase program
During the quarter, the company paid out dividends worth $1.6 billion. In August, the company raised its quarterly dividend. The company currently has an annualized dividend rate of $3.60 per share, representing a dividend yield of 7.5% as of October 25, 2021. The company maintains a long-term dividend payout ratio goal of about 80% of the adjusted earnings per share.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Developments & Guidance
The company provided an update on the IQOS heated tobacco system patent proceedings. In September 2021, the International Trade Commission (ITC) imposed a ban on importing and issued cease-and-desist orders (CDO) on IQOS, Marlboro HeatSticks and infringing components. However, Altria disagrees with the ITC’s decision as it believes that IQOS does not infringe any of the plaintiff’s patents. The ITC’s decision is currently under a 60-day review by the Biden Administration. If the decision is not rejected post review, the CDO will take effect on Nov 29, 2021, making all IQOS and Marlboro HeatSticks products unavailable in the marketplace. Altria’s subsidiary, PM USA, is preparing to comply with the orders and is designing contingency plans. It has been in communication with Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) regarding their domestic manufacturing plans.
As of Sep 30, 2021, Helix expanded its U.S distribution of on!, to 110,000 stores. The company submitted pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTA) for the entire on! portfolio to the FDA, which currently remains pending. Helix is working on modified risk tobacco product applications for on!.
On Oct 1, 2021, Altria, through its subsidiary — UST LLC — completed the divestiture of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (Ste. Michelle). The company received cash proceedings worth approximately $1.2 billion, which was used to partially fund the company’s expanded share repurchase program.
Altria noted that its tobacco business has not witnessed any material disruption related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company continues to assess the macroeconomic impacts of the pandemic on adult tobacco consumers (ATCs), such as stay-at-home trends, disposable income and buying patterns.
For 2021, the company updated adjusted earnings view in the range of $4.58-$4.62 from $4.56-$4.62. The revised bottom-line view indicates growth of 5-6% from $4.36 recorded in 2020. Management stated that the company will continue assessing the external environmental factors like ATC dynamics, unemployment rates, purchasing pattern as well as the timing and breadth of the coronavirus vaccine, among others.
We note that shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 1.9% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline of 0.3%.
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, delivered an earnings surprise of 13.1% in the last four quarters, on average.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Altria (MO) Q3 Earnings Miss Estimates, Revenues Down Y/Y
Altria Group Inc. (MO - Free Report) came out with third-quarter 2021 results, with the bottom line missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Revenues declined year on year, while earnings improved from the prior-year quarter’s number.
The company’s quarterly performance was affected by lower shipment volumes in the smokeable and oral tobacco categories. Nevertheless, higher pricing continued to remain an upside. The company’s wine category witnessed growth in the reported quarter. Management announced an expansion to its existing share repurchase program. It also raised the lower end of its adjusted earnings view for 2021.
Quarter in Detail
Adjusted earnings came in at $1.22 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26. The bottom line rose 2.5% year over year, owing to higher adjusted earnings from Altria’s equity investment in ABI, favorable net periodic benefit income, lower adjusted income tax rate and interest expenses as well as fewer shares outstanding. The upsides were partially countered by lower adjusted operating companies income (OCI).
Net revenues declined 4.7% year over year to $6,786 million due to lower net revenues in the smokeable segment. Revenues, after deducting excise taxes, were down 2.6% to $5,531 million. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues was pegged at $5,768 million.
Altria Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Altria Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Altria Group, Inc. Quote
Segment Details
Smokeable Products: Net revenues in the category declined 5.4% year over year to $5,975 million due to lower shipment volumes, partially offset by higher pricing and lower promotional investments. Revenues, net of excise taxes, were down 3% year over year to $4,757 million.
Total smokeable products shipment volumes fell 12.9% to 24,475 million. Domestic cigarette shipment volumes were also down 12.9% year over year, mainly driven by the industry’s rate of decline and trade inventory changes. On adjusting for trade inventory movements, smokeable products’ domestic cigarette shipment volumes fell an estimated 7%. Altria’s reported cigar shipment volumes declined 9.8%. Total cigarette retail share inched down 0.4 percentage points to 48.9%, year on year.
Adjusted OCI in the segment dropped 2.2% to $2,761 million due to lower shipment volumes and a rise in resolution expenses, partly mitigated by higher pricing and lower promotional investments. Adjusted OCI margin increased 0.5 percentage points to 58%.
Oral Tobacco Products: Net revenues in the segment fell 2.2% from the year-ago quarter’s level to $626 million, due to lower shipment volumes and higher promotional investments — partly countered by greater pricing. Revenues, net of excise taxes, declined 2.1% to $594 million.
Domestic shipment volumes in the segment went down 3.8%, mainly due to retail share losses (from an increase in oral nicotine pouch sales) and trade inventory movements. The drawbacks were partially mitigated by industry growth, calendar differences and other factors. On an adjusted basis, oral tobacco products shipment volumes went down an estimated 2.5%. Total oral tobacco products’ retail share fell 2.2 percentage points to 47.8%.
Adjusted OCI declined 8% to $405 million owing to lower shipment volume, higher promotional investments in on! and higher costs, partially offset by higher pricing. Adjusted OCI margin contracted 4.3 percentage points to 68.2%.
Wine: Net revenues in the segment rose 12.7% year on year to $177 million due to increased pricing and improved mix. The segment’s revenues, net of excise taxes, increased 13.2% to $172 million. Reported wine shipment volumes went up 5.1% to about 5.4 million cases.
Adjusted OCI in the category went up 35% to $27 million, resulting from higher pricing as well as improved mix. Adjusted OCI margin expanded 2.5 percentage points to 15.7%.
Financial Updates
Altria ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2,957 million, long-term debt of $27,022 million and total stockholders’ deficit of $1,265 million.
Altria expects capital expenditures for 2021 in the range of $150-$200 million compared with the previous expectation of $200-$250 million.
The company’s board authorized the expansion of its existing $2-billion share repurchase program to $3.5 billion. Altria expects to complete the expanded program by December 31, 2022. During the third quarter, Altria bought back 6.7 million shares for $322 million. In the first nine months of 2021, the company repurchased 20.2 million shares for $972 million. Following the company’s share expansion move, it now has shares worth approximately $2.5 billion remaining under the share repurchase program
During the quarter, the company paid out dividends worth $1.6 billion. In August, the company raised its quarterly dividend. The company currently has an annualized dividend rate of $3.60 per share, representing a dividend yield of 7.5% as of October 25, 2021. The company maintains a long-term dividend payout ratio goal of about 80% of the adjusted earnings per share.
Other Developments & Guidance
The company provided an update on the IQOS heated tobacco system patent proceedings. In September 2021, the International Trade Commission (ITC) imposed a ban on importing and issued cease-and-desist orders (CDO) on IQOS, Marlboro HeatSticks and infringing components. However, Altria disagrees with the ITC’s decision as it believes that IQOS does not infringe any of the plaintiff’s patents. The ITC’s decision is currently under a 60-day review by the Biden Administration. If the decision is not rejected post review, the CDO will take effect on Nov 29, 2021, making all IQOS and Marlboro HeatSticks products unavailable in the marketplace. Altria’s subsidiary, PM USA, is preparing to comply with the orders and is designing contingency plans. It has been in communication with Philip Morris International Inc. (PM - Free Report) regarding their domestic manufacturing plans.
As of Sep 30, 2021, Helix expanded its U.S distribution of on!, to 110,000 stores. The company submitted pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTA) for the entire on! portfolio to the FDA, which currently remains pending. Helix is working on modified risk tobacco product applications for on!.
On Oct 1, 2021, Altria, through its subsidiary — UST LLC — completed the divestiture of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (Ste. Michelle). The company received cash proceedings worth approximately $1.2 billion, which was used to partially fund the company’s expanded share repurchase program.
Altria noted that its tobacco business has not witnessed any material disruption related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company continues to assess the macroeconomic impacts of the pandemic on adult tobacco consumers (ATCs), such as stay-at-home trends, disposable income and buying patterns.
For 2021, the company updated adjusted earnings view in the range of $4.58-$4.62 from $4.56-$4.62. The revised bottom-line view indicates growth of 5-6% from $4.36 recorded in 2020. Management stated that the company will continue assessing the external environmental factors like ATC dynamics, unemployment rates, purchasing pattern as well as the timing and breadth of the coronavirus vaccine, among others.
We note that shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 1.9% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline of 0.3%.
Consumer Staples Picks You Can’t Miss
J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF - Free Report) , flaunting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), delivered an earnings surprise of 200.4% in the last four quarters, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI - Free Report) , also with a Zacks Rank #1, delivered an earnings surprise of 13.1% in the last four quarters, on average.