Altria Group, IncNYSE: MO
Consumer Staples · Tobacco
$69.21
+0.38%
Vol: 6.7M
Research Digest
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Altria slid 1.75% on June 17, underperforming the market, as the ~6% dividend yield stays in focus ahead of July 30 earnings.
Altria fell 1.75% on June 17, 2026, underperforming the broader market, with shares around $69 and a market cap near $115 billion. The stock continues to draw income investors for its roughly 6% dividend yield, trading at a P/E near 14.6, but faces persistent pressure from declining cigarette volumes. Management reaffirmed full-year guidance after Q1 2026 results showed adjusted diluted EPS up 7.3% and net revenues up 3.2% to $5.4 billion, led by smokeable products. Oral tobacco brands on! and Helix continued to gain ground in a competitive market. The next earnings report is set for July 30, 2026, with consensus EPS of $1.48, up 2.78% year over year. The bear case remains secular cigarette volume decline and regulatory risk, partly offset by pricing power and smoke-free portfolio growth.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysJun 17No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 16No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 15No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
Jun 14No significant overnight updatesNeutral▶
No material news in the last 48 hours.
May 21Altria CEO Billy Gifford retired and was succeeded by Sal Mancuso following the May 14 Annual Meeting, with Heather Newman appointed new CFO.Positive▶
On May 14, 2026, following Altria's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Sal Mancuso was named CEO succeeding the retiring Billy Gifford after 30+ years with the company. Heather A. Newman was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer. Altria declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, payable July 10 to shareholders of record June 15. Q1 2026 adjusted EPS came in at $1.32, beating consensus of $1.25 by 5.6%, with net revenues up 3.2% to $5.4 billion. The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $5.56 to $5.72. Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $66 from $60 (Hold) on May 4, and Morgan Stanley raised to $71 from $62 (Equal Weight) on May 1.
May 20Altria declared a $1.06 quarterly dividend (56th consecutive annual increase) as UBS raised its price target to $76 while Barclays stayed Underweight.Positive▶
On May 15, Altria Group declared a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share payable July 10 to holders of record June 15, extending its 56-consecutive-year payout-growth streak. UBS raised its price target to $76 from $74 (Buy), while Barclays nudged its target to $64 from $63 but kept an Underweight rating, capturing the stock's bull/bear divide. Q1 2026 net revenues rose 3.2% to $5.4B and adjusted diluted EPS grew 7.3% to $1.32, supporting the company's reaffirmed full-year guidance of $5.56-$5.72 in adjusted EPS (+2.5% to +5.5%). The company repurchased 4.5M shares at $62.33 in Q1 for $280M and is navigating a CEO/CFO transition. The stock trades near $74 and has returned ~33% over the past year. Risk: long-term volume declines in combustibles and uncertainty around the new leadership team's strategic shifts.
May 19Altria names Sal Mancuso as new CEO following annual meeting and Barclays raises price target to $64Positive▶
Following the May 14 Annual Meeting, Sal Mancuso succeeded Billy Gifford as Altria's CEO as Gifford retired after 30+ years. The board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share. Barclays raised its price target to $64 from $63 on May 15, 2026, citing strong Q1 results where adjusted EPS grew 7.3% driven by Marlboro share gains and ON! expansion. Altria reaffirmed FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $5.56-$5.72. Risks include ongoing combustible volume declines and regulatory pressure on nicotine products. Sentiment is broadly positive given the orderly leadership transition and analyst upgrades.
May 18Altria names Sal Mancuso CEO succeeding Billy Gifford after May 14 annual meeting; declares $1.06 quarterly dividend.Positive▶
On May 14, 2026, following Altria's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Sal Mancuso succeeded Billy Gifford as CEO after Gifford retired following 30+ years of service. The board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, payable July 10, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 15. Altria reaffirmed its FY 2026 EPS guidance of $5.56-$5.72 after posting Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.32 (vs $1.25 consensus) and revenue of $4.76 billion. Oral nicotine pouches, led by on!, saw 25% shipment growth. Barclays lowered its price target to $64 from $63 on May 15 while maintaining Underweight, while Deutsche Bank raised its target to $66 from $60 (Hold) on May 4. MO closed at $73.09 on May 15.
May 15Altria reaffirms 2026 EPS guidance of $5.56-$5.72 after Q1 adjusted EPS up 7.3%; UBS, Stifel and Citi all raise price targetsPositive▶
Altria reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $5.56-$5.72 (2.5%-5.5% growth) after Q1 results posted on April 30 showed adjusted diluted EPS up 7.3%, net revenues up 3.2% to $5.4B (revenues net of excise tax up 5.3% to $4.8B), and reported diluted EPS up more than 100% to $1.30 driven by higher operating companies income. The annual meeting saw a new CEO appointment and declaration of a $1.06 quarterly dividend. Multiple analysts raised price targets in May: UBS to $76 from $74, Stifel to $77 from $68, and Citi to $70 from $65. Stock trades near $72.64. Risk: stagnant revenue growth concerns persist as smokeable volumes continue secular decline, with growth dependent on price/mix and oral tobacco innovation.
May 14Altria's 2026 Annual Meeting on May 14 marks the official transition with longtime CEO Billy Gifford retiring and CFO Sal Mancuso stepping up to CEO and Heather Newman becoming CFO.Mixed▶
On May 14, 2026, Altria is holding its virtual 2026 Annual Meeting at 9:00 a.m. ET, the same day at which CEO Billy Gifford formally retires as director and CEO. CFO Sal Mancuso steps up to CEO, with Heather Newman becoming CFO. The leadership reset comes after Q1 2026 results showed adjusted EPS of $1.32 vs. $1.25 consensus, with revenue up 5.3% to $4.76 billion, and Altria's on! oral nicotine pouches PLUS rolling out nationwide to 100,000 stores. On May 13, Virginia Retirement Systems disclosed the sale of 126,200 shares. Deutsche Bank raised its price target to $66 on May 4 (Hold), while UBS raised to $76 on May 1. This matters because the May 14 meeting will be Mancuso's first formal forum to lay out strategy on the alternative-nicotine pivot. The risk is that a new CEO triggers strategic resets, dividend re-evaluation, or further pressure on already-stagnant cigarette volumes.
May 13Altria surged 7.6% this week after Q1 2026 EPS of $1.32 (+7.3%) on $4.76B revenue beat estimates; UBS, Stifel, and Deutsche Bank raised price targets in early May.Positive▶
Altria Group surged roughly 7.6% this week after reporting Q1 2026 results beat estimates with revenue of $4.76B and adjusted diluted EPS up 7.3% to $1.32, driven by 6.3% smokeable products operating income growth. Multiple analysts raised price targets: Stifel to $77 from $68 on May 1, UBS to $76 from $74, and Deutsche Bank to $66 from $60 on May 4. Shares trade at $69.89 with a 6.1% dividend yield and P/E of 14.34. New CEO Sal Mancuso has officially taken over after Billy Gifford's December 2025 retirement, with the May 2026 annual shareholder meeting being a key forum for strategy.
May 12CEO Billy Gifford to retire May 14; Sal Mancuso to become CEO and Heather Newman CFO at annual meetingMixed▶
Altria announced CEO Billy Gifford will retire as director and CEO effective May 14, 2026 at the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting, with Salvatore (Sal) Mancuso elected to succeed him as CEO and Heather Newman as new CFO. Director George Munoz will also retire and not stand for re-election. The leadership transition follows a strong Q1 2026 print where adjusted diluted EPS grew 7.3% YoY and adjusted operating income in smokeable products rose 6.3%. Altria reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance, citing moderated e-vapor industry growth and macro uncertainty for adult nicotine consumers. In early May, Deutsche Bank raised PT to $66 from $60, UBS to $76 from $74, and Stifel to $77 from $68. Stock trades around $68.88 with Marlboro holding 42% U.S. cigarette share.
May 11Altria CEO Billy Gifford to retire May 14 with CFO Sal Mancuso succeeding him; multiple analysts raise price targetsPositive▶
Altria announced CEO Billy Gifford will retire effective May 14, 2026 at the close of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, with current CFO Salvatore Sal Mancuso succeeding him as CEO and Heather Newman becoming CFO on the same date. The Annual Meeting will be webcast live on May 14 at 9:00 a.m. ET. Q1 2026 results showed adjusted diluted EPS growth of 7.3% to $1.32 (beating $1.25 consensus) and net revenues up 3.2% to $5.4 billion, with reaffirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of $5.56-$5.72. Multiple analysts raised price targets in early May: Deutsche Bank to $66, UBS to $76, Stifel to $77, and Citi to $70. The FDA also authorized marketing of four Glas electronic nicotine delivery systems. Marlboro share losses eased and oral nicotine pouch distribution expanded.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMPHILIP | $179.03 | -0.23% | -5.4% | 19.5x | 0.41 | $278.0B |
| MOALTRIA | $69.21 | +0.38% | -5.7% | 11.8x | 0.50 | $115.4B |
| WMTWALMART | $117.25 | -0.75% | -10.4% | 35.6x | 0.60 | $932.5B |
| COSTCOSTCO | $952.10 | -1.40% | -11.4% | 42.0x | 0.87 | $421.9B |
| PGPROCTER | $151.06 | +0.33% | +5.6% | 21.2x | 0.39 | $350.2B |
| KOCOCA | $79.50 | -0.54% | -2.6% | 22.8x | 0.35 | $341.6B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price above both MAs — bullish structure.