Altria Group, Inc. (MO) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: MOAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

MO AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Altria Group, Inc. (MO) is a major U.S. manufacturer and distributor of smokeable and oral tobacco products, anchored by its Marlboro brand. The company generated $20.44B in trailing twelve months revenue with an operating margin of 76.4% and free cash flow of $9.07B in FY2025. However, revenue has contracted at a 5-year CAGR of -5.1%, and total debt stands at $24.58B alongside negative shareholders' equity.

Market cap
$125.41B
Revenue (TTM)
$20.44B
P/E
15.8x
fwd 11.9x
1Y return
24.8%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$70.00
-6.8% vs last close

Bull case

  • Operating margin expanded significantly to 59.8% in FY2025 and 76.4% over the trailing twelve months, demonstrating robust pricing power.
  • Free cash flow generation was substantial at $9.07B in FY2025, supporting $1.00B in buybacks and $6.96B in dividend distributions.
  • The stock trades at a forward P/E of 11.9x, which is lower than the S&P 500 Consumer Defensive median of 15.3x.

Bear case

  • Long-term revenue trend shows persistent headwinds, falling at a 5-year CAGR of -5.1% through FY2025.
  • The balance sheet carries $24.58B in total debt, negative shareholders' equity of -$2.67B, and a low current ratio of 0.44.
  • Consensus analyst targets sit at $70.00, indicating a potential downside of 6.8% from the recent close of $75.11.

What Altria does

Altria Group, Inc., headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, manufactures and distributes smokeable and oral tobacco products across the United States. Its product portfolio features its flagship Marlboro cigarette brand, cigars and pipe tobacco under Black & Mild, and moist smokeless tobacco marketed under Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands. The company also offers oral nicotine pouches through its on! brand to address evolving consumer preferences. Altria distributes its products primarily through wholesalers and large retail chains across the country to maintain widespread retail availability.

Growth and profitability

Altria's annual revenue decreased from $26.01B in FY2021 to $20.14B in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year CAGR of -5.1%. Despite the top-line decline, gross margin improved from 53.8% in FY2021 to 72.2% in FY2025, while operating margin expanded from 44.4% to 59.8%. Net income reached $6.95B in FY2025 with an EPS of $5.42, down from $11.26B in FY2024. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 1.2% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 2.7%. Trailing twelve months revenue stands at $20.44B with net profit margin of 39.0%.

MO income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Altria held $2.37B in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $24.58B, leaving net debt at $22.21B. The balance sheet exhibits negative shareholders' equity of -$2.67B and a current ratio of 0.44 against total assets of $33.37B. In FY2025, the company generated $9.29B in operating cash flow and allocated capital toward $216.0M in capital expenditures, $1.00B in share buybacks, and $6.96B in dividend payments. Its share count fell 8.7% over five years.

MO balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Altria trades at a trailing P/E of 15.8x and a forward P/E of 11.9x, compared to medians of 23.5x and 15.3x for its S&P 500 Consumer Defensive peers. Its EV to EBITDA ratio is 11.6x, below the peer group median of 14.8x, though its price-to-sales multiple of 6.1x sits above the peer median of 1.6x. Over the past year, Altria shares gained 24.8%, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, the stock returned 126.5% compared to 83.0% for the index.

MO key metrics →

MO dividend

Altria offers an annualized forward dividend of $4.44 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 5.91%. The company has paid dividends for 43 consecutive years and maintains a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 4.1%. The dividend is distributed quarterly with a payout ratio of 77.3%, and its most recent ex-dividend date was September 15, 2026.

MO dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 4 Strong Buy, 8 Hold, 1 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $70.00, representing a 6.8% decline from the last closing price of $75.11. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $20.56B and EPS of $5.68, reflecting 4.8% earnings growth. Over the last 4 quarters, Altria beat EPS estimates once. The next earnings date is October 29, 2026.

MO forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Altria carries high leverage with net debt of $22.21B alongside negative equity of -$2.67B.
  • A short-term liquidity constraint exists as shown by a current ratio of 0.44 as of June 30, 2026.
  • Earnings reliability has been mixed, with Altria beating EPS consensus in only 1 of the last 4 quarters.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this MO AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Altria Group, Inc. (MO). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: MO income statement, MO balance sheet, MO key metrics, MO analyst forecast, MO chart. See the MO stock overview for the latest quote and news.

MO AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Altria's current dividend yield and payout schedule?

Altria pays a forward annual dividend of $4.44 per share, which yields 5.91%. It pays dividends quarterly and has maintained 43 consecutive years of dividend payments.

How is Altria performing against its industry peers on valuation?

Altria trades at a trailing P/E of 15.8x and an EV to EBITDA of 11.6x. Both multiples are lower than the median of its S&P 500 Consumer Defensive peers, which stand at 23.5x and 14.8x respectively.

What is the financial position of Altria's balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, Altria held $2.37B in cash and short-term investments against $24.58B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $22.21B and negative shareholders' equity of -$2.67B.

When does Altria report its next financial results?

Altria's next earnings date is scheduled for October 29, 2026.

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