Philip Morris International (PMI) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results with net sales rising 7.3% to $9.71 billion, topping the $9.44 billion estimated. The company also forecasted adjusted annual earnings per share in the range of $7.04 to $7.17, above analysts’ estimates of $7.03. The positive news sent company shares up nearly 8% yesterday (February 5).
Analysts say the strong quarter was driven by strong demand for PMI’s smoking alternatives such as ZYN nicotine pouches. In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave PMI a formal license to market ZYN in the country, saying it poses a lower risk of serious health conditions due to substantially lower amounts of harmful constituents.
In the quarter, oral inhalable smoke-free products volumes grew by 25% in cans from a year earlier, fueled by ZYN nicotine pouch growth in the U.S., where shipments reached nearly 165 million cans, representing a growth of nearly 42% from the prior year.