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Philip Morris International (PM)
NYSE:PM

Philip Morris (PM) AI Stock Analysis

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PM

Philip Morris

(NYSE:PM)

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Outperform 75 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$206.00
▲(12.32% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:02/20/26
The score is driven by strong profitability and cash generation, plus positive technical momentum and supportive 2026 guidance tied to accelerating smoke-free growth. Offsetting factors are elevated balance-sheet risk (negative equity and high debt) and a relatively full valuation.
Positive Factors
High margins & cash generation
Sustained premium margins and consistently strong operating cash flow create durable internal funding for investments, dividends (~75% payout policy) and debt reduction. High cash conversion supports strategic shift to smoke‑free products and cushions the business against cyclical revenue volatility.
Structural shift to smoke‑free revenue
A large and growing smoke‑free revenue base diversifies away from combustible decline, illustrating durable product portfolio transformation. Broad geographic rollout and rising in‑market sales indicate structural demand that should sustain midterm revenue growth and margin mix improvement.
Proven execution & efficiency gains
Delivering accelerated targets and concrete cost savings demonstrates credible management execution. Realized efficiencies and repeatable programs improve operating leverage, enabling the company to fund smoke‑free expansion, pursue deleveraging goals and sustain earnings growth over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Elevated leverage & negative equity
Persistent negative equity and sizable debt restrict financial flexibility and limit options for equity‑based capital actions. High leverage increases refinancing and interest sensitivity risk, reducing the company's capacity to respond to regulatory shocks or fund large strategic M&A without adding more leverage.
Excise tax and combustible volume headwinds
Stepped excise hikes and large price increases in key markets create structural pressure on shipments and pricing power. Persistent regional tax actions can slow smoke‑free adoption in those markets and depress combustible unit volumes, making revenue trajectories more volatile and harder to predict.
ZYN supply, inventory & regulatory timing risk
Execution and regulatory timing for nicotine pouches are strategic bottlenecks: supply shortfalls and channel inventory create uneven growth, while FDA approvals (and subnational tax proposals) determine permitted marketing and category economics, introducing sustained execution and regulatory uncertainty.

Philip Morris (PM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Philip Morris Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionPhilip Morris International Inc. operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products that are sold in markets outside the United States. The company offers its smoke-free products under the HEETS, HEETS Creations, HEETS Dimensions, HEETS Marlboro, HEETS FROM MARLBORO, Marlboro Dimensions, Marlboro HeatSticks, Parliament HeatSticks, and TEREA brands, as well as the KT&G-licensed brands, Fiit, and Miix. It also sells its products under the Marlboro, Parliament, Bond Street, Chesterfield, L&M, Lark, and Philip Morris brands. In addition, the company owns various cigarette brands, such as Dji Sam Soe, Sampoerna A, and Sampoerna U in Indonesia; and Fortune and Jackpot in the Philippines. The company sells its smoke-free products in 71 markets. Philip Morris International Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
How the Company Makes MoneyPhilip Morris generates revenue primarily through the sale of its tobacco products, which include both traditional cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives like heated tobacco products and e-vapor products. The company's key revenue streams come from the global sale of these products, with a significant portion of earnings derived from its flagship brand, Marlboro. Additionally, Philip Morris has been investing heavily in research and development to innovate and expand its portfolio of reduced-risk products, which are increasingly becoming a focus as regulatory pressures on smoking increase. The company engages in significant marketing and distribution partnerships to enhance product reach and consumer engagement, contributing to overall sales. The ongoing transition towards smoke-free products is expected to play a crucial role in the company’s future revenue growth.

Philip Morris Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Shipment Volume by Product Type
Shipment Volume by Product Type
Monitors the quantity of products shipped across different categories, providing insight into consumer demand trends and product popularity.
Chart InsightsPhilip Morris is experiencing a strategic shift as heated tobacco units and oral products show robust growth, while traditional cigarette volumes continue to decline. The earnings call highlights strong momentum in smoke-free products, with IQOS sales rising significantly, particularly in the U.S., and nicotine pouch volumes surging. Despite regulatory and currency challenges, the company remains optimistic, raising its EPS forecast and focusing on smoke-free innovations to drive future growth. This transition aligns with broader industry trends towards reduced-risk products, positioning Philip Morris for long-term sustainability.
Data provided by:The Fly

Philip Morris Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 06, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 22, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call presents a strongly positive operational and financial story: robust smoke-free volume growth, meaningful margin expansion, rising profitability, strong cash generation, and delivery of strategic targets ahead of schedule. These positives are tempered by several material near-term headwinds—most notably Japan excise changes, regional excise-driven combustible volume pressure (India, Mexico), transactional currency losses in Q4, U.S. regulatory timing for new product introductions, and some supply/inventory dynamics for ZYN. Management has durable growth plans and renewed medium-term targets, but execution and regulatory/tax events create identifiable near-term risks.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Smoke-Free Volume Growth
Smoke-free product shipments rose 12.8% year-over-year, adding ~20 billion units (179 billion total smoke-free units in 2025). IQOS shipments grew ~11% (to ~155 billion units) with adjusted in-market sales (IMS) growth accelerating to ~12% in Q4 and ~10.5% for the full year.
Material Profitability and Margin Expansion
Adjusted operating income grew 11.8% in dollar terms to $16.4 billion; organic operating income rose 10.6% with organic margin expansion of +140 bps. Adjusted operating income margin reached 40.4%. Gross margin expanded organically by ~220 bps to >67%; smoke-free adjusted gross margin increased ~270 bps to ~69.5%.
Record Revenue Mix Shift to Smoke-Free
Total net revenues exceeded $40 billion in 2025, with smoke-free products representing ~41.5% (~$17 billion) of net revenue and smoke-free gross contribution doubling over five years to ~43% of total PMI.
Adjusted Diluted EPS and Cash Generation
Adjusted diluted EPS rose ~15% in dollar terms (currency-neutral +14.2%) to $7.54, at the high end of guidance. Operating cash flow was strong at $12.2 billion (matching 2024). Management targets further cash flow acceleration (~€13.5 billion at prevailing rates) and deleveraging to close to 2x net leverage by end-2026 (2.5x at year-end 2025).
ZYN and Multi-Category Execution
ZYN shipments grew ~36–37% globally with expansion into ~56 markets (added ~19 markets). ZYN had ~40% PMI pouch-category share and significant US share gains (leading premium share; US shipment growth despite supply constraints). E-vapor brand VIVE doubled shipments for the year and improved profitability; VIVE is present in ~47 markets.
Geographic and Market Milestones
106 markets now have PMI smoke-free products (52 deployed category strategy). 27 markets exceeded 50% smoke-free net revenue; 8 markets exceeded 75% (including the US). Europe surpassed 50% smoke-free net revenue for the year. Estimated legal-age smoke-free users reached ~43.5 million (up ~10 million in two years).
Delivered and Accelerated Strategic Targets
Company achieved its three-year CAGR targets for organic operating income and currency-neutral EPS in two years. Management renewed medium-term targets for 2026–2028: organic net revenue CAGR 6–8%, organic operating income 8–10%, adjusted diluted EPS 9–11% (constant currency). 2026 guidance: organic net revenue +5–7%, organic OI +7–9%, currency-neutral EPS +7.5–9.5% (translating to $8.09–$8.54 including ~€ currency benefit).
Cost Savings and Efficiency
Delivered roughly $1.5 billion of growth cost savings since 2024 and remains on track for a $2 billion objective in the 2024–2026 period. Management expects further efficiency gains, including future AI-driven productivity improvements.
Negative Updates
Japan Excise Tax Headwind and 2026 Atypical Year
Planned excise tax increases on heated tobacco in Japan (two steps in 2026) are expected to create a transitory headwind for the category and IQOS, potentially reducing in-market growth and causing shipment volatility in 2026; management flagged material impact on 2026 volumes and pricing dynamics.
Combustible Volume Decline and Regional Excise Risks
Cigarette shipments declined 1.5% in 2025 (slightly better than prior expectation) and combustibles are forecast to decline ~3% in 2026. Large excise-driven price increases in India and Mexico are expected to weigh on volumes (India cited ~40%+ consumer price increase), pressuring industry volumes and comparisons.
U.S. ZYN Supply Constraints, Inventory and Regulatory Uncertainty
ZYN faced supply constraints in H1 2025; US shipments grew ~37% but Nielsen offtake grew ~25%, indicating channel inventory rebuilds. Management estimates ~25 million cans of surplus downstream inventory to normalize. Growth outlook depends on pending FDA submissions (e.g., ZYN Ultra) and regulatory timing—introducing execution/timing risk.
Q4 Currency and Transactional Losses
Currency-related transactional losses in Q4 (linked to the Russian ruble and Swiss franc) reduced the expected currency tailwind by ~4 cents, tempering dollar EPS gains and causing some one-off negative impacts versus prior expectations.
Competitive Intensity in Key Markets
Competitive activity increased notably in Japan and elsewhere; management acknowledged stepped-up competition that can affect short-term category growth and share dynamics despite IQOS resilience.
Turkey Supply Chain Issues and Local Disruption
Supply-chain issues in Turkey affected combustible performance during the year and are a factor in 2026 comparisons (first-half impact expected while recovery continues).
Promotional Normalization and Price/Mix Pressure
H2 normalization of US promotional activities and earlier promotional variances created mix effects; management noted lower-than-usual commercial activity in 2025 followed by planned increased investment in 2026, creating near-term comparison and phasing variability.
Regulatory and Tax Risk in U.S. States
Potential subnational excise proposals (e.g., New York considering higher pouch taxes) and an uncertain regulatory environment in the U.S. could pressure the nicotine pouch category and alter promotional/competitive dynamics.
Company Guidance
PMI guided to another year of strong, profitable growth in 2026, forecasting organic net revenue growth of 5–7% and organic operating income growth of 7–9%, with currency‑neutral adjusted diluted EPS up 7.5–9.5% (an expected 28¢ currency benefit implying $8.09–$8.54, or 11.3–13.3% in dollar terms); they expect smoke‑free shipments and adjusted IMS to grow in the high‑single‑digit range (after Japan excise and U.S. ZYN inventory headwinds) while combustible cigarette shipments decline ~3% (industry cigarettes & HDUs ~‑2%), and total shipment growth broadly stable; first‑quarter is expected to be the softest (Q1 combustible down up to 5%, broadly flat organic net revenue and operating income) with Q1 adjusted EPS guided to $1.80–$1.85 (including a 14¢ FX tailwind); operating cash flow is expected to accelerate to ~€13.5bn, the effective tax rate to be ~21.5%, net finance costs broadly stable, leverage targeted close to 2.0x by year‑end 2026, dividend payout maintained around ~75% of adjusted diluted EPS, and the company reaffirmed medium‑term 2026–28 CAGRs of 6–8% organic net revenue, 8–10% organic operating income, and 9–11% constant‑currency adjusted diluted EPS, with smoke‑free shipment/IMS growth targeted at high‑single‑digits to low‑teens.

Philip Morris Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Operating performance is strong with consistently high margins and robust free cash flow, but the balance sheet is a material risk factor due to persistently negative equity and sizeable debt, limiting financial flexibility.
Income Statement
82
Very Positive
Profitability is a clear strength: gross margin stayed high (~63%–68%) and operating profitability remained very strong (EBIT margin ~34%–41%) across 2020–2025. After a modest 2024 net margin (~19%), 2025 rebounded to a strong ~28% with net income rising meaningfully. Revenue growth has been positive in most years (brief dip in 2020), but the pace is uneven and the 2025 growth figure appears unusually high versus the underlying revenue trend, suggesting a less stable growth trajectory than the margin profile.
Balance Sheet
38
Negative
Leverage and capital structure are the key weak spots. Total debt is large and has generally trended higher since 2020, while shareholder equity is negative in every year shown (roughly -$9B to -$13B), which limits balance-sheet flexibility and makes equity-based leverage and return measures unfavorable. Asset growth is moderate, but the persistent negative equity profile elevates financial risk despite strong earnings power.
Cash Flow
86
Very Positive
Cash generation is consistently strong and supportive. Operating cash flow is healthy (roughly $9B–$12B annually) and free cash flow is robust, improving sharply in 2025 (with strong free-cash-flow growth). Cash conversion is solid, with free cash flow generally covering most of net income and reaching full coverage in 2025. The main watch-out is volatility in year-to-year free-cash-flow growth (declines in 2022–2023 before re-accelerating).
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue40.60B37.88B35.17B31.76B31.41B
Gross Profit26.96B24.55B22.28B20.36B21.38B
EBITDA17.08B15.75B13.37B13.48B13.97B
Net Income11.50B7.03B7.79B9.05B9.11B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets69.19B61.78B65.30B61.68B41.29B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.87B4.22B3.06B3.21B4.50B
Total Debt48.84B45.70B47.91B43.12B27.81B
Total Liabilities77.21B71.65B74.75B67.99B49.50B
Stockholders Equity-9.99B-11.75B-11.22B-8.96B-10.11B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow10.66B10.77B7.88B9.73B11.22B
Operating Cash Flow12.23B12.22B9.20B10.80B11.97B
Investing Cash Flow-4.49B-1.09B-3.60B-15.68B-2.36B
Financing Cash Flow-7.61B-9.48B-5.58B3.81B-11.98B

Philip Morris Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price183.40
Price Trends
50DMA
168.78
Positive
100DMA
160.80
Positive
200DMA
164.62
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
4.54
Positive
RSI
61.67
Neutral
STOCH
39.07
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For PM, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 183.4 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 181.31, above the 50-day MA of 168.78, and above the 200-day MA of 164.62, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 4.54 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 61.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 39.07 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for PM.

Philip Morris Risk Analysis

Philip Morris disclosed 32 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Philip Morris reported the most risks in the "Legal & Regulatory" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Philip Morris Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$2.84B26.874.71%0.35%51.49%21.43%
75
Outperform
$284.36B25.153.59%7.72%-12.45%
69
Neutral
$126.61B12.7315.94%5.22%0.48%
69
Neutral
$2.53B46.6922.54%0.28%6.71%8.16%
66
Neutral
$112.08B16.227.02%-0.96%-11.42%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
56
Neutral
$1.32B15.625.81%6.15%3.01%-7.14%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
PM
Philip Morris
183.40
32.45
21.50%
MO
Altria Group
67.57
16.02
31.08%
BTI
British American Tobacco
62.08
26.32
73.62%
UVV
Universal
53.79
3.77
7.55%
TPB
Turning Point Brands
135.52
67.41
98.96%
RLX
RLX Technology
2.37
0.17
7.87%

Philip Morris Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Philip Morris Highlights Momentum in Smoke-Free Revenue Shift
Positive
Feb 18, 2026

On February 18, 2026, Philip Morris International used its appearance at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference to showcase the scale and momentum of its transition toward smoke-free products, highlighting that annual smoke-free net revenues have reached about $17 billion across 106 markets and now account for roughly 42% of total net revenues. Management emphasized that several regions, especially Europe, are already majority smoke-free by net revenues, that overall shipment volumes have shifted from structural decline to low single-digit growth driven by smoke-free products, and that the wider cigarette industry outside China and the U.S. shows steeper declines in markets where smoke-free products are available, underscoring both PMI’s strategic repositioning and the growing regulatory and public-health acceptance of tobacco harm-reduction models centered on non-combustible nicotine options.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Buy with a $210.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Philip Morris Reaffirms 2026 EPS Outlook and Growth
Positive
Feb 18, 2026

On February 18, 2026, Philip Morris International said its CEO Jacek Olczak and CFO Emmanuel Babeau would present at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference, outlining how the transformed group is navigating an evolving operating environment and scaling its smoke-free brands. The company also highlighted its focus on shareholder value, including 2026–2028 growth targets, underlining its strategic push to consolidate leadership in next-generation nicotine products.

At the event, PMI reaffirmed its 2026 full-year reported diluted EPS forecast of $7.87 to $8.02 announced on February 6, with adjusted diluted EPS seen between $8.38 and $8.53, implying 11.1% to 13.1% growth versus $7.54 in 2025. Excluding a favorable $0.27 currency impact per share, the company projects adjusted EPS growth of 7.5% to 9.5%, signaling confidence in its earnings trajectory despite ongoing regulatory, litigation and macroeconomic risks flagged in its cautionary statements.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Buy with a $210.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Philip Morris boosts U.S. smoke-free investments and jobs
Positive
Jan 15, 2026

On January 15, 2026, Philip Morris International and its U.S. businesses disclosed that since 2022 they have deployed more than $20 billion in U.S.-related investments, largely tied to the 2022 acquisition of Swedish Match and subsequent spending on domestic manufacturing, commercial rights, infrastructure and jobs, including more than $1 billion invested after the acquisition through September 30, 2025. The company highlighted new infrastructure projects in Colorado, Kentucky and North Carolina expected to create over 1,000 direct and 1,500 indirect jobs and deliver an estimated annual economic impact exceeding $800 million, alongside more than $35 million in charitable contributions since 2022—nearly $12 million of which went to about 600 nonprofits in 47 states and Washington, D.C. in 2025 alone. PMI U.S. underscored its role as a U.S. leader in “modern nicotine” and smoke-free products such as ZYN and IQOS, noting that PMI affiliates hold a dominant share of FDA modified-risk and premarket tobacco product marketing authorizations, and that its U.S. workforce has grown from several hundred to over 3,000 employees as it seeks to accelerate the shift of America’s roughly 30 million adult smokers to science-based, smoke-free alternatives.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Buy with a $185.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyDividends
Philip Morris Announces Quarterly Dividend Payment
Positive
Dec 12, 2025

On December 12, 2025, Philip Morris International announced a regular quarterly dividend of $1.47 per common share, payable on January 14, 2026. This decision reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to returning value to its shareholders while continuing its strategic shift towards smoke-free products. The announcement underscores PMI’s strong financial position and its dedication to evolving its business model to include products outside of the traditional tobacco and nicotine sectors.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Hold with a $160.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
Philip Morris Enters New $2 Billion Credit Agreement
Positive
Dec 11, 2025

On December 11, 2025, Philip Morris International Inc. entered into a new credit agreement effective January 29, 2026, for a $2.0 billion revolving credit facility with Citibank Europe plc and Citibank, N.A. This facility, which will be used for general corporate purposes, replaces an existing facility set to expire in 2027. Additionally, PMI amended and extended a €1.5 billion credit facility, pushing its expiration to January 29, 2029. These financial maneuvers aim to enhance PMI’s liquidity and operational flexibility, potentially impacting its financial stability and stakeholder relations.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Hold with a $156.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Philip Morris Reaffirms 2025 EPS Forecast at Conference
Positive
Dec 2, 2025

On December 2, 2025, Philip Morris International’s CEO, Jacek Olczak, presented at the Morgan Stanley Global Consumer & Retail Conference, reaffirming the company’s 2025 full-year EPS forecast of $7.39 to $7.49, indicating a projected increase from 2024. The announcement highlights PMI’s stable financial outlook and its strategic focus on smoke-free products, despite ongoing industry challenges and risks.

The most recent analyst rating on (PM) stock is a Buy with a $185.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Philip Morris stock, see the PM Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 20, 2026