Altria Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. It sells its products to distributors, as well as large retail organizations, such as chain stores. The company was founded in 1822 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

Altria appears to be a mature cash-generating business with very strong profitability, but with notable structural balance sheet constraints. On valuation multiples, the picture is mixed: a P/E of 17.68 is slightly below the industry median, and a P/FCF of 13.46 is also lower, which supports the valuation; however, a P/S of 5.25 is extremely high relative to the sector and suggests expensive revenue for a business with limited growth. The P/E trend in recent periods has been volatile, but overall it does not look like a sustained re-rating to cheaper levels, while P/S remains elevated, which limits upside. The dividend yield of 1.52% has declined compared with previous periods, so the dividend case for a revaluation is weaker now than before. The company’s strength lies in its margins: gross margin of 63.11%, operating margin of 47.20%, and net profit margin of 34.26% are significantly above industry benchmarks and confirm the high quality of cash flow. ROA of 23.48% and ROI of 38.45% are also very strong, indicating efficient use of assets and capital. At the same time, ROE and return on tangible equity are shown as zero, and shareholders’ equity is negative, so a traditional equity-based valuation here is not very informative and requires caution. The balance sheet remains a weak point: a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.48 are below comfortable levels, while long-term debt of $24.06 billion and negative total shareholder equity indicate a high financial burden. Against this backdrop, the low debt/equity ratio looks favorable on a formal basis, but in combination with negative equity it should be interpreted carefully. Operating metrics in absolute terms look stable: revenue, EBITDA, operating income, and net income remain high, and net income and operating income are notably above industry medians. At the same time, revenue does not show a clear acceleration, but rather fluctuates within a narrow range, which limits valuation growth potential. Overall, the fundamentals support the company as a high-quality defensive asset with strong profitability and cash generation, but weak liquidity, high leverage, and expensive revenue do not allow for an aggressive increase in the target price. Therefore, the adjustment should be moderately negative, reflecting the dominance of strong profitability over balance sheet risks, but without overestimating future growth.

Altria Group, Inc.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, significantly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Medium index, significantly up. The inflow of funds into longs has increased and is at a high level.

Strong margins and profitability of MO support the valuation, but weak liquidity, high debt, and a high P/S ratio limit re-rating potential.

At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 56 most recent 13F filings for the 06/30/2026 reporting period, and noticed that Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) was held by 23 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is a good idea to take a closer look.
Before we proceed, it is important to point out that 13F filings do not tell the whole story, because these funds are only required to disclose their long positions with the SEC, but are not required to disclose their short positions. A fund making a bearish bet against a stock by shorting calls, for example, might also be long some amount of stock as they trade around their overall bearish position. This long component could show up in a 13F filing and everyone might assume the fund is bullish, but this tells only part of the story because the bearish/short side of the position is not seen.
Having given that caveat, we believe that looking at groups of 13F filings can be revealing, especially when comparing one holding period to another. Below, let's take a look at the change in MO positions, for this latest batch of 13F filers:
Fund
New Position?
Change In Share Count
Change In Market Value ($ in 1000's)
Aggregate Change:
+21,314
+$7,055
In terms of shares owned, we count 9 of the above funds having increased existing MO positions from 03/31/2026 to 06/30/2026, with 7 having decreased their positions and 1 new position.
Looking beyond these particular funds in this one batch of most recent filers, we tallied up the MO share count in the aggregate among all of the funds which held MO at the 06/30/2026 reporting period (out of the 3,024 we looked at in total). We then compared that number to the sum total of MO shares those same funds held back at the 03/31/2026 period, to see how the aggregate share count held by hedge funds has moved for MO. We found that between these two periods, funds reduced their holdings by 19,949,860 shares in the aggregate, from 38,417,315 down to 18,467,455 for a share count decline of approximately -51.93%. The overall top three funds holding MO on 06/30/2026 were:
»
Fund
Shares of MO Held
We'll keep following the latest 13F filings by hedge fund managers and bring you interesting stories derived from a look at the aggregate information across groups of managers between filing periods. While looking at individual 13F filings can sometimes be misleading due to the long-only nature of the information, the sum total across groups of funds from one reporting period to another can be a lot more revealing and relevant, providing interesting stock ideas that merit further research, like Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO).

See Which Recent 13F Filers Hold MO

The following companies are expected to report earnings prior to market open on 07/30/2026. Visit our Earnings Calendar for a full list of expected earnings releases.
Mastercard Incorporated (MA)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The financial transactions company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 12 analysts that follow the stock is $4.77. This value represents a 14.94% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year MA has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 4.55%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for MA is 28.70 vs. an industry ratio of 25.30, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The biomedical (gene) company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 8 analysts that follow the stock is $1.59. This value represents a 8.90% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year BMY has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 9.72%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for BMY is 10.03 vs. an industry ratio of -10.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Altria Group (MO)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The tobacco company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $1.50. This value represents a 4.17% increase compared to the same quarter last year. MO missed the consensus earnings per share in the 4th calendar quarter of 2025 by -0.76%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for MO is 13.13 vs. an industry ratio of 17.90.
Sanofi (SNY)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The large cap pharmaceutical company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $1.10. This value represents a 22.22% increase compared to the same quarter last year. SNY missed the consensus earnings per share in the 2nd calendar quarter of 2025 by -6.25%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for SNY is 9.18 vs. an industry ratio of 19.50.
Southern Company (SO)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The electric power utilities company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $1.00. This value represents a 9.89% increase compared to the same quarter last year. SO missed the consensus earnings per share in the 4th calendar quarter of 2025 by -1.79%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for SO is 21.13 vs. an industry ratio of 19.00, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Trane Technologies plc (TT)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The technology services company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 4 analysts that follow the stock is $4.27. This value represents a 10.05% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year TT has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 3.95%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for TT is 31.57 vs. an industry ratio of 10.20, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The finance/investment management company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $1.27. This value represents a 27.00% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for KKR is 18.53 vs. an industry ratio of 14.70, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Valero Energy Corporation (VLO)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The oil refining company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $9.87. This value represents a 332.89% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year VLO has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 37.46%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for VLO is 8.16 vs. an industry ratio of 1.60, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The engineering company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 7 analysts that follow the stock is $3.03. This value represents a 34.67% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year PWR has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 34.66%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for PWR is 45.97 vs. an industry ratio of 9.80, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The securities exchange company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 7 analysts that follow the stock is $1.84. This value represents a 1.66% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year ICE has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 3.52%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for ICE is 19.07 vs. an industry ratio of 22.80.
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The oil/gas company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 5 analysts that follow the stock is $0.74. This value represents a 12.12% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for EPD is 13.18 vs. an industry ratio of 5.40, implying that they will have a higher earnings growth than their competitors in the same industry.
The Cigna Group (CI)is reporting for the quarter ending June 30, 2026. The hmo company's consensus earnings per share forecast from the 6 analysts that follow the stock is $7.58. This value represents a 5.28% increase compared to the same quarter last year. In the past year CI has beat the expectations every quarter. The highest one was in the 1st calendar quarter where they beat the consensus by 2.23%. Zacks Investment Research reports that the 2026 Price to Earnings ratio for CI is 9.91 vs. an industry ratio of 20.10.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Pre-Market Earnings Report for July 30, 2026 : MA, BMY, MO, SNY, SO, TT, KKR, VLO, PWR, ICE, EPD, CI

In trading on Tuesday, cigarettes & tobacco shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 3.8%. Leading the group were shares of Philip Morris International, up about 5.4% and shares of Altria Group up about 4.5% on the day.
Also showing relative strength are paper & forest products shares, up on the day by about 3.5% as a group, led by Mativ, trading higher by about 5.2% and Clearwater Paper, trading up by about 5.2% on Tuesday.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Tuesday Sector Leaders: Cigarettes & Tobacco, Paper & Forest Products

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $409.7 million dollar inflow -- that's a 2.9% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 168,371,809 to 173,171,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is up about 3.3%, Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is up about 5.6%, and Mondelez International Inc (Symbol: MDLZ) is up by about 4.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $88.56. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLP Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLP, CL, MO, MDLZ: Large Inflows Detected at ETF

Altria Group, Inc. MO is likely to register growth in both top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 30.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pinned at $5.36 billion, indicating a 1.4% increase from the same period last year. Meanwhile, the consensus mark for earnings has remained unchanged in the past 30 days at $1.50 per share, indicating 4.2% growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. Altria has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 2.9%.
Altria Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Things to Consider About Altria’s Upcoming Results
Altria’s second-quarter performance is likely to have been supported by continued pricing strength across its smokeable products business, despite an industry environment marked by declining cigarette volumes. Strong net price realization, disciplined revenue management and resilient demand for premium brands are likely to have helped offset lower shipment volumes. However, persistent macroeconomic pressures and consumer downtrading toward discount offerings might have remained a drag on overall volume and product mix.
The company’s oral tobacco business is likely to have remained a key area of support, driven by continued momentum in nicotine pouches. The nationwide rollout of on! PLUS, broader retail availability and sustained consumer interest in smoke-free alternatives are likely to have supported shipment growth during the quarter. However, heightened competition in the nicotine pouch category, along with higher promotional spending and product mix pressures, is likely to have weighed on segment margins. The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a decrease of 1.7% in the Oral Tobacco Products revenues.
The Smokeable Products segment is likely to have remained the primary contributor to quarterly performance. Cigarette shipment volumes are likely to have continued declining year over year, although the pace of decline might have remained more moderate amid reduced cross-category movement to illicit disposable e-vapor products. Strong pricing, stable premium brand performance and disciplined portfolio execution are likely to have supported revenues and earnings, partially offsetting the impact of volume softness and a value-seeking consumer environment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate implies an increase of 1% in the Smokeable Products revenues.
Earnings Whispers for MO Stock
Our proven model doesn’t conclusively predict an earnings beat for Altria this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here.
Altria currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and an Earnings ESP of -1.34%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Stocks With the Favorable Combination
Here are some companies worth considering, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this reporting cycle.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company ADM currently has an Earnings ESP of +11.52% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Archer-Daniels’ upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at $1.27, which implies a 36.6% rise year over year. The consensus estimate for ADM’s quarterly revenues is pinned at $22.38 billion, which calls for 5.7% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. ADM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.4%, on average.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation KMB currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.43% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s upcoming quarterly revenues is pegged at $4.23 billion. The figure implies a 1.7% increase from the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Kimberly-Clark’s quarterly earnings per share is pegged at $2.00, indicating a 4.2% gain from the year-ago period figure. KMB delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.1%, on average.
Monster Beverage Corporation MNST currently has an Earnings ESP of +2.61% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The consensus estimate for Monster Beverage’s quarterly revenues is pinned at $2.42 billion, which indicates 14.5% growth from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the upcoming quarter’s EPS is pegged at 59 cents, which implies a 13.5% increase year over year. MNST delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.6%, on average.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Altria Q2 Earnings Coming Up: What Should Investors Expect?

Wall Street analysts forecast that Altria (MO) will report quarterly earnings of $1.50 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 4.2%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $5.36 billion, exhibiting an increase of 1.4% compared to the year-ago quarter.
The current level reflects an upward revision of 0.3% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter over the past 30 days. This demonstrates how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reappraised their initial projections over this period.
Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as indicators of quarterly business performance, exploring analysts' projections for specific key metrics can offer valuable insights.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Altria metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenues net of excise taxes- Oral Tobacco Products' will likely reach $706.93 million. The estimate indicates a change of -2.9% from the prior-year quarter.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues net of excise taxes- Smokeable Products' should arrive at $4.65 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +1.7% from the prior-year quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Operating Companies Income- Reported OCI- Oral Tobacco Products' will reach $480.64 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $498.00 million in the same quarter last year.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Operating Companies Income- Adjusted OCI- Smokeable Products' should come in at $3.01 billion. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $2.95 billion.
View all Key Company Metrics for Altria here>>>
Over the past month, shares of Altria have returned -1.1% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.8% change. Currently, MO carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting that it may outperform. the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners Up
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Curious about Altria (MO) Q2 Performance? Explore Wall Street Estimates for Key Metrics

Key Points
Verizon's 6.3% dividend yield comes backed by very healthy payout ratios.
Altria yields 5.9% and raises its dividend every year, going back decades.
PepsiCo's recession-proof snacks and beverage empire makes it a portfolio stalwart.
High dividend yields can cut both ways, especially if your investing goal is to generate as much income as possible. Monster yields can mean mountains of passive income, but they are also riskier, and you often wind up losing money if the company has to cut the dividend. But there are high-yield dividend stocks out there with strong financials, some with yields as high as 4%, 5%, even 6% or more.
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1. Verizon Communications
Cellphones and internet connectivity are staples in almost every household in America. People pay their phone bill like they pay their electric and gas utilities, which has made Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) a very dependable dividend stock. The leading U.S. wireless carrier has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years, giving investors consistent growth alongside its juicy 6.4% yield.
The dividend is quite sustainable at only 57% of Verizon's 2026 earnings estimates and 58% of trailing-12-month cash flow. That means Verizon has plenty of financial breathing room to continue raising the dividend while still meeting the capital expenditure needs of its extensive infrastructure. The stock is hard to pass up when trading at less than 9 times its forward earnings, given that analysts expect high-single-digit earnings growth ahead.
2. Altria Group
Tobacco companies continue to stay relevant despite smoking rates peaking in the United States decades ago. Altria Group (NYSE: MO) dominates America's cigarette market with Marlboro, though it also sells various cigars, oral tobacco, and smoke-free products. Tobacco is notoriously addictive, making Altria an extremely resilient business over the years. It continues to squeeze out growth by raising its prices each year.
Altria is already a Dividend King, a company with over 50 consecutive annual dividend increases. The dividend payout ratio is manageable at 74% of 2026 earnings estimates and is backed by Altria's balance sheet and a multibillion-dollar stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev. Altria will probably continue growing earnings at a low-single-digit pace, but you don't need much when the stock trades at under 13 times forward earnings and yields 5.9%.
3. PepsiCo
It's hard to find much safer stocks than diversified food and beverage giant PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP). The company dominates your local grocery store with brands spanning soda and other beverages, chips, snacks, and breakfast foods. People always need to eat and drink, so PepsiCo continues to make money through recessions, pandemics, you name it. That's made the stock a Dividend King with over five decades of dividend growth.
PepsiCo currently spends most of its cash flow on dividends, which is admittedly not ideal. That said, PepsiCo has $10.7 billion in cash and an A+ rating on its balance sheet, so there's probably still minimal risk of a dividend cut. Analysts see PepsiCo growing earnings at a mid-single-digit rate moving forward, so the payout ratio can decline over time. Shares look like a bargain at under 16 times 2026 earnings estimates and offer a strong 4.3% starting yield.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Top Dividend Stocks Yielding 4.3% or More to Buy Right Now for Passive Income

The market expects Altria (MO) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on theearnings call it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus Estimate
This owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation's largest cigarette maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.50 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +4.2%.
Revenues are expected to be $5.36 billion, up 1.4% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions Trend
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.33% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings Whisper
Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Altria?
For Altria, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.34%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Altria will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?
While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Altria would post earnings of $1.24 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.32, delivering a surprise of +6.45%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom Line
An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Altria doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Should You Invest in Altria Group, Inc. (MO)?
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Altria (MO) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (Symbol: XLP) where we have detected an approximate $247.1 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.7% decrease week over week (from 171,271,809 to 168,371,809). Among the largest underlying components of XLP, in trading today Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Symbol: CL) is off about 0.7%, Altria Group Inc (Symbol: MO) is up about 0.4%, and PepsiCo Inc (Symbol: PEP) is lower by about 0.5%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLP Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLP, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLP's low point in its 52 week range is $75.16 per share, with $90.14 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $85.10. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further XLP Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Outflows: XLP, CL, MO, PEP

You can't expect much growth from Altria (NYSE: MO), but it still might be an attractive stock to buy.
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*Stock prices used were the afternoon prices of July 14, 2026. The video was published on July 16, 2026.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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