Altria jumps after Q1 earnings beat and 2026 EPS guidance reaffirmed
MO•Altria shares are rising after reporting Q1 2026 results with adjusted EPS of $1.32, up 7.3% year over year, on net revenues of $5.43 billion. The company reaffirmed full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $5.56 to $5.72 and highlighted ongoing shareholder returns via dividends and buybacks.
1) What’s moving the stock today
Altria (MO) is up after releasing first-quarter 2026 results that showed faster profit growth than the market was positioned for, alongside a steady outlook for the rest of the year. The company reported adjusted diluted EPS of $1.32 (up 7.3% year over year) and net revenues of $5.43 billion, as pricing and operating income strength helped offset ongoing volume pressures in combustibles. (investor.altria.com)
2) Guidance and the key line investors are trading
Altria reaffirmed its full-year 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance range of $5.56 to $5.72, implying 2.5% to 5.5% growth from a $5.42 base in 2025. Management also said that, given the strong first-quarter performance, it now expects EPS growth to be more balanced between the first and second halves of 2026—an incremental confidence signal for investors focused on earnings durability and cash generation. (investor.altria.com)
3) Capital returns are adding fuel
Beyond the earnings print, Altria reiterated its shareholder-return profile: it paid $1.8 billion of dividends in Q1 and repurchased 4.5 million shares for $280 million at an average price of $62.33. The company said it had $720 million remaining under its $2 billion share repurchase authorization that expires December 31, 2026, supporting the idea that earnings-per-share growth can be helped by a shrinking share count. (investor.altria.com)
