-- CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:
Philip Morris (PM) posted Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.96 vs. $1.69 (+16%), well ahead of the $1.83 consensus. Net sales rose 9.1% to $10.15B ($240M ahead of consensus) and gross margin rose 70 bps to 68.1% (10 bps ahead of consensus). PM's total Q1 shipments fell 1.9% Y/Y, due to a cigarette volume decline of 5.1%, partly offset by smoke-free product growth (+9.1%). PM's International Smoke-Free business accounted for 43% of total revenue in Q1, with segment net revenues rising 25% Y/Y and gross profit up 29%. PM narrowed full year adjusted EPS guidance to $8.36-$8.51 from $8.38-$8.53, reflecting currency impacts only. PM's Q2 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.02-$2.07 was shy of the $2.12 consensus. PM shares traded 2% higher in pre-market trading, a muted reaction following the beat, which we attribute to the weaker-than-expected Q2 guidance. We note PM's long history of providing conservative guidance. PM is coming off two very strong years of outperformance in which it was one of the sector's best-performing equities.