Welcome to our dedicated page for Altria Group news (Ticker: MO), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Altria Group stock.
Altria Group, Inc. (symbol: MO) is a major American corporation renowned for its production and marketing of tobacco, cigarettes, and related products. Headquartered in Henrico County, Virginia, near Richmond, Altria operates globally and is a significant player in the tobacco industry.
Altria's portfolio includes well-known subsidiaries such as Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through these subsidiaries, Altria maintains a leading position in the U.S. cigarette and smokeless tobacco markets, as well as holding the number-two spot in machine-made cigars.
The company's flagship brand, Marlboro, continues to dominate the U.S. market with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria also holds an 8% interest in Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, and a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos. Recently, Altria acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023 and exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs. Additionally, Altria is involved in a joint venture with Japan Tobacco to explore opportunities in the heated tobacco sector.
The company is consistently active in the market, seeking to innovate and adapt to changing consumer preferences and regulatory landscapes. Altria's financial condition remains robust, supported by its diverse product offerings and strategic partnerships.
Altria Group announced the submission of Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) to the FDA for its new on! PLUS oral nicotine pouches. Developed by Helix Innovations, these pouches are made from a proprietary soft-feel material for a more comfortable user experience. On! PLUS pouches, designed for adult dippers and dual users, come in tobacco, mint, and wintergreen flavors with three nicotine strength options. Altria believes the product will significantly contribute to Helix's growth upon FDA authorization. In Q1 2024, on! pouches saw a 32% increase in shipment volume and captured a 7.1% market share in the U.S. oral tobacco category.
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) announced that the FDA has granted marketing orders for NJOY ACE Pod Menthol 2.4%, NJOY ACE Pod Menthol 5%, NJOY DAILY Menthol 4.5%, and NJOY DAILY Extra Menthol 6%. These are the first FDA-authorized menthol e-vapor products, following NJOY's PMTA submission in March 2020.
Altria's CEO, Billy Gifford, emphasized the company's commitment to transitioning adult smokers to less harmful alternatives. NJOY products are now available in over 80,000 stores, with plans to expand to 100,000 by year-end.
However, Altria is obligated to make an additional $250 million payment due to the FDA's issuance of these marketing orders, per the merger agreement. NJOY also submitted a supplemental PMTA for its new ACE 2.0 device, which includes technology to prevent underage use.
NJOY, an Altria company, has submitted a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) to the FDA for its NJOY ACE 2.0 device, which incorporates Bluetooth®-enabled access restriction to prevent underage use. The company also re-submitted applications for Blueberry and Watermelon pods compatible with NJOY ACE 2.0. Already the sole FDA-authorized pod-based e-vapor product, the NJOY ACE expanded its distribution to over 80,000 stores in Q1 2024, aiming for 100,000 by year-end. Altria's vision is to transition smokers to smoke-free options responsibly. NJOY aims to address previous FDA concerns regarding underage access and hopes for expedited review and authorization.
Altria Group (NYSE: MO) held its 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, during which CEO Billy Gifford provided remarks and addressed shareholder questions. Preliminary voting results showed the election of 10 Board nominees, the ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent public accountants for 2024, and the approval of executive compensation on an advisory basis. Two shareholder proposals were not approved. Following the meeting, Altria declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share, payable on July 10, 2024, to shareholders of record as of June 14, 2024, with the ex-dividend date also on June 14, 2024. The company continues to focus on transitioning adult smokers to smoke-free products and holds various equity investments, including in Anheuser-Busch InBev and Cronos Group.
Altria Group, Inc. will host a virtual 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 16, 2024, where shareholders can vote their shares electronically and submit questions. Non-shareholders can listen as guests but cannot vote or ask questions. The company encourages reviewing business and financial resources and corporate responsibility reports available on their website prior to the meeting.