Tag: financials

  • BAT Reports H1 Growth, Raises Confidence in 2026 Outlook

    BAT Reports H1 Growth, Raises Confidence in 2026 Outlook

    British American Tobacco reported H1 2026 revenue of £12.24 billion, up 1.4% on a reported basis and 2.9% at constant currency, with growth led by the U.S. and AME (Americas, Middle East, and Africa). New Categories revenue increased 18% at constant currency to £1.93 billion, driven by Modern Oral and a return to double-digit growth in U.S. Vapor. Smokeless products reached 35 million consumers and accounted for 19.8% of group revenue, while New Category contribution rose 54.7% to £257 million.

    U.S. revenue increased 8.5%, including 58.1% growth in New Categories, while AME revenue rose 0.9% and APMEA declined 6.3%. Modern Oral revenue grew 65.9%, extending BAT’s leadership with a 39.2% volume share in its top markets. Combustibles revenue increased 2.1%, helping fund the company’s transformation. Adjusted diluted EPS rose 7.9% on a Canada-adjusted constant-currency basis, while adjusted operating profit increased 3.5%.

    BAT expects full-year adjusted diluted EPS growth toward the middle of its 5%-8% guidance range and plans to roll out Velo Max nationally and selected adult-focused Vuse flavors in the U.S. during H2.

  • JT Group Reports Strong H1 Performance

    JT Group Reports Strong H1 Performance

    Japan Tobacco Group reported strong first-half 2026 results, driven by pricing, positive volume, and market-share gains in both combustibles and reduced-risk products. Core revenue rose 10.6% at constant currency, supported by a JPY157 billion ($973 million) price/mix contribution and a JPY5.1 billion ($31.6 million) favorable volume variance in Asia and EMA. RRP-related revenue increased 40.7%, while adjusted operating profit grew 18.8% at constant currency.

    Total tobacco volume increased 1%, or 0.4% excluding inventory adjustments. Combustibles volume rose 0.2%, with Winston and Camel volumes increasing 1.7% and 2.8%, respectively, while RRP volume jumped 33.8%, led by a 43.5% increase for Ploom. JT said tobacco market share increased in more than 30 markets, including Japan, the Philippines, Türkiye, and the U.S., prompting an upward revision to its full-year tobacco business forecast.

  • Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Reports Modest Q2 Growth, Raises Low End of EPS

    Altria Group reported mostly flat second-quarter net revenue of $6.1 billion, while adjusted diluted EPS rose 2.8% to $1.48. For the first half, revenue increased 1.6% to $11.5 billion and adjusted diluted EPS rose 4.9% to $2.80. Reported Q2 diluted EPS fell 2.8% to $1.37, reflecting litigation costs, USSTC facility-consolidation expenses, and ABI-related items.

    The smokeable business remained the main revenue driver, with Q2 net revenue up 0.7% to $5.39 billion and adjusted operating company income up 2.4%. However, domestic cigarette shipments fell 3.2%, with Marlboro shipments down 7.4%, while discount cigarette shipments jumped 67.3% as consumers faced continued discretionary-income pressures. Marlboro’s total cigarette-category retail share fell 1.5% points to 39.5%.

    Oral tobacco Q2 revenue was down 5.3% to $713 million and adjusted operating companies income down 8%. Segment shipments declined 8.5%, although the broader U.S. oral category grew an estimated 6% in the first half, driven primarily by nicotine pouches. Altria’s on! shipments increased 5.1% in the first half, and its Q2 retail share rose to 8.6%; the nicotine pouch category itself reached 59.9% of the oral tobacco category.

    Altria said Helix expanded on! PLUS to 120,000 stores nationwide, with additional flavors and nicotine strengths planned for the fourth quarter. The company also returned nearly $3.9 billion to shareholders in the first half through dividends and share repurchases. It raised the lower end of its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance, now expecting $5.61-$5.72, representing growth of 3.5%-5.5%, while increasing expected 2026 capital expenditures to $375 million-$450 million, primarily to support USSTC manufacturing consolidation.

  • Pyxus to Announce Q1 2027 Financials Aug. 5

    Pyxus to Announce Q1 2027 Financials Aug. 5

    Pyxus International will report its first-quarter fiscal 2027 financial results on Aug. 5 before U.S. markets open, followed by an earnings conference call and webcast at 9 a.m. EDT. The global agricultural company said it will release its results for the quarter ended June 30, along with a presentation on its investor relations website prior to the call, where management will discuss the company’s quarterly performance and outlook.

  • Imperial Posts 1.8% Growth in First Half of 2026

    Imperial Posts 1.8% Growth in First Half of 2026

    Imperial Brands reported modest first-half 2026 growth, with tobacco and next-generation product (NGP) net revenue rising 1.8% to £14.7 million and overall revenue up 0.8%, supported by pricing gains that offset declining cigarette volumes. NGP revenue increased 7.5%, driven by strong performance in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, and continued market share growth across all categories. Adjusted operating profit rose slightly, while reported profit declined significantly due to one-off costs tied to a legal settlement and strategic transformation initiatives.

    Cash generation remained strong, with £2.6 billion in free cash flow and a 98% conversion rate, supporting £809 million in share buybacks and a 4% dividend increase. The company said it remains on track to meet full-year guidance and is progressing with its 2030 strategy, targeting £320 million in annual cost savings while investing in transformation efforts to improve efficiency and expand its NGP portfolio.

    “While staying laser-focused on in-year delivery, we are also making progress on self-help activities to drive efficiency and our long-term transformation to build the capabilities which will underpin our future growth,” Chief Executive Lukas Paravicini said. “We are making good progress on focusing our supply chain footprint and have begun implementing our strategic partnership with Capgemini.”

  • Turning Point Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Turning Point Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Turning Point Brands, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share, payable on July 10 to shareholders of record as of June 19. The company said it will continue its regular dividend program as part of its shareholder return strategy.

  • JT Reports Record Year with Revenue Up 13%

    JT Reports Record Year with Revenue Up 13%

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) reported record fiscal 2025 results, with revenue rising 13.4% to JPY 3.47 trillion ($22.6 billion) and adjusted operating profit increasing 21.5% to JPY 902.2 billion ($5.9 billion), driven largely by tobacco business growth and the acquisition of Vector Group. Profit climbed 188.9% to JPY 499.1 billion ($3.2 billion), while free cash flow rose to JPY 272.7 billion ($1.8 billion), and the company plans to pay an annual dividend of JPY 234 ($1.52) per share.

    For fiscal 2026, JT forecasts continued growth, projecting revenue to increase 6.6% and adjusted operating profit to rise 7.9%, as it accelerates investment in heated tobacco products to complement its combustible cigarette portfolio and support long-term earnings expansion.

    “These achievements are the outcome of the strategic investments we have actively pursued over the years,” said JT Group president and CEO Takehiko Tsutsui. “In our Business Plan 2026, we intend to accelerate investments in heated products with the aim of establishing them as the second pillar of profit growth, alongside combustibles, in future years. Furthermore, we are targeting high single digit growth at a [compound annual growth rate] in consolidated adjusted operating profit at constant FX, driven by the tobacco business.”

  • Pyxus Reports Strong 3Q Results

    Pyxus Reports Strong 3Q Results

    Pyxus International reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 net income of $16.9 million, with adjusted EBITDA holding steady at $80 million, as increased shipping volumes and third-party processing offset lower leaf product revenues. Quarterly sales fell to $655.8 million from $778.3 million a year earlier, largely due to shipment timing and lower average pricing in South America. The company reaffirmed full-year guidance of $2.4 billion to $2.6 billion in net sales and $215 million to $235 million in adjusted EBITDA, while warning that strong global crop production could lead to oversupply heading into fiscal 2027.

    Tobacco inventory at the end of the third quarter was $959.8 million, compared to $755.2 million at the same time last year, reflecting procurement of the larger current crops. Uncommitted inventory as a percentage of total processed tobacco remains unchanged from the prior year. At December 31, 2025, uncommitted inventory was $28 million, or 3.6%, of the $768.6 million in total processed inventory, compared to $21.9 million, or 3.6%, of total processed inventory of $603.3 million at December 31, 2024.

  • Universal Posts Nine-Month, Q3 Results

    Universal Posts Nine-Month, Q3 Results

    Universal Corporation reported “solid results” for the nine months and third quarter ended December 31, 2025, supported by continued strength in its tobacco operations despite softer overall volumes and headwinds in its ingredients business. Nine-month revenue declined 2% to $2.2 billion, and operating income fell 3% to $183 million, reflecting lower tobacco sales volumes and higher fixed costs, although customer demand for most tobacco styles remained firm and third-party processing volumes increased. Third-quarter revenue dropped 8% to $861 million, with operating income down 21% to $82 million, driven by reduced tobacco shipments and inventory write-downs, while the ingredients segment faced tariff pressures, weaker consumer-packaged-goods demand, and higher depreciation costs. The company also strengthened liquidity through a refinancing and expansion of its revolving credit facility and highlighted sustainability progress, including a significant increase in renewable electricity use and continued farmer engagement across its global supply chain.

  • PMI Reports $40B in Revenue, Including 42% from Smoke-Free Products

    PMI Reports $40B in Revenue, Including 42% from Smoke-Free Products

    Philip Morris International reported strong 2025 fourth-quarter and full-year results, driven largely by the continued expansion of its smoke-free product portfolio. The company recorded more than $40 billion in annual net revenues, including nearly $17 billion from smoke-free products, which accounted for 41.5% of total net revenues. Smoke-free shipment volumes rose 12.8% for the year, with PMI’s products now available in 106 markets and used by an estimated 43 million adult consumers. IQOS maintained a dominant position in heat-not-burn, holding about 76% global category share, while nicotine pouch brand Zyn continued rapid growth, particularly in the U.S., where shipment volumes reached 794 million cans for the year.

    PMI’s combustible business remained stable despite expected volume declines, supported by pricing strength and productivity improvements. Marlboro reached a record 11% global category share, while total company shipment volumes remained flat as growth in smoke-free products offset cigarette declines. The company also reported strong performance across multiple regions, including double-digit heated tobacco growth in Europe and sustained category leadership in Japan, where heat-not-burn products now exceed 50% of total nicotine offtake in several major markets.

    Looking ahead, PMI expects continued momentum, forecasting 2026 adjusted diluted EPS growth of 7.5% to 9.5% excluding currency effects. The company also introduced 2026–2028 targets calling for 6% to 8% organic net revenue growth and 9% to 11% adjusted EPS growth, driven primarily by high single-digit to low-teens expansion in smoke-free product volumes.

    In response to the financials, Morgan Stanley said it expects a modest negative market reaction to PMI’s fourth-quarter results and forward guidance, which were largely in line with expectations following the stock’s strong rally since December.

    “On balance, 4Q results were broadly in line, and guidance looks reasonable, but is unlikely to settle the debate around the stock,” Morgan Stanley wrote. “Bears continue to point to a 2H-weighted year with headwinds from IQOS competition and excise tax increases in Japan, the flavor ban in Poland, and continued competition in U.S. nicotine pouches. Bulls point to PM delivering the best mid-term growth in large-cap CPG despite these known headwinds. We are [rating the stock] Overweight, and continue to expect growth to reaccelerate in 2H as these headwinds dissipate, and for US Zyn trends to improve with the likely FDA authorization of Zyn Ultra.”