Why Altria Stock Was Sliding Today

Core Viewpoint - Altria's stock declined due to disappointing guidance for 2025, with shares down 4.2% following the announcement [1] Financial Performance - Revenue for the quarter was flat at $5.97 billion, but excluding excise taxes, it increased by 1.6% to$ 5.11 billion, surpassing estimates of $5.05 billion [2] - Adjusted earnings per share rose by 9.3% to$ 1.29, aligning closely with analyst consensus of $1.28 [4] Market Dynamics - Cigarette sales continued to decline, with volumes dropping 8.8% to 16.6 billion sticks, and Marlboro's market share decreased by one percentage point to 41.3% [2] - The oral nicotine pouch product, on!, saw strong growth, reaching 43.9 million cans, although it was insufficient to boost the overall oral tobacco category [3] Future Outlook - Management's guidance for adjusted earnings per share growth of 2% to 5% (projected at$ 5.22 to $5.37) fell short of the analyst consensus of$ 5.35, contributing to the stock's decline [4] - CEO Billy Gifford emphasized 2024 as a pivotal year for the company, highlighting the potential for solid income growth and margin expansion from core tobacco businesses [4] Challenges - The company faces significant challenges, including competition from both legal and illegal vapes, as well as regulatory threats to the tobacco industry [5] - Despite a safe dividend yield of nearly 8%, weak earnings growth could jeopardize the company's ability to maintain dividend growth [5]