• March 19, 2024

Altria’s cigarette, cigar and smokeless volumes up

Philip Morris USA’s domestic cigarette shipment volume during the three months to the end of June, at 33,124 million, was up by 3.1 percent on that of the three months to the end of June 2014, 32,134 million.

Marlboro shipments increased by 3.0 percent to 28,498 million; shipments of other premium brands fell by 3.4 percent to 1,767 million; while shipments of discount brands increased by 8.9 percent to 2,859 million.

PM USA’s share of the domestic retail cigarette market during the three months to the end of June, at 51.4 percent, was increased by 0.5 of a percentage point on that of the three months to the end of June 2014. Marlboro’s share, at 44.2 percent, was up by 0.3 of a percentage point; the share of its other premium brands was down by 0.1 of a percentage point to 2.8 percent; while the share of the company’s discount brands was increased by 0.3 of a percentage point to 4.4 per cent.

The Altria Group yesterday published its second-quarter and first-half results for 2015.

Middleton’s cigar shipment volume during the three months to the end of June, at 334 million, was increased by 0.9 percent on that of the three months to the end of June 2014, 331 million.

Black & Mild brand shipments were up by 1.6 percent to 325 million, while shipments of other cigar brands fell by 18.2 percent from 11 million to nine million.

Middleton’s share of the domestic retail cigar market during the three months to the end of June, at 27.9 percent, was down by 0.8 of a percentage point from that of the three months to the end of June 2014. Black & Mild’s share was down by 0.7 of a percentage point to 27.6 percent, while the share of the company’s other brands was down by 0.1 of a percentage point to 0.3 per cent.

USSTC and PM USA’s combined, domestic smokeless-products shipment-volume during the three months to the end of June, at 209.0 million cans and packs, was up by 2.6 percent on that of the three months to the end of June 2014, 203.8 million.

Shipments of Copenhagen were up by 5.4 percent to 121.2 million; those of Skoal were up by 0.1 percent to 69.4 million; while those of other brands were down by 5.6 percent to 18.4 million.

USSTC and PM USA’s share of the US domestic market for smokeless products during the three months to the end of June, at 54.8 percent, was down by 0.1 of a percentage point on that of the three months to the end of June 2014. Copenhagen’s share was up by 0.8 of a percentage point to 31.3 percent; Skoal’s share was down by 0.7 of a percentage point to 19.8 percent; while the share of other brands was down by 0.2 of a percentage point to 3.7 percent.

Meanwhile, PM USA’s cigarette shipment volume during the six months to the end of June, at 62,322 million, was increased by 2.4 percent on that of the six months to the end of June 2014, 60,883 million.

Marlboro shipments rose by 2.1 percent to 53,615 million; shipments of other premium brands fell by 3.3 percent to 3,345 million; while shipments of discount brands increased by 8.8 percent to 5,362 million.

Middleton’s cigar shipment volume during the six months to the end of June, at 636 million, was increased by 5.1 percent on that of the six months to the end of June 2014, 605 million.

Black & Mild brand shipments were up by 5.6 percent to 623 million; while shipments of other brands fell by 13.3 percent to 13 million.

USSTC and PM USA’s combined, domestic, smokeless-products shipment-volume during the six months to the end of June, at 400.1 million, was increased by 2.6 per cent on that of the six months to the end of June 2014, 389.9 million.

Copenhagen shipments were up by 5.7 percent to 231.3 million; Skoal shipments were up by 0.1 percent to 133.4 million; while shipments of other brands were down by 6.1 percent to 35.4 million.

Altria’s second-quarter reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) increased by 15.6 percent to $0.74, and its second-quarter adjusted diluted EPS, which excludes the impact of special items, increased by 13.8 percent to $0.74.

Altria’s first-half reported diluted EPS decreased by 1.6 percent to $1.25, but its first-half adjusted diluted EPS increased by 13.1 percent to $1.38.

“Altria delivered excellent second-quarter and first-half results, growing adjusted diluted EPS more than 13 percent with a very strong performance from the smokeable products segment and solid contributions across our other businesses,” said Marty Barrington, Altria’s chairman, CEO and president.

“Further, our tobacco companies’ brands continued to strengthen their market leadership, with record retail share on Marlboro and more than 51 percent combined share on Copenhagen and Skoal year-to-date.

“Based on this very strong first-half performance and our outlook for the second half, we are raising our full-year adjusted EPS guidance.”