Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”), the terms “Altria,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to either (i) Altria Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries or (ii) Altria Group, Inc. only and not its consolidated subsidiaries, as appropriate in the context.
In this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section, we refer to the following “adjusted” financial measures: adjusted operating companies income (loss) (“OCI”); adjusted OCI margins; adjusted net earnings attributable to Altria; adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to Altria; and adjusted effective tax rates. These adjusted financial measures are not required by, or calculated in accordance with, United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and may not be calculated the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. These adjusted financial measures should thus be considered as supplemental in nature and not considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. For a further description of these non-GAAP financial measures, see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below.
Executive Summary
Our Business
We have a leading portfolio of tobacco products for U.S. tobacco consumers age 21+. Our Vision by 2030 is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future (“Vision”). We are Moving Beyond Smoking™, leading the way in moving adult smokers away from cigarettes by taking action to transition millions to potentially less harmful choices - believing it is a substantial opportunity for adult tobacco consumers, our businesses and society.
Our wholly owned subsidiaries include leading manufacturers of both combustible and smoke-free products. In combustibles, we own Philip Morris USA Inc. (“PM USA”), the most profitable U.S. cigarette manufacturer, and John Middleton Co. (“Middleton”), a leading U.S. cigar manufacturer.
Our smoke-free portfolio includes ownership of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (“USSTC”), the leading global moist smokeless tobacco (“MST”) manufacturer, and Helix Innovations LLC (“Helix”), a rapidly growing manufacturer of oral nicotine pouches. We also enhance our smoke-free product portfolio with exclusive U.S. commercialization rights to the IQOS Tobacco Heating System and Marlboro HeatSticks, and an equity investment in JUUL Labs, Inc. (“JUUL”).
We also own equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (“ABI”), the world’s largest brewer, and Cronos Group Inc. (“Cronos”), a leading Canadian cannabinoid company.
The brand portfolios of our tobacco operating companies include Marlboro, Black & Mild, Copenhagen, Skoal and on!. Trademarks and service marks related to Altria referenced in this Form 10-Q are the property of Altria or our subsidiaries or are used with permission.
Trends and Developments
In this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section, we discuss factors that have impacted our business as of the date of this Form 10-Q. In addition, we are aware of certain trends and developments that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material impact on our business, including the value of our equity investments, in the future. In this Trends and Developments section, we focus on the potential effects on our business resulting from the recent rise in the rate of inflation, the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated increasing global energy prices, and, together with other macroeconomic factors such as supply and demand imbalances and labor shortages, contributed to the recent historic rise in the rate of inflation. A dramatic rise in inflation, coupled with the end of government stimulus, could impact our business, including by causing changes in adult tobacco consumer purchasing behavior. We have observed increased cigarette industry discount retail share in recent quarters. If not offset by corresponding wage increases, higher rates of inflation could result in lower levels of
disposable income among adult tobacco consumers, which could further increase cigarette industry discount retail share. Increases in inflation also have a direct and adverse impact on our Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) expense and other direct and indirect costs. We expect inflation to continue at increased levels in 2022, and the extent of any effects on adult tobacco consumer purchasing behavior depends in part on the magnitude and duration of such increase. See Operating Results by Business Segment - Tobacco Space - Business Environment for additional information on evolving trends in the tobacco industry and the impacts to our business from increased inflation.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to contribute to volatility in the domestic and global economies, including disruptions in the supply and distribution chain, and changes in consumer behavior. The economic and business repercussions of COVID-19 have been compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While our operating companies focus on the manufacture and sale of tobacco products in the United States and have little direct exposure to the impacted regions, we have experienced negative effects on the cost and availability of certain raw materials and component parts for our operating companies’ products. We have worked to mitigate the potential negative impacts of these macroeconomic and geopolitical dynamics on our businesses through, among other actions, proactive engagement with current and potential suppliers and distributors, the development of alternative sourcing strategies, long-term supply contracts, implementation of COVID-19 protocols at our facilities and prudent oversight of our liquidity. See Operating Results by Business Segment - Tobacco Space - Business Environment for additional information on the supply chain and other impacts of the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment on our business.
Tobacco companies are subject to broad and evolving regulatory and legislative frameworks that could have a material impact on our business. For example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) has stated its intention to issue proposed product standards regarding menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in cigars in the near future. See Operating Results by Business Segment - Tobacco Space - Business Environment for additional information on the nature, scope and potential impacts of regulatory and legislative developments.
ABI’s business also has been impacted by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. ABI has been adversely impacted by supply chain constraints across certain markets, adverse transactional foreign exchange rates, inflation and commodity cost headwinds. ABI also has direct exposure to the Russia and Ukraine regions through a joint venture. As result, in the first quarter of 2022, ABI will record a non-cash impairment charge on its joint venture. We do not believe JUUL’s business has been materially impacted by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, but the effect of rising U.S. interest rates has resulted in an increase to the discount rate, which adversely impacted the fair value of our investment in JUUL at March 31, 2022. See Note 3. Investments in Equity Securities to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements of this Form 10-Q (“Item 1”) for additional information on impacts on our equity investments.
We are also monitoring the increased risk of cyber attacks as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have implemented heightened cybersecurity monitoring of our systems and those of our critical suppliers designed to address the evolving threat landscape.
To date, we have not experienced any material adverse effects on our business or our ability to achieve our Vision as a result of the trends and developments discussed above. As the trends and developments discussed above evolve and new ones emerge, we will continue to carefully evaluate the potential impacts on our business and our Vision.
Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
The changes in net earnings attributable to Altria and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) attributable to Altria for the three months ended March 31, 2022, from the three months ended March 31, 2021, were due primarily to the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (in millions, except per share data) | Net Earnings | | Diluted EPS |
| For the three months ended March 31, 2021 | $ | 1,424 | | | $ | 0.77 | |
| 2021 NPM Adjustment Items | (24) | | | (0.01) | |
| 2021 Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | 37 | | | 0.02 | |
| 2021 Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | 26 | | | 0.01 | |
| 2021 JUUL changes in fair value | 200 | | | 0.10 | |
| 2021 ABI-related special items | (100) | | | (0.05) | |
| 2021 Cronos-related special items | (70) | | | (0.04) | |
| 2021 Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 496 | | | 0.27 | |
| 2021 Income tax items | (6) | | | — | |
| Subtotal 2021 special items | 559 | | | 0.30 | |
| 2022 NPM Adjustment Items | 45 | | | 0.02 | |
| 2022 Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | (5) | | | — | |
| 2022 Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | (9) | | | — | |
| 2022 JUUL changes in fair value | (100) | | | (0.05) | |
| 2022 ABI-related special items | 47 | | | 0.02 | |
| 2022 Cronos-related special items | (61) | | | (0.03) | |
| 2022 Income tax items | (5) | | | — | |
| Subtotal 2022 special items | (88) | | | (0.04) | |
| Fewer shares outstanding | — | | | 0.02 | |
| Change in tax rate | (4) | | | — | |
| Operations | 68 | | | 0.03 | |
| For the three months ended March 31, 2022 | $ | 1,959 | | | $ | 1.08 | |
| | | |
| 2022 Reported Net Earnings | $ | 1,959 | | | $ | 1.08 | |
| 2021 Reported Net Earnings | $ | 1,424 | | | $ | 0.77 | |
| % Change | 37.6 | % | | 40.3 | % |
| | | |
2022 Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted EPS | $ | 2,047 | | | $ | 1.12 | |
2021 Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted EPS | $ | 1,983 | | | $ | 1.07 | |
| % Change | 3.2 | % | | 4.7 | % |
| | | |
| | | |
|
For a discussion of special items and other business drivers affecting the comparability of statements of earnings amounts and reconciliations of adjusted earnings attributable to Altria and adjusted diluted EPS attributable to Altria, see the Consolidated Operating Results section below.
▪Fewer Shares Outstanding: Fewer shares outstanding were due to shares we repurchased under our share repurchase program.
▪Operations: The increase of $68 million in operations (which excludes the impact of special items shown in the table above) was due primarily to the following:
•higher OCI (primarily in our smokeable products segment); and
•lower interest and other debt expense, net;
partially offset by:
•lower income from our equity investment in ABI.
For further details, see the Consolidated Operating Results and Operating Results by Business Segment sections below.
2022 Forecasted Results
We expect our 2022 full-year adjusted diluted EPS to be in a range of $4.79 to $4.93, representing a growth rate of 4% to 7% over our 2021 full-year adjusted diluted EPS of $4.61, as shown in the first table below. We continue to expect that 2022 adjusted diluted EPS growth will be weighted toward the second half of the year. While the 2022 full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance accounts for a range of scenarios, the external environment remains dynamic. We will continue to monitor conditions related to (i) the economy, including the impact of increased inflation and global supply chain disruptions, (ii) the impact of current and future COVID-19 variants and mitigation strategies, (iii) adult tobacco consumer dynamics, including tobacco usage occasions, available disposable income, purchasing patterns and adoption of smoke-free products, (iv) regulatory and legislative developments and (v) the impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Our 2022 full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance range includes planned investments in support of our Vision, such as (i) costs to enhance our digital consumer engagement system, (ii) increased smoke-free product research, development and regulatory preparation expenses and (iii) marketplace activities in support of our smoke-free products. The guidance range also includes anticipated inflationary increases in MSA expenses and direct materials costs and our current expectation that PM USA will not have access to the IQOS system in 2022.
| | | | | |
Reconciliation of 2021 Reported Diluted EPS to 2021 Adjusted Diluted EPS |
| 2021 Reported diluted EPS | $ | 1.34 | |
| NPM Adjustment Items | (0.03) | |
| Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | 0.05 | |
| Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | 0.07 | |
| ABI-related special items | 2.66 | |
| Cronos-related special items | 0.25 | |
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | 0.27 | |
2021 Adjusted diluted EPS | $ | 4.61 | |
The following (income) expense items are excluded from our 2022 forecasted adjusted diluted EPS growth rate:
| | | | | |
(Income) Expense Excluded from 2022 Forecasted Adjusted Diluted EPS |
| NPM Adjustment Items | $ | (0.02) | |
| |
| |
| JUUL changes in fair value | 0.05 | |
| ABI-related special items | (0.02) | |
| Cronos-related special items | 0.03 | |
| |
| $ | 0.04 | |
For a discussion of certain income and expense items excluded from the forecasted results above, see the Consolidated Operating Results section below.
Our full-year adjusted diluted EPS forecast excludes the impact of certain income and expense items, including those items noted in the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section below, that our management believes are not part of underlying operations. Our management cannot estimate on a forward-looking basis the impact of these items on our reported diluted EPS because these items, which could be significant, may be unusual or infrequent, are difficult to predict and may be highly variable. As a result, we do not provide a corresponding GAAP measure for, or reconciliation to, our adjusted diluted EPS forecast.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
While we report our financial results in accordance with GAAP, our management reviews OCI, which is defined as operating income before general corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles, to evaluate the performance of, and allocate resources to, our segments. Our management also reviews certain financial results, including OCI, OCI margins, net earnings attributable to Altria and diluted EPS, on an adjusted basis, which excludes certain income and expense items that our management believes are not part of underlying operations. These items may include, for example, loss on early extinguishment of debt, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition-related and disposition-related costs, equity investment-related special items (including any changes in fair value of our equity investment recorded using the fair value option and any changes in the fair value of related warrants and preemptive rights), certain income tax items, charges associated with tobacco and health and certain other litigation items, and resolutions of certain non-participating manufacturer (“NPM”) adjustment disputes under the MSA (such dispute resolutions are referred to as “NPM Adjustment Items”). Our management does not view any of these special items to be part of our underlying results as they may be highly variable, may be unusual or
infrequent, are difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Our management also reviews income tax rates on an adjusted basis. Our adjusted effective tax rate may exclude certain income tax items from our reported effective tax rate.
Our management believes that adjusted financial measures provide useful additional insight into underlying business trends and results, and provide a more meaningful comparison of year-over-year results. Our management uses adjusted financial measures and regularly provides these to our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) for planning, forecasting and evaluating business and financial performance, including allocating resources and evaluating results relative to employee compensation targets. These adjusted financial measures are not required by, or calculated in accordance with GAAP and may not be calculated the same as similarly titled measures used by other companies. These adjusted financial measures should thus be considered as supplemental in nature and not considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Except as noted in the 2022 Forecasted Results section above, when we provide a non-GAAP measure in this Form 10-Q, we also provide a reconciliation of that non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
Discussion and Analysis
Consolidated Operating Results
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| (in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | |
| Net Revenues: | | | | | | | |
| Smokeable products | $ | 5,265 | | | $ | 5,250 | | | | | |
| Oral tobacco products | 613 | | | 626 | | | | | |
| Wine | — | | | 150 | | | | | |
| All other | 14 | | | 10 | | | | | |
| Net revenues | $ | 5,892 | | | $ | 6,036 | | | | | |
| Excise Taxes on Products: | | | | | | | |
| Smokeable products | $ | 1,044 | | | $ | 1,121 | | | | | |
| Oral tobacco products | 29 | | | 31 | | | | | |
| Wine | — | | | 4 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Excise taxes on products | $ | 1,073 | | | $ | 1,156 | | | | | |
| Operating Income: | | | | | | | |
| OCI: | | | | | | | |
| Smokeable products | $ | 2,559 | | | $ | 2,372 | | | | | |
| Oral tobacco products | 407 | | | 392 | | | | | |
| Wine | — | | | 18 | | | | | |
| All other | (5) | | | (14) | | | | | |
| Amortization of intangibles | (17) | | | (17) | | | | | |
| General corporate expenses | (60) | | | (61) | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Operating income | $ | 2,884 | | | $ | 2,690 | | | | | |
As discussed further in Note 8. Segment Reporting to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 8”), our CODM reviews OCI to evaluate the performance of, and allocate resources to, our segments. Our management believes it is appropriate to disclose this measure to help investors analyze the business performance and trends of our business segments.
The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings attributable to Altria and adjusted diluted EPS attributable to Altria for the three months ended March 31:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| (in millions of dollars, except per share data) | | Earnings before Income Taxes | Provision for Income Taxes | Net Earnings | Net Earnings Attributable
to Altria | Diluted EPS | |
2022 Reported | | $ | 2,673 | | $ | 714 | | $ | 1,959 | | $ | 1,959 | | $ | 1.08 | | |
| NPM Adjustment Items | | (60) | | (15) | | (45) | | (45) | | (0.02) | | |
| Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | | 7 | | 2 | | 5 | | 5 | | — | | |
Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | | 12 | | 3 | | 9 | | 9 | | — | | |
| JUUL changes in fair value | | 100 | | — | | 100 | | 100 | | 0.05 | | |
| ABI-related special items | | (59) | | (12) | | (47) | | (47) | | (0.02) | | |
| Cronos-related special items | | 61 | | — | | 61 | | 61 | | 0.03 | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Income tax items | | — | | (5) | | 5 | | 5 | | — | | |
2022 Adjusted for Special Items | | $ | 2,734 | | $ | 687 | | $ | 2,047 | | $ | 2,047 | | $ | 1.12 | | |
| | | | | | | |
2021 Reported | | $ | 1,937 | | $ | 516 | | $ | 1,421 | | $ | 1,424 | | $ | 0.77 | | |
| NPM Adjustment Items | | (32) | | (8) | | (24) | | (24) | | (0.01) | | |
| Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | | 48 | | 11 | | 37 | | 37 | | 0.02 | | |
Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | | 35 | | 9 | | 26 | | 26 | | 0.01 | | |
| JUUL changes in fair value | | 200 | | — | | 200 | | 200 | | 0.10 | | |
| ABI-related special items | | (128) | | (28) | | (100) | | (100) | | (0.05) | | |
| Cronos-related special items | | (70) | | — | | (70) | | (70) | | (0.04) | | |
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt | | 649 | | 153 | | 496 | | 496 | | 0.27 | | |
| Income tax items | | — | | 6 | | (6) | | (6) | | — | | |
2021 Adjusted for Special Items | | $ | 2,639 | | $ | 659 | | $ | 1,980 | | $ | 1,983 | | $ | 1.07 | | |
The following special items affected the comparability of statements of earnings amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021:
▪NPM Adjustment Items: For a discussion of NPM Adjustment Items and a breakdown of these items by segment, see Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation in Note 10. Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 10”) and NPM Adjustment Items in Note 8, respectively.
▪Asset Impairment, Exit, Implementation, Acquisition and Disposition-Related Costs: For a discussion of acquisition-related costs for the three months ended March 31, 2021, see Note 8.
▪Tobacco and Health and Certain Other Litigation Items: For a discussion of tobacco and health and certain other litigation items and a breakdown of these costs by segment, see Note 10 and Tobacco and Health and Certain Other Litigation Items in Note 8, respectively.
▪JUUL Changes in Fair Value: We reported non-cash, pre-tax unrealized losses of $100 million and $200 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, as (income) losses from equity investments in our condensed consolidated statements of earnings as a result of decreases in the estimated fair value of our investment in JUUL. We recorded corresponding adjustments to the JUUL tax valuation allowance in 2022 and 2021. For further discussion, see Note 3. Investments in Equity Securities to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 3”).
▪ABI-Related Special Items: We recorded net pre-tax income of $59 million from our equity investment in ABI for the three months ended March 31, 2022, consisting primarily of mark-to-market gains on certain ABI financial instruments associated with its share commitments.
We recorded net pre-tax income of $128 million from our equity investment in ABI for the three months ended March 31, 2021, consisting primarily of (i) ABI’s completion of the issuance of a minority stake in its U.S.-based metal container
operations, (ii) mark-to-market gains on certain ABI financial instruments associated with its share commitments and (iii) charges associated with an early bond termination by ABI.
These amounts include our respective share of the amounts recorded by ABI and additional adjustments related to (i) conversion from international financial reporting standards to GAAP and (ii) adjustments to our investment required under the equity method of accounting.
▪Cronos-Related Special Items: We recorded net pre-tax (income) expense consisting of the following:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | | | |
| (in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | | | |
(Gain) loss on Cronos-related financial instruments (1) | $ | 10 | | | $ | (110) | | | | | |
(Income) losses from equity investments (2) | 51 | | | 40 | | | | | |
| Total Cronos-related special items - (income) expense | $ | 61 | | | $ | (70) | | | | | |
(1)Amounts are related to the non-cash change in the fair value of the warrant and certain anti-dilution protections (the “Fixed-price Preemptive Rights”) acquired in the Cronos transaction.
(2)Amounts include our share of special items recorded by Cronos and additional adjustments, if required under the equity method of accounting, related to our investment in Cronos.
We recorded corresponding adjustments to the Cronos tax valuation allowance in 2022 and 2021.
For further discussion, see Note 3.
▪Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt: We recorded pre-tax losses of $649 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as a result of the completion of debt tender offers and redemption for certain of our long-term senior unsecured notes as discussed in Note 9. Debt to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 (“Note 9”).
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $144 million (2.4%), due primarily to the sale of our wine business in October 2021.
Cost of sales decreased $162 million (10.1%), due primarily to the sale of our wine business, lower shipment volume in our smokeable products segment and higher NPM Adjustment Items in 2022, partially offset by higher per unit settlement charges.
Excise taxes on products decreased $83 million (7.2%), due primarily to lower shipment volume in our smokeable products segment.
Marketing, administration and research costs decreased $93 million (16.0%), due primarily to acquisition-related costs in 2021 in our oral tobacco products segment, the sale of our wine business and lower tobacco and health and certain other litigation items in our smokeable products segment.
Operating income increased $194 million (7.2%), due primarily to higher operating results in our smokeable products segment.
Interest and other debt expense, net decreased $27 million (8.8%), due primarily to lower interest costs in 2022 as a result of debt maturities and refinancing activities in 2021.
(Income) losses from equity investments decreased $17 million (33.3%), due primarily to lower income from our equity investment in ABI, which included a negative impact from special items, partially offset by lower non-cash unrealized losses on changes in the estimated fair value of our investment in JUUL.
Reported net earnings attributable to Altria of $1,959 million increased $535 million (37.6%), due primarily to the loss on early extinguishment of debt in 2021, higher operating income and lower interest and other debt expense, net, partially offset by an unfavorable impact on Cronos-related financial instruments. Reported basic and diluted EPS attributable to Altria of $1.08, each increased by 40.3%, due to higher reported net earnings attributable to Altria and fewer shares outstanding.
Adjusted net earnings attributable to Altria of $2,047 million increased $64 million (3.2%), due primarily to higher OCI, primarily in our smokeable products segment, and lower interest and other debt expense, net, partially offset by lower income from our equity investment in ABI. Adjusted diluted EPS attributable to Altria of $1.12 increased by 4.7%, due to higher adjusted net earnings attributable to Altria and fewer shares outstanding.
Operating Results by Business Segment
Tobacco Space
Business Environment
Summary
The United States tobacco industry faces a number of business and legal challenges that have adversely affected and may adversely affect our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position or our ability to achieve our Vision. These challenges, some of which are discussed in more detail in Note 10 and in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (“2021 Form 10-K”), include:
▪pending and threatened litigation and bonding requirements;
▪restrictions and requirements imposed by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the “FSPTCA”), and restrictions and requirements (and related enforcement actions) that have been, and in the future will be, imposed by the FDA;
▪actual and proposed excise tax increases, as well as changes in tax structures and tax stamping requirements;
▪bans and restrictions on tobacco use imposed by governmental entities and private establishments and employers;
▪other federal, state and local government actions, including:
▪restrictions on the sale of certain tobacco products, the sale of tobacco products by certain retail establishments, the sale of tobacco products with characterizing flavors and the sale of tobacco products in certain package sizes;
▪additional restrictions on the advertising and promotion of tobacco products;
▪other actual and proposed tobacco-related legislation and regulation; and
▪governmental investigations;
▪reductions in cigarette and MST products consumption levels due to growth of innovative tobacco products;
▪increased efforts by tobacco control advocates and other private sector entities (including retail establishments) to further restrict the availability and use of tobacco products;
▪changes in adult tobacco consumer purchase behavior, which is influenced by various factors such as macroeconomic conditions (including inflation), excise taxes and price gap relationships, may result in adult tobacco consumers switching to discount products or other lower-priced tobacco products;
▪the highly competitive nature of all tobacco categories, including competitive disadvantages related to cigarette price increases attributable to the settlement of certain litigation and the proliferation of innovative tobacco products, such as e-vapor and oral nicotine pouch products;
▪illicit trade in tobacco products; and
▪potential adverse changes in prices, availability and quality of tobacco, other raw materials and component parts, including as a result of changes in macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions.
In addition to and in connection with the foregoing, evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences are continuing to impact the tobacco industry. We believe that a significant number of adult tobacco consumers switch among tobacco categories, use multiple forms of tobacco products and try innovative tobacco products, such as e-vapor products and oral nicotine pouches. Adult smokers continue to transition from cigarettes to exclusive use of smoke-free tobacco product alternatives, which aligns with our Vision.
We work to meet these evolving adult tobacco consumer preferences over time by developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing products both within and outside the United States through innovation and other growth strategies (including, where appropriate, arrangements with, or investments in, third parties).
Over the past two years, the legislative and regulatory activities discussed below negatively impacted growth in the e-vapor category. Despite the challenges these activities have created and continue to create in the marketplace, the e-vapor category experienced moderate growth in 2021 and remains competitive.
Oral nicotine pouch retail share of the total oral tobacco category grew significantly over the prior year from 13.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to 19.3% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The oral nicotine pouch category has become increasingly competitive.
We are monitoring the sale and distribution of synthetic nicotine products, including in the form of e-vapor products and oral nicotine pouches. As a result of recent amendments to the U.S. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, synthetic nicotine products are now subject to FDA regulatory oversight, as discussed further below. We believe FDA regulatory actions, which may be subject to legal challenges, will further impact the competitive environment.
We believe the innovative tobacco product categories will continue to be dynamic due to competition, adult tobacco consumer exploration of a variety of tobacco product options, adult tobacco consumer perceptions of the relative risks of smoke-free products compared to cigarettes, FDA determinations on product applications and legislative actions.
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we estimate that, when adjusted for trade inventory movements, calendar differences and other factors, domestic cigarette industry volume declined by 6.5%. We expect 2022 cigarette industry volume trends to continue to be most influenced by (i) disposable income, purchasing patterns and adoption of smoke-free products, (ii) macroeconomic conditions (including increased inflation and gasoline prices, partially offset by low unemployment and wage inflation), (iii) cross-category movement, (iv) the potential impact of COVID-19 variants and (v) regulatory and legislative (including excise tax) developments.
Macroeconomic conditions (including a high inflationary environment) can also impact adult tobacco consumer purchasing behavior. For example, economic downturns have coincided with adult tobacco consumers choosing discount products and other lower priced tobacco products. Beginning in January 2022, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 impacted consumer purchasing behavior, resulting in a short-term decrease in retail trips and tobacco sales volume. In addition, gas prices increased due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Increases in inflation as a result of macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions put pressure on discretionary income as the Consumer Price Index reached a 40 year high in March 2022. These economic headwinds were partially offset by positive wage inflation, increases in federal tax refund payments, and low unemployment in comparison to the three months ended March 31, 2021. Overall market conditions throughout the three months ended March 31, 2022, have been accompanied by sequential growth of cigarette industry discount retail share of 0.3% to 26.4%. We expect fluctuations in discount cigarette share to continue as price sensitive adult tobacco consumers react to their economic conditions.
FSPTCA and FDA Regulation
▪The Regulatory Framework: The FSPTCA, its implementing regulations and its 2016 deeming regulations establish broad FDA regulatory authority over all tobacco products and, among other provisions:
▪impose restrictions on the advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of tobacco products (see Final Tobacco Marketing Rule below);
▪establish pre-market review pathways for new and modified tobacco products (see Pre-Market Review Pathways for Tobacco Products and Market Authorization Enforcement below);
▪prohibit any express or implied claims that a tobacco product is or may be less harmful than other tobacco products without FDA authorization;
▪authorize the FDA to impose tobacco product standards that are appropriate for the protection of the public health; and
▪equip the FDA with a variety of investigatory and enforcement tools, including the authority to inspect product manufacturing and other facilities.
The FSPTCA also bans descriptors such as “light,” “low” or “mild” when used as descriptors of modified risk, unless expressly authorized by the FDA. In connection with a 2016 lawsuit initiated by Middleton, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the FDA, informed Middleton that the FDA does not intend to bring an enforcement action against Middleton for the use of the term “mild” in the trademark “Black & Mild.” Consequently, Middleton dismissed its lawsuit without prejudice. If the FDA were to change its position at some later date, Middleton would have the opportunity to bring another lawsuit.
In March 2022, the U.S. Congress expanded the statutory definition of tobacco products to include tobacco products that contain nicotine derived from any source, including synthetic nicotine. We advocated for FDA regulatory oversight of synthetic nicotine products. The amendment became effective on April 14, 2022. See the Pre-Market Review Pathways for Tobacco Products and Market Authorization Enforcement below for additional information on the effects of the statutory change.
▪Final Tobacco Marketing Rule: As required by the FSPTCA, in March 2010, the FDA promulgated a wide range of advertising and promotion restrictions for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (1) products (the “Final Tobacco Marketing Rule”). The May 2016 deeming regulations amended the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule to expand specific provisions to all tobacco products, including cigars, pipe tobacco and e-vapor and oral nicotine products containing tobacco-derived nicotine or other tobacco derivatives, but do not include any component or part that is not made or derived from tobacco.
The Final Tobacco Marketing Rule, as amended, among other things:
▪restricts the use of non-tobacco trade and brand names on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products;
(1) “Smokeless tobacco,” as used in this section of this Form 10-Q, refers to smokeless tobacco products first regulated by the FDA in 2009, including MST. It excludes oral nicotine pouches, which were first regulated by the FDA in 2016.
▪prohibits sampling of all tobacco products except that sampling of smokeless tobacco products is permitted in qualified adult-only facilities;
▪prohibits the sale or distribution of items such as hats and tee shirts with cigarette or smokeless tobacco brands or logos;
▪prohibits cigarettes and smokeless tobacco brand name sponsorship of any athletic, musical, artistic or other social or cultural event, or any entry or team in any event; and
▪requires the development by the FDA of graphic warnings for cigarettes, establishes warning requirements for other tobacco products, and gives the FDA the authority to require new warnings for any type of tobacco product (see FDA Regulatory Actions - Graphic Warnings below).
Subject to certain limitations arising from legal challenges, the Final Tobacco Marketing Rule took effect in June 2010 for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, in August 2016 for all other tobacco products, including e-vapor and oral nicotine pouch products containing tobacco-derived nicotine, and in April 2022 for tobacco products, including e-vapor and oral nicotine pouch products, that contain synthetic nicotine.
▪Rulemaking and Guidance: From time to time, the FDA issues proposed regulations and guidance, which may be issued in draft or final form, generally involve public comment and may include scientific review. The FDA also may request comments on broad topics through an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ANPRM”). We actively engage with the FDA to develop and implement the FSPTCA’s regulatory framework, including submission of comments to various FDA policies and proposals and participation in public hearings and engagement sessions.
The FDA’s implementation of the FSPTCA and related regulations and guidance also may have an impact on enforcement efforts by states, territories and localities of their laws and regulations as well as of the State Settlement Agreements discussed below (see State Settlement Agreements below). Such enforcement efforts may adversely affect our ability to market and sell regulated tobacco products in those states, territories and localities and impact the value of our investment in JUUL.
▪FDA’s Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation: In July 2017, the FDA announced a “Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation” (“Comprehensive Plan”) designed to strike a balance between regulation and encouraging the development of innovative tobacco products that may be less risky than cigarettes. Since then, the FDA has issued additional information about its Comprehensive Plan in response to concerns associated with the rise in the use of e-vapor products by youth and the potential youth appeal of flavored tobacco products (see Underage Access and Use of Certain Tobacco Products below). As part of the Comprehensive Plan, the FDA:
▪issued ANPRMs relating to potential product standards for nicotine in cigarettes, flavors in all tobacco products (including menthol in cigarettes and characterizing flavors in all cigars) and, for e-vapor products, to protect against known public health risks such as concerns about youth exposure to liquid nicotine;
▪took actions to restrict youth access to e-vapor products; and
▪reconsidered the processes used by the FDA to review certain reports and new product applications.
▪Pre-Market Review Pathways for Tobacco Products and Market Authorization Enforcement: The FSPTCA permits the sale of tobacco products on the market as of February 15, 2007 and not subsequently modified (“Grandfathered Products”) and new or modified products authorized through the pre-market tobacco product application (“PMTA”), Substantial Equivalence (“SE”) or SE Exemption pathways. Subsequent FDA rules also provide a Supplemental PMTA pathway designed to increase the efficiency of submission and review for modified versions of previously authorized products.
The FDA pre-market authorization enforcement policy varies based on product type and date of availability in the market, specifically:
▪Grandfathered Products are exempt from the pre-market authorization requirement;
▪cigarette and smokeless tobacco products that were modified or first introduced into the market between February 15, 2007 and March 22, 2011 are generally considered “Provisional Products” for which SE reports were required to be filed by March 22, 2011. These reports must demonstrate that the product has the same characteristics as a product on the market as of February 15, 2007 or to a product previously determined to be substantially equivalent, or has different characteristics but does not raise different questions of public health;
▪tobacco products that were first regulated by the FDA in 2016, including cigars, e-vapor products and oral nicotine pouches that are not Grandfathered Products, are generally products for which either an SE report or PMTA needed to be filed by September 9, 2020; and
▪tobacco products containing nicotine from any source other than tobacco (e.g., synthetic nicotine) that were on the market between March 15, 2022 and April 14, 2022 and are not Grandfathered Products are generally products for which a manufacturer must file a PMTA by May 14, 2022. A manufacturer may keep such a product on the market until July 13, 2022 provided that a PMTA is filed by May 14, 2022. Thereafter, unless the FDA grants the
product a marketing order by July 13, 2022, the product becomes unlawful and subject to the FDA’s enforcement discretion.
Modifications to currently marketed products, including modifications that result from, for example, changes to the quantity of tobacco product(s) in a package, a manufacturer being unable to acquire ingredients or a supplier being unable to maintain the consistency required in ingredients, could trigger the FDA’s pre-market or SE review processes. Through these processes, a manufacturer could receive (i) a “not substantially equivalent” determination, (ii) a denial of a PMTA or (iii) a marketing order withdrawal by the FDA on one or more products, which would require the removal of the product or products from the market. In addition, new scientific data continues to be developed related to innovative tobacco products, which could impact FDA’s determination as to whether a product is, or continues to be, appropriate for the protection of public health and could, therefore, result in the removal of one or more products from the market. Any such actions affecting our or JUUL’s products could have a material adverse impact on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
Products Regulated in 2009: Most cigarette and smokeless tobacco products currently marketed by PM USA and USSTC are “Provisional Products.” PM USA and USSTC timely submitted SE reports for these Provisional Products and have received SE determinations on certain Provisional Products. Those products that were found by the FDA to be not substantially equivalent (certain smokeless tobacco products) had been discontinued for business reasons prior to the FDA’s determinations; therefore, those determinations did not impact business results. PM USA and USSTC have other Provisional Products that continue to be subject to the FDA’s pre-market review process. In the meantime, they can continue marketing these products unless the FDA determines that a specific Provisional Product is not substantially equivalent.
In addition, the FDA has communicated that it will not review a certain subset of Provisional Product SE reports and that the products that are the subject of those reports can continue to be legally marketed without further FDA review. PM USA and USSTC have Provisional Products included in this subset of products.
While we believe PM USA’s and USSTC’s current Provisional Products meet the statutory requirements of the FSPTCA, we cannot predict how the FDA will ultimately apply law, regulation and guidance to their various SE reports. Should PM USA or USSTC receive unfavorable determinations on any SE reports currently pending with the FDA, we believe PM USA and USSTC can replace the vast majority of these product volumes with other FDA authorized products or with Grandfathered Products.
Cigarette and smokeless tobacco products introduced into the market or modified after March 22, 2011 are “Non-Provisional Products” and must receive a marketing order from the FDA prior to being offered for sale. Marketing orders for Non-Provisional Products may be obtained by filing an SE report, PMTA or using another pre-market pathway established by the FDA. PM USA and USSTC may not be able to obtain a marketing order for non-provisional products because the FDA may determine that any such product does not meet the statutory requirements for approval.
Products Regulated in 2016: Manufacturers of products first regulated by the FDA in 2016, including cigars, oral nicotine pouches and e-vapor products, that were on the market as of August 8, 2016 and not subsequently modified must have filed an SE report or PMTA by the filing deadline of September 9, 2020 in order for their products to remain on the market. These products can remain on the market during FDA review through court-allowed, case-by-case discretion, so long as the report or application was timely filed with the FDA. Due to the large number of applications received by September 9, 2020, the FDA did not complete its review of all submitted applications by September 9, 2021, although it represents that it has made decisions on more than 98% of the applications, with most being marketing denial orders and a few marketing granted orders for tobacco flavor e-vapor products. A number of the marketing denial orders are subject to litigation challenges initiated by the affected manufacturers. For those products still under FDA review, it is uncertain when and for how long the FDA may permit continued marketing and sale of those products pursuant to its case-by-case discretion. For products (new or modified) not on the market as of August 8, 2016, manufacturers must file an SE report or PMTA and receive FDA authorization prior to marketing and selling the product.
Helix submitted PMTAs for on! oral nicotine pouches in May 2020. JUUL submitted PMTAs for its e-vapor device and the related tobacco and menthol flavors in July 2020. As of April 25, 2022, the FDA has not issued marketing order decisions for any on! or JUUL products. In addition, as of April 25, 2022, Middleton has received market orders or exemptions that cover over 99% of its cigar product volume.
In December 2013, we entered into a series of agreements with Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”), including an agreement that grants us an exclusive right to commercialize certain of PMI’s heated tobacco products in the United States, subject to FDA authorization of the applicable products. PMI submitted a PMTA and a modified risk tobacco product (“MRTP”) application with the FDA for its electronically heated tobacco products comprising the IQOS Tobacco Heating System. The IQOS devices heat, but do not burn tobacco. In April 2019, the FDA authorized the PMTA for the IQOS Tobacco Heating System and in July 2020, the FDA authorized the marketing of this system as an MRTP with a reduced exposure claim.
In December 2020, the FDA authorized the PMTA for IQOS 3, an updated version of the IQOS devices, and in March 2022 authorized the marketing of the IQOS 3 device as an MRTP with the same reduced exposure claim.
In September 2021, in connection with a patent dispute, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) issued a cease and desist order, effective as of November 29, 2021, banning (i) the importation of the IQOS devices, Marlboro HeatSticks and infringing components into the United States and (ii) the sale, marketing and distribution of such imported products in the United States. As a result, we removed the products from the marketplace. For a further discussion of the ITC decision, see Note 10.
In October 2021, the FDA authorized the marketing and sale of four of USSTC’s Verve oral nicotine products, including Green Mint and Blue Mint varieties, representing the first flavored product authorizations issued by the FDA for newly deemed innovative products. These products are not currently marketed or sold.
Post-Market Surveillance: Manufacturers that receive product authorizations through the PMTA process must adhere to the FDA post-market record keeping and reporting requirements, as detailed in market orders and in the final PMTA rule that went into effect in November 2021. This includes notification of all marketing activities. The IQOS Tobacco Heating System is subject to this post-market surveillance requirement. The FDA may amend requirements of a market order or withdraw the market order based on this information if, among other reasons, it determines that the continued marketing of the products is no longer appropriate for the protection of the public health.
Effect of Adverse FDA Determinations: FDA review time frames have varied. It is therefore difficult to predict the duration of FDA reviews of SE reports or PMTAs. Failure of manufacturers to submit applications by the applicable deadline, an unfavorable determination on an application, the withdrawal by the FDA of a prior marketing order or other changes in FDA regulatory requirements could result in the removal of products from the market. These manufacturers would have the option of marketing products that have received FDA pre-market authorization or Grandfathered Products. A “not substantially equivalent” determination, a denial of a PMTA or a marketing order withdrawal by the FDA on one or more products (which would require the removal of the product or products from the market) could have a material adverse impact on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business). Also, an adverse FDA determination on one or more innovative tobacco products could impede our ability to achieve our Vision.
▪FDA Regulatory Actions
▪Graphic Warnings: In March 2020, the FDA issued a final rule requiring 11 textual warnings accompanied by color graphics depicting certain negative health consequences of smoking on cigarette packaging and advertising. The final rule is currently set to become effective on April 9, 2023. PM USA and other cigarette manufacturers have filed lawsuits challenging the final rule on substantive and procedural grounds.
In the preamble to the final rule, the FDA stated that it would not exempt Marlboro HeatSticks, a heated tobacco product used with the IQOS devices, as part of the rulemaking, but would consider the Marlboro HeatSticks marketing order, and other marketing orders, on a case-by-case basis. To date, the FDA has not taken any action to exempt Marlboro HeatSticks from the graphic health warnings requirements.
▪Underage Access and Use of Certain Tobacco Products: The FDA announced regulatory actions in September 2018 to address underage access and use of e-vapor products. We have engaged with the FDA on this topic and have reaffirmed to the FDA our ongoing and long-standing commitment to preventing underage use. For example, during 2019, we advocated raising the minimum legal age to purchase all tobacco products to 21 at the federal and state levels to further address underage use, which is now federal law. See Federal, State and Local Legislation to Increase the Legal Age to Purchase Tobacco Products below for further discussion. In addition, through our retailer incentive program, stores representing over half of PM USA’s cigarette volume have implemented point-of-sale age validation technology.
Additionally, the FDA issued final guidance in April 2020, stating that it intends to prioritize enforcement action against certain product categories, including cartridge-based, flavored e-vapor products and products targeted to minors.
▪Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (“ENDS”) Products: Some e-vapor product manufacturers filed PMTAs for flavored tobacco products. As of April 25, 2022, many of these manufacturers received marketing denial orders for failure to provide sufficiently strong product-specific scientific evidence to demonstrate that the benefit of their products to adult smokers overcomes the risk that their products pose to youth. The FDA has communicated in these marketing denial orders that vapor products with non-tobacco flavors present unique questions relevant to the FDA’s “Appropriate for the Protection of Public Health” standard and that successful applications will require strong, product-specific evidence. A number of manufacturers are appealing the marketing denial orders for their products. If
the FDA does not ultimately allow for the reintroduction of flavors other than tobacco, it could adversely affect the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
▪Potential Product Standards
▪Nicotine in Cigarettes and Other Combustible Tobacco Products: In March 2018, the FDA issued an ANPRM seeking comments on the potential public health benefits and any possible adverse effects of lowering nicotine in combustible cigarettes to non-addictive or minimally addictive levels. Among other issues, the FDA sought comments on (i) whether smokers would compensate by smoking more cigarettes to obtain the same level of nicotine as with their current product and (ii) whether the proposed rule would create an illicit trade of cigarettes containing nicotine at levels higher than a non-addictive threshold that may be established by the FDA. The FDA also sought comments on whether a nicotine product standard should apply to other combustible tobacco products, including cigars.
▪Flavors in Tobacco Products: As discussed above under FDA’s Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation, the FDA indicated that it is considering proposing rulemaking for a product standard that would seek to ban menthol in combustible tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars, and that it intends to propose a product standard that would ban characterizing flavors in all cigars, including Grandfathered Products and those that have received SE determinations from the FDA - an intention reiterated in the FDA’s January 2020 guidance. In March 2018, the FDA issued an ANPRM seeking comments on the role, if any, that flavors (including menthol) in tobacco products may play in attracting youth and in helping some smokers switch to potentially less harmful forms of nicotine delivery. In the context of litigation, in April 2021, the FDA issued a response to a 2013 citizen petition requesting that the FDA prohibit menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes. In the response, the FDA announced it intends to develop and propose two product standards, which are expected by the second quarter of 2022, that would (i) ban menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and (ii) ban all characterizing flavors (including menthol) in cigars. While the FDA has yet to define “characterizing flavors” with respect to cigars, most of Middleton’s cigar products contain added flavors and may be subject to any action by the FDA to ban flavors in cigars. It is possible that the FDA may pursue a product standard for flavors in innovative tobacco products, including e-vapor products and oral nicotine pouches.
▪NNN in Smokeless Tobacco: In January 2017, the FDA proposed a product standard for N-nitrosonornicotine (“NNN”) levels in finished smokeless tobacco products.
▪If any one or more of the foregoing potential product standards were to become final and was appealed and upheld in the courts, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including, in certain cases, an adverse effect on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
▪Good Manufacturing Practices: The FSPTCA requires that the FDA promulgate good manufacturing practice regulations (referred to by the FDA as “Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice”) for tobacco product manufacturers, but does not specify a timeframe for such regulations. Compliance with any such regulations could result in increased costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse effect on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
▪Impact on Our Business; Compliance Costs and User Fees: FDA regulatory actions under the FSPTCA could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position in various ways. For example, actions by the FDA could:
▪impact the consumer acceptability of tobacco products;
▪delay, discontinue or prevent the sale or distribution of existing, new or modified tobacco products;
▪limit adult tobacco consumer choices;
▪impose restrictions on communications with adult tobacco consumers;
▪create a competitive advantage or disadvantage for certain tobacco companies;
▪impose additional manufacturing, labeling or packaging requirements;
▪impose additional restrictions at retail;
▪result in increased illicit trade in tobacco products; and/or
▪otherwise significantly increase the cost of doing business.
The failure to comply with FDA regulatory requirements, even inadvertently, and FDA enforcement actions also could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse effect on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
The FSPTCA imposes user fees on cigarette, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, cigar and pipe tobacco manufacturers and importers to pay for the cost of regulation and other matters. The FSPTCA does not impose user fees on e-vapor or oral nicotine pouch manufacturers. The cost of the FDA user fee is allocated first among tobacco product categories subject to FDA user fees and then among manufacturers and importers within each respective category based on their relative market shares, all as prescribed by the FSPTCA and FDA regulations. Payments for user fees are adjusted for several factors, including market share and industry volume. For a discussion of the impact of the FDA user fee payments on Altria, see Liquidity and Capital Resources - Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation below. In addition, compliance with the FSPTCA’s regulatory requirements has resulted, and will continue to result, in additional costs. The amount of additional compliance and related costs has not been material in any given quarter or year to date period but could become material, either individually or in the aggregate.
▪Investigation and Enforcement: The FDA has a number of investigatory and enforcement tools available to it, including document requests and other required information submissions, facility inspections, facility closures, examinations and investigations, injunction proceedings, monetary penalties, product withdrawal and recall orders, and product seizures. Investigations or enforcement actions could result in significant costs or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse effect on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
Excise Taxes
Tobacco products are subject to substantial excise taxes in the United States. Significant increases in tobacco-related taxes or fees have been proposed or enacted (including with respect to e-vapor products) and are likely to continue to be proposed or enacted at the federal, state and local levels within the United States. The frequency and magnitude of excise tax increases can be influenced by various factors, including the composition of executive and legislative bodies.
During 2021, the U.S. Congress considered legislation that would have significantly increased the federal excise tax for all tobacco products and created a new tax for e-vapor products and other products containing nicotine that are not currently subject to a tobacco federal excise tax (“novel tobacco products”). The U.S. House of Representatives removed the proposal to increase the federal excise tax on tobacco products currently subject to the tax from the legislation it was considering, but retained the proposed nicotine tax for novel tobacco products. The U.S. Senate debated the legislation and removed the nicotine tax for novel tobacco products; however, as of April 25, 2022, the legislation is still pending before the Senate and could be subject to further tax related amendments.
Federal, state and local cigarette excise taxes have increased substantially over the past two decades, far outpacing the rate of inflation. Between the end of 1998 and April 25, 2022, the weighted-average state cigarette excise tax increased from $0.36 to $1.89 per pack. As of April 25, 2022, no state has enacted new legislation increasing cigarette excise taxes in 2022, but various increases are under consideration or have been proposed.
A majority of states currently tax MST using an ad valorem method, which is calculated as a percentage of the price of the product, typically the wholesale price. This ad valorem method results in more tax being paid on premium products than is paid on lower-priced products of equal weight. We support legislation to convert ad valorem taxes on MST to a weight-based methodology because, unlike the ad valorem tax, a weight-based tax subjects cans of equal weight to the same tax. As of April 25, 2022, the federal government, 23 states, Puerto Rico, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cook County, Illinois have adopted a weight-based tax methodology for MST.
An increasing number of states and localities also are imposing excise taxes on e-vapor and oral nicotine pouches. As of April 25, 2022, 30 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and a number of cities and counties have enacted legislation to tax e-vapor products. These taxes are calculated in varying ways and may differ based on the e-vapor product form. Similarly, 11 states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to tax oral nicotine pouches.
Tax increases are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on product sales of our tobacco operating companies through lower consumption levels and the potential shift in adult tobacco consumer purchases from premium to non-premium or discount cigarettes, to lower taxed tobacco products, or to counterfeit and contraband products. Lower sales volume and reported share performance of our tobacco operating companies’ products could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or earnings. In addition, substantial excise tax increases on e-vapor and oral nicotine products, may negatively impact adult smokers’ transition to these products, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve our Vision and could have an adverse effect on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
International Treaty on Tobacco Control
The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (the “FCTC”) entered into force in February 2005. As of April 25, 2022, 181 countries, as well as the European Union, have become parties to the FCTC. While the United States is a signatory of the FCTC, it is not currently a party to the agreement, as the agreement has not been submitted to, or ratified by, the U.S. Senate. The FCTC is the first international public health treaty and its objective is to establish a global agenda for tobacco regulation with the purpose of reducing initiation of tobacco use and encouraging cessation. The treaty recommends (and in certain instances, requires) signatory nations to enact legislation that would address various tobacco-related issues.
There are a number of proposals currently under consideration by the governing body of the FCTC, some of which call for substantial restrictions on the manufacture, marketing, distribution and sale of tobacco products. It is not possible to predict the outcome of these proposals or the impact of any FCTC actions on legislation or regulation in the United States, either indirectly or as a result of the United States becoming a party to the FCTC, or whether or how these actions might indirectly influence FDA regulation and enforcement.
State Settlement Agreements
As discussed in Note 10, during 1997 and 1998, PM USA and other major domestic cigarette manufacturers entered into the State Settlement Agreements. These settlements require participating manufacturers to make substantial annual payments, which are adjusted for several factors, including inflation, operating income, market share and industry volume. Increases in inflation can increase our financial liability under the State Settlement Agreements. The State Settlement Agreements’ inflation calculations require us to apply the higher of 3% or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”) percentage rate as published in January of each year. As of December 2021, the inflation calculation was approximately 7% based on the latest CPI-U data; however, the increase in the annual payments did not have a material impact on our financial position. We believe that inflation will continue at increased levels in 2022, but do not expect the corresponding increase in annual payments to result in a material financial impact. However, we will continue to monitor conditions related to the impact of increased inflation on the macroeconomic environment.
For a discussion of the impact of the State Settlement Agreements on Altria, see Liquidity and Capital Resources - Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation below and Note 10. The State Settlement Agreements also place numerous requirements and restrictions on participating manufacturers’ business operations, including prohibitions and restrictions on the advertising and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Among these are prohibitions of outdoor and transit brand advertising, payments for product placement and free sampling (except in adult-only facilities). The State Settlement Agreements also place restrictions on the use of brand name sponsorships and brand name non-tobacco products and prohibitions on targeting youth and the use of cartoon characters. In addition, the State Settlement Agreements require companies to affirm corporate principles directed at reducing underage use of cigarettes; impose requirements regarding lobbying activities; limit the industry’s ability to challenge certain tobacco control and underage use laws; and provide for the dissolution of certain tobacco-related organizations and place restrictions on the establishment of any replacement organizations.
In November 1998, USSTC entered into the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (the “STMSA”) with the attorneys general of various states and United States territories to resolve the remaining health care cost reimbursement cases initiated against USSTC. The STMSA required USSTC to adopt various marketing and advertising restrictions. USSTC is the only smokeless tobacco manufacturer to sign the STMSA.
Other International, Federal, State and Local Regulation and Governmental and Private Activity
▪International, Federal, State and Local Regulation: Various states and localities have enacted or proposed legislation that imposes restrictions on tobacco products (including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, e-vapor products and oral nicotine pouches), such as legislation that (i) prohibits the sale of all tobacco products or certain tobacco categories, such as e-vapor, (ii) prohibits the sale of tobacco products with characterizing flavors, such as menthol cigarettes and flavored e-vapor products, (iii) requires the disclosure of health information separate from or in addition to federally mandated health warnings and (iv) restricts commercial speech or imposes additional restrictions on the marketing or sale of tobacco products. The legislation varies in terms of the type of tobacco products, the conditions under which such products are or would be restricted or prohibited, and exceptions to the restrictions or prohibitions. For example, a number of proposals involving characterizing flavors would prohibit smokeless tobacco products with characterizing flavors without providing an exception for mint- or wintergreen-flavored products. As of April 25, 2022, multiple states and localities are considering legislation to ban flavors in one or more tobacco products, and six states (California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Utah, New York and Illinois) and the
District of Columbia have passed such legislation. Some of these states, such as New York, Utah and Illinois, exempt certain products that have received FDA market authorization through the PMTA pathway.
The legislation in California bans the sale of most tobacco products with characterizing flavors, including menthol, mint and wintergreen. Following enactment of the flavor ban in August 2020, several registered California voters filed a referendum against the legislation. In January 2021 the requisite number of registered California voters signed a petition to place the question of whether the legislation should be affirmed or overturned on the next statewide general election ballot, which will likely take place in November 2022, unless a special statewide election is called earlier. As a result, the implementation of the legislation is delayed until after a vote on the referendum occurs.
Massachusetts passed legislation capping the amount of nicotine in e-vapor products. Similar legislation is pending in three other states.
Restrictions on e-vapor and oral nicotine pouch products also have been instituted or proposed internationally.
We have challenged and will continue to challenge certain federal, state and local legislation and other governmental action, including through litigation. It is possible, however, that legislation, regulation or other governmental action could be enacted or implemented that could have a material adverse impact on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business). Such action also could negatively impact adult smokers’ transition to these products, which could adversely affect our ability to achieve our Vision.
▪Federal, State and Local Legislation to Increase the Legal Age to Purchase Tobacco Products: After a number of states and localities proposed and enacted legislation to increase the minimum age to purchase all tobacco products, including e-vapor products, in December 2019, the federal government passed legislation increasing the minimum age to purchase all tobacco products, including e-vapor products, to 21 nationwide. As of April 25, 2022, 40 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have enacted laws increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21. Although an increase in the minimum age to purchase tobacco products may have a negative impact on our sales volume, as discussed above under Underage Access and Use of Certain Tobacco Products, we support raising the minimum legal age to purchase all tobacco products to 21 at the federal and state levels, reflecting our longstanding commitment to combat underage tobacco use.
▪Health Effects of Tobacco Products, Including E-vapor Products: Reports with respect to the health effects of smoking have been publicized for many years, including various reports by the U.S. Surgeon General. In 2019, there were public health advisories concerning vaping-related lung injuries and deaths and there have been health concerns raised about potential increased risks associated with COVID-19 among smokers and vapers. We believe that the public should be guided by the messages of the U.S. Surgeon General and public health authorities worldwide in making decisions concerning the use of tobacco products, including e-vapor products.
Most jurisdictions within the United States have restricted smoking in public places and some have restricted vaping in public places. Some public health groups have called for, and various jurisdictions have adopted or proposed, bans on smoking and vaping in outdoor places, in private apartments and in cars transporting children. It is not possible to predict the results of ongoing scientific research or the types of future scientific research into the health risks of tobacco exposure and the impact of such research on legislation and regulation.
▪Other Legislation or Governmental Initiatives: In addition to the actions discussed above, other regulatory initiatives affecting the tobacco industry have been adopted or are being considered at the federal level and in a number of state and local jurisdictions. For example, in recent years, legislation has been introduced or enacted at the state or local level to subject tobacco products to various reporting requirements and performance standards; establish educational campaigns relating to tobacco consumption or tobacco control programs or provide additional funding for governmental tobacco control activities; restrict the sale of tobacco products in certain retail establishments and the sale of tobacco products in certain package sizes; prohibit the sale of tobacco products based on environmental concerns; require tax stamping of smokeless tobacco products; require the use of state tax stamps using data encryption technology; and further restrict the sale, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Such legislation may be subject to constitutional or other challenges on various grounds, which may or may not be successful. In addition, if the COVID-19 pandemic resurges, state and local governments may reimpose additional health and safety requirements for all businesses, which could result in the potential temporary closure of certain businesses and/or facilities. It is possible that tobacco manufacturing and other facilities and the facilities of our and JUUL’s suppliers, our and JUUL’s suppliers’ suppliers and our and JUUL’s trade partners could be subject to additional government-mandated temporary closures and restrictions. Also, potential vaccination and testing requirements in the workplace resulting from a resurgence could impact worker availability.
It is not possible to predict what, if any, additional legislation, regulation or other governmental action will be enacted or implemented (and, if challenged, upheld) relating to the manufacturing, design, packaging, marketing, advertising, sale or use of tobacco products, or the tobacco industry generally. It is possible, however, that legislation, regulation or other
governmental action could be enacted or implemented that could have a material adverse impact on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
▪Governmental Investigations: From time to time, we are subject to governmental investigations on a range of matters. For example: (i) the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) to us while conducting its antitrust review of our investment in JUUL seeking information regarding, among other things, our role in the resignation of JUUL’s former chief executive officer and the hiring by JUUL of any current or former Altria director, executive or employee (see Note 10 and Item 3 for a description of the FTC’s administrative complaint against us and JUUL); (ii) the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) commenced an investigation relating to our acquisition, disclosures and accounting controls in connection with the JUUL investment; and (iii) the New York State Office of the Attorney General and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, separately, issued independent subpoenas to us seeking documents relating to our investment in and provision of services to JUUL. Additionally, JUUL is currently under investigation by various federal and state agencies, including the SEC, the FDA and the FTC, and state attorneys general. Such investigations vary in scope but at least some appear to include JUUL’s marketing practices, particularly as such practices relate to youth, and we may be asked in the context of those investigations to provide information concerning our investment in JUUL or relating to our marketing of Nu Mark LLC e-vapor products.
Private Sector Activity on Tobacco Products
A number of retailers, including national chains, have discontinued the sale of all tobacco products and others have discontinued the sale of e-vapor products. Reasons for the discontinuation include change in corporate policy and, with respect to e-vapor products, include reported illnesses and the uncertain regulatory environment. It is possible that if this private sector activity becomes more widespread it could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products
Illicit trade in tobacco products can have an adverse impact on our business and JUUL’s business. Illicit trade can take many forms, including the sale of counterfeit tobacco products; the sale of tobacco products in the United States that are intended for sale outside the country; the sale of untaxed tobacco products over the Internet and by other means designed to avoid the collection of applicable taxes; and diversion into one taxing jurisdiction of tobacco products intended for sale in another. Counterfeit tobacco products, for example, are manufactured by unknown third parties in unregulated environments. Counterfeit versions of our tobacco operating companies’ and JUUL’s products can negatively affect adult tobacco consumer experiences with and opinions of those brands. Illicit trade in tobacco products also harms law-abiding wholesalers and retailers by depriving them of lawful sales and undermines the significant investment we have made in legitimate distribution channels. Moreover, illicit trade in tobacco products results in federal, state and local governments losing tax revenues. Losses in tax revenues can cause such governments to take various actions, including increasing excise taxes, imposing legislative or regulatory requirements, or asserting claims against manufacturers of tobacco products or members of the trade channels through which such tobacco products are distributed and sold, each of which may have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position, including an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL (due to the impact on JUUL’s business).
We communicate with wholesale and retail trade members regarding illicit trade in tobacco products and how we can help prevent such activities, enforce wholesale and retail trade programs and policies that address illicit trade in tobacco products and, when necessary, litigate to protect our trademarks.
Price, Availability and Quality of Tobacco, Other Raw Materials, Ingredients and Component Parts
Shifts in crops (such as those driven by economic conditions and adverse weather patterns), government restrictions and mandated prices, production control programs, economic trade sanctions, import duties and tariffs, international trade disruptions, inflation, geopolitical instability, climate and environmental changes and disruptions due to man-made or natural disasters may increase the cost or reduce the supply or quality of tobacco or other raw materials or ingredients or component parts used to manufacture our products. Any significant change in the price, availability or quality of tobacco, other raw materials, ingredients or component parts used to manufacture our products could restrict our ability to continue manufacturing and marketing existing products or impact adult consumer product acceptability and have a material adverse effect on our profitability and business.
Current macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical instability (including historically high inflation, higher than normal gas prices, labor shortages, the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine) are limiting access to, and increasing the cost of, raw materials and component parts as they are having a worldwide impact on supply chains and commercial markets in the form of disruptions and delays. These macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions have
led to increases in our cost of raw materials (for example, resins and aluminum used in our packaging), ingredients and component part prices and may lead to further supply chain issues. We are implementing various strategies to help secure sufficient supplies of raw materials and component parts for production. To date, the impact on us has not been material. However, the effects of the current macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions may continue, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.
With respect to tobacco, as with other agricultural commodities, crop quality and availability can be influenced by variations in weather patterns, including those caused by climate change. Additionally, the price and availability of tobacco leaf can be influenced by macroeconomic conditions and imbalances in supply and demand. Macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, are unpredictable, which, among other factors, may result in changes in the patterns of demand for agricultural products and the cost of tobacco production, which could negatively impact tobacco leaf prices and tobacco supply. In addition, as consumer demand increases for smoke-free products and decreases for combustible products, the volume of tobacco leaf required for production may decrease. The reduced demand for tobacco leaf may result in the reduced supply and availability of domestic tobacco as growers divert resources to other crops, which could result in increased costs to us.
Tobacco production in certain countries also is subject to a variety of controls, including government-mandated prices and production control programs. Moreover, certain types of tobacco are only available in limited geographies, including geographies experiencing political instability or government prohibitions on the import or export of tobacco, and loss of their availability could impair our ability to continue marketing existing products or impact adult tobacco consumer product acceptability.
We work to mitigate these risks by maintaining inventory levels of certain tobacco varieties that cover several years, purchasing products from disperse geographic regions throughout the world and entering into long-term contracts with some of our tobacco growers.
In addition, government taxes, restrictions and prohibitions on the sale and use of certain products may limit access to, and increase the costs of, raw materials and component parts and, potentially, impede our ability to sell certain of our products. For example, additional taxes on the use of certain single-use plastics have been proposed by the U.S. Congress, which, if passed, could increase the costs of, and impair our ability to, source certain materials used in the packaging for our products.
JUUL may experience similar impacts to its business due to the factors discussed above. Any such changes could have an adverse impact on the value of our investment in JUUL.
Timing of Sales
In the ordinary course of business, we are subject to many influences that can impact the timing of sales to customers, including the timing of holidays and other annual or special events, the timing of promotions, customer incentive programs and customer inventory programs, as well as the actual or speculated timing of pricing actions and tax-driven price increases.
Operating Results
Smokeable Products Segment
Financial Results
The following table summarizes operating results, includes reported and adjusted OCI margins, and provides a reconciliation of reported OCI to adjusted OCI for our smokeable products segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating Results |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| (in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | Change | | | | | | |
| Net revenues | $ | 5,265 | | | $ | 5,250 | | | 0.3 | % | | | | | | |
| Excise taxes | (1,044) | | | (1,121) | | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues net of excise taxes | $ | 4,221 | | | $ | 4,129 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Reported OCI | $ | 2,559 | | | $ | 2,372 | | | 7.9 | % | | | | | | |
| NPM Adjustment Items | (60) | | | (32) | | | | | | | | | |
| Tobacco and health and certain other litigation items | 12 | | | 35 | | | | | | | | | |
| Adjusted OCI | $ | 2,511 | | | $ | 2,375 | | | 5.7 | % | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Reported OCI margins (1) | 60.6 | % | | 57.4 | % | | 3.2 pp | | | | | | |
Adjusted OCI margins (1) | 59.5 | % | | 57.5 | % | | 2.0 pp | | | | | | |
(1) Reported and adjusted OCI margins are calculated as reported and adjusted OCI, respectively, divided by revenues net of excise taxes.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, increased $15 million (0.3%), due primarily to higher pricing ($411 million), which includes lower promotional investments, partially offset by lower shipment volume ($404 million).
Reported OCI increased $187 million (7.9%), due primarily to higher pricing, which includes lower promotional investments, higher NPM Adjustment Items ($28 million) and lower tobacco and health and certain other litigation items ($23 million), partially offset by lower shipment volume ($246 million) and higher per unit settlement charges.
Adjusted OCI increased $136 million (5.7%), due primarily to higher pricing, which includes lower promotional investments, partially offset by lower shipment volume and higher per unit settlement charges.
Shipment Volume and Retail Share Results
The following table summarizes our smokeable products segment’s shipment volume performance:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shipment Volume |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| (sticks in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | Change | | | | | | |
| Cigarettes: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marlboro | 18,290 | | | 19,415 | | | (5.8) | % | | | | | | |
| Other premium | 937 | | | 981 | | | (4.5) | % | | | | | | |
| Discount | 1,390 | | | 1,618 | | | (14.1) | % | | | | | | |
| Total cigarettes | 20,617 | | | 22,014 | | | (6.3) | % | | | | | | |
| Cigars: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Black & Mild | 433 | | | 479 | | | (9.6) | % | | | | | | |
| Other | 1 | | | 1 | | | — | % | | | | | | |
| Total cigars | 434 | | | 480 | | | (9.6) | % | | | | | | |
| Total smokeable products | 21,051 | | | 22,494 | | | (6.4) | % | | | | | | |
Note: Cigarettes shipment volume includes Marlboro; Other premium brands, such as Virginia Slims, Parliament, Benson & Hedges and Nat’s; and Discount brands, which include L&M, Basic and Chesterfield. Cigarettes volume includes units sold as well as promotional units, but excludes units sold for distribution to Puerto Rico, and units sold in U.S. Territories, to overseas military and by Philip Morris Duty Free Inc., none of which, individually or in the aggregate, is material to our smokeable products segment.
The following table summarizes cigarettes retail share performance:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Retail Share |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | Percentage Point Change | | | | | | |
| Cigarettes: | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Marlboro | 42.6 | % | | 43.0 | % | | (0.4) | | | | | | | |
| Other premium | 2.3 | | | 2.3 | | | — | | | | | | | |
| Discount | 3.2 | | | 3.6 | | | (0.4) | | | | | | | |
| Total cigarettes | 48.1 | % | | 48.9 | % | | (0.8) | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Note: Retail share results for cigarettes are based on data from IRI/Management Science Associates, Inc., a tracking service that uses a sample of stores and certain wholesale shipments to project market share and depict share trends. This service tracks sales in the food, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, military, dollar store and club trade classes. For other trade classes selling cigarettes, retail share is based on shipments from wholesalers to retailers through the Store Tracking Analytical Reporting System (“STARS”). This service is not designed to capture sales through other channels, including the internet, direct mail and some illicitly tax-advantaged outlets. It is IRI’s standard practice to periodically refresh its services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released in this service.
For a discussion of volume trends and factors that impact volume and retail share performance, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment above.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Our smokeable products segment’s reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume decreased 6.3%, driven primarily by the industry’s decline rate and retail share losses, partially offset by trade inventory movements. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and other factors, our smokeable products segment’s reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume decreased by an estimated 8%. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and other factors, total estimated domestic cigarette industry volume decreased by an estimated 6.5%.
Shipments of premium cigarettes accounted for 93.3% and 92.7% of our smokeable products segment’s reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively.
Our smokeable products segment’s reported cigar shipment volume decreased 9.6%, driven primarily by trade inventory movements.
Marlboro retail share of the total cigarette category decreased 0.4 share points to 42.6%, primarily due to increased macroeconomic pressures on adult tobacco consumers’ disposable income. Marlboro retail share was unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2021.
Total cigarette industry discount retail share increased 1.0 share point to 26.4%, primarily due to increased macroeconomic pressures on adult tobacco consumers’ disposable income and increased 0.3 share points from the fourth quarter of 2021.
For a discussion regarding the cigarette industry discount retail share dynamics in 2022 and the economic conditions, including a high inflationary environment, that impact adult tobacco consumer purchasing behavior, see Operating Results by Business Segment - Tobacco Space - Business Environment - Summary above.
Pricing Actions
PM USA and Middleton executed the following pricing and promotional allowance actions during 2022 and 2021:
▪Effective January 9, 2022, Middleton increased various list prices across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.13 per five-pack.
▪Effective December 12, 2021, PM USA increased the list price of Marlboro, L&M and Chesterfield by $0.15 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price of all of its other cigarette brands by $0.20 per pack.
▪Effective August 15, 2021, PM USA increased the list price of Marlboro, L&M and Chesterfield by $0.14 per pack. In addition, PM USA increased the list price of all of its other cigarette brands by $0.17 per pack.
▪Effective January 24, 2021, PM USA increased the list price on all of its cigarette brands by $0.14 per pack.
▪Effective January 10, 2021, Middleton increased various list prices across substantially all of its cigar brands resulting in a weighted-average increase of approximately $0.07 per five-pack.
In addition:
▪Effective April 24, 2022, PM USA increased the list price of Marlboro, L&M, Basic and Chesterfield by $0.15 per pack. PM USA also increased the list price of all its other cigarette brands by $0.20 per pack.
Oral Tobacco Products Segment
Financial Results
The following table summarizes operating results, includes reported and adjusted OCI margins, and provides a reconciliation of reported OCI to adjusted OCI for our oral tobacco products segment:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating Results |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| (in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | Change | | | | | | |
| Net revenues | $ | 613 | | | $ | 626 | | | (2.1) | % | | | | | | |
| Excise taxes | (29) | | | (31) | | | | | | | | | |
| Revenues net of excise taxes | $ | 584 | | | $ | 595 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Reported OCI | $ | 407 | | | $ | 392 | | | 3.8 | % | | | | | | |
Asset impairment, exit, implementation, acquisition and disposition-related costs | — | | | 37 | | | | | | | | | |
| Adjusted OCI | $ | 407 | | | $ | 429 | | | (5.1) | % | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Reported OCI margins (1) | 69.7 | % | | 65.9 | % | | 3.8 pp | | | | | | |
Adjusted OCI margins (1) | 69.7 | % | | 72.1 | % | | (2.4) pp | | | | | | |
(1) Reported and adjusted OCI margins are calculated as reported and adjusted OCI, respectively, divided by revenues net of excise taxes.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Net revenues, which include excise taxes billed to customers, decreased $13 million (2.1%), due primarily to lower shipment volume and a shift between MST and on! shipment volumes resulting in a higher percentage of 2022 on! volume versus 2021 (“volume/mix” - $22 million), partially offset by higher pricing ($10 million), which includes higher promotional investments in on!.
Reported OCI increased $15 million (3.8%), due primarily to acquisition-related costs in 2021 ($37 million) and higher pricing, which includes higher promotional investments in on!, partially offset by volume/mix ($25 million) and higher costs.
Adjusted OCI decreased $22 million (5.1%), due primarily to volume/mix and higher costs, partially offset by higher pricing, which includes higher promotional investments in on!.
Shipment Volume and Retail Share Results
The following table summarizes our oral tobacco products segment’s shipment volume performance:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shipment Volume |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| (cans and packs in millions) | 2022 | | 2021 | | Change | | | | | | |
| Copenhagen | 115.2 | | | 122.9 | | | (6.3) | % | | | | | | |
| Skoal | 43.9 | | | 48.2 | | | (8.9) | % | | | | | | |
| on! | 18.3 | | | 9.2 | | | 98.9 | % | | | | | | |
Other | 16.7 | | | 17.6 | | | (5.1) | % | | | | | | |
| Total oral tobacco products | 194.1 | | | 197.9 | | | (1.9) | % | | | | | | |
Note: Oral tobacco products shipment volume includes cans and packs sold, as well as promotional units, but excludes international volume, which is currently not material to our oral tobacco products segment. New types of oral tobacco products, as well as new packaging configurations of existing oral tobacco products, may or may not be equivalent to existing MST products on a can-for-can basis. To calculate volumes of cans and packs shipped, one pack of snus or one can of oral nicotine pouches, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack or can, is assumed to be equivalent to one can of MST.
The following table summarizes our oral tobacco products segment’s retail share performance (excluding international volume):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Retail Share |
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, | | |
| 2022 | | 2021 | | Percentage Point Change | | | | | | |
| Copenhagen | 28.0 | % | | 30.2 | % | | (2.2) | | | | | | | |
| Skoal | 11.7 | | | 12.9 | | | (1.2) | | | | | | | |
| on! | 4.1 | | | 1.6 | | | 2.5 | | | | | | | |
| Other | 3.1 | | | 3.3 | | | (0.2) | | | | | | | |
| Total oral tobacco products | 46.9 | % | | 48.0 | % | | (1.1) | | | | | | | |
Note: Our oral tobacco products segment’s retail share results exclude international volume, which is currently not material. Retail share results for oral tobacco products are based on data from IRI InfoScan, a tracking service that uses a sample of stores to project market share and depict share trends. This service tracks sales in the food, drug, mass merchandisers, convenience, military, dollar store and club trade classes on the number of cans and packs sold. Oral tobacco products is defined by IRI as MST, snus and oral nicotine pouches. New types of oral tobacco products, as well as new packaging configurations of existing oral tobacco products, may or may not be equivalent to existing MST products on a can-for-can basis. For example, one pack of snus or one can of oral nicotine pouches, irrespective of the number of pouches in the pack or can, is assumed to be equivalent to one can of MST. Because this service represents retail share performance only in key trade channels, it should not be considered a precise measurement of actual retail share. It is IRI’s standard practice to periodically refresh its InfoScan services, which could restate retail share results that were previously released in this service.
For a discussion of volume trends and factors that impact volume and retail share performance, see Tobacco Space - Business Environment above.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
Our oral tobacco products segment’s reported domestic shipment volume decreased 1.9%, driven primarily by trade inventory movements and retail share losses, partially offset by the industry’s growth rate, calendar differences and other factors. When adjusted for trade inventory movements and calendar differences, our oral tobacco products segment’s reported domestic shipment volume was unchanged.
Total oral tobacco products category industry volume increased by an estimated 1.5% over the six months ended March 31, 2022, driven by growth in oral nicotine pouches, partially offset by declines in MST volumes.
Retail share losses in our oral tobacco products segment, including Copenhagen, were due primarily to the growth of oral nicotine pouches. Copenhagen continued to be the leading oral tobacco brand with a retail share of 28.0%.
Pricing Actions
USSTC executed the following pricing actions during 2022 and 2021:
▪Effective February 22, 2022, USSTC increased the list price on its Copenhagen, Skoal and Red Seal brands by $0.08 per can. USSTC also increased the list price on its Husky brand by $0.12 per can.
▪Effective October 26, 2021, USSTC increased the list price on its Copenhagen and Skoal brands by $0.08 per can. USSTC also increased the list price on its Husky brand by $0.12 per can. In addition, USSTC decreased the price on its Red Seal brand by $0.17 per can.
▪Effective June 29, 2021, USSTC increased the list price on its Skoal Blend products by $0.46 per can. USSTC also increased the list price on its Red Seal and Copenhagen brands and the balance of its Skoal products by $0.05 per can. In addition, USSTC decreased the price on its Husky brand by $1.65 per can.
▪Effective March 2, 2021, USSTC increased the list price on its Skoal Blend products by $0.16 per can. USSTC also increased the list price on its Husky, Red Seal and Copenhagen brands and the balance of its Skoal products by $0.08 per can.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We are a holding company that is primarily dependent on the capital resources of our subsidiaries to satisfy our liquidity requirements. Our access to the operating cash flows of our wholly owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans. At March 31, 2022, our significant wholly owned subsidiaries were not limited by contractual obligations in their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their equity interests. In addition, we receive cash dividends on our interest in ABI and will continue to do so as long as ABI pays dividends.
At March 31, 2022, we had $5.4 billion of cash and cash equivalents. In addition to having access to the operating cash flows of our wholly owned subsidiaries, our capital resources include access to credit markets in the form of commercial paper, availability under our $3.0 billion senior unsecured 5-year revolving credit agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), which we use for general corporate purposes, and access to credit markets through the issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes. For additional information, see Capital Markets and Other Matters below.
In addition to funding current operations, we primarily use our net cash from operating activities for payment of dividends, share repurchases under our share repurchase programs, repayment of debt, acquisition of or investments in businesses and assets, and capital expenditures.
We believe our cash and cash equivalents balance, along with our future cash flows from operations, capacity for borrowings under the Credit Agreement and access to credit markets, provide sufficient liquidity to meet the needs of our business operations and to satisfy our projected cash requirements for the next 12 months and the foreseeable future.
Capital Markets and Other Matters
Credit Ratings - Our cost and terms of financing and our access to commercial paper markets may be impacted by applicable credit ratings. The impact of credit ratings on the cost of borrowings under the Credit Agreement is discussed in Note 9.
At March 31, 2022, the credit ratings and outlook for our indebtedness by major credit rating agencies were:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Short-term Debt | | Long-term Debt | | Outlook |
| Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) | P-2 | | A3 | | Stable |
| Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) | A-2 | | BBB | | Stable |
| Fitch Ratings Inc. | F2 | | BBB | | Stable |
Credit Lines - From time to time, we have short-term borrowing needs to meet our working capital requirements arising from the timing of annual MSA payments, quarterly income tax payments and quarterly dividend payments, and generally use our commercial paper program to meet those needs.
At March 31, 2022, we had availability under the Credit Agreement for borrowings of up to an aggregate principal amount of $3.0 billion, and we were in compliance with the covenants in the Credit Agreement. We expect to continue to meet the covenants in the Credit Agreement. We monitor the credit quality of our bank group and are not aware of any potential non-performing credit provider in that group. For further discussion on short-term borrowings, see Note 9.
PM USA guarantees any commercial paper that we issue and our borrowings under the Credit Agreement. For further discussion, see Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information below and Note 9.
Debt - At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, our total debt was $27.9 billion and $28.0 billion, respectively. For further details on long-term debt, see Note 9.
Guarantees and Other Similar Matters - As discussed in Note 10, we had unused letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business and guarantees (including third-party guarantees) outstanding at March 31, 2022. From time to time, we also issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. In addition, as discussed below in Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information and in Note 9, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to our obligations under our outstanding debt securities, borrowings under the Credit Agreement and amounts outstanding under the commercial paper program. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on our liquidity.
Payments Under State Settlement Agreements and FDA Regulation - As discussed in Note 10, PM USA has entered into State Settlement Agreements with the states and territories of the United States that call for certain payments. In addition, PM USA, Middleton and USSTC are subject to quarterly user fees imposed by the FDA as a result of the FSPTCA. For further discussion of the resolutions of certain disputes with states and territories related to the NPM adjustment provision under the MSA, see Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - NPM Adjustment Disputes in Note 10.
Based on current agreements, estimated market share, estimated annual industry volume decline rates and inflation rates, the estimated amounts that we may charge to cost of sales for payments related to State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees are $4.3 billion on average for the next three years. These amounts exclude the potential impact of any NPM Adjustment Items.
The estimated amounts due under the State Settlement Agreements charged to cost of sales in each year are generally paid in April of the following year. The amounts charged to cost of sales for FDA user fees are generally paid in the quarter in which the fees are incurred. We paid approximately $3.5 billion in April 2022 for amounts accrued in 2021 under the State Settlement Agreements. We recorded $1.0 billion of charges to cost of sales for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, in connection with the State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees. As previously stated, the payments due under the terms of the State Settlement Agreements and FDA user fees are subject to adjustment for several factors, including volume, operating income, inflation and certain contingent events and, in general, are allocated based on each manufacturer’s
market share. The future payment amounts discussed above are estimates, and actual payment amounts will differ to the extent underlying assumptions differ from actual future results. For further discussion on the potential impact of inflation on future payments, see Operating Results by Business Segment - Tobacco Space - State Settlement Agreements.
Litigation-Related Deposits and Payments - With respect to certain adverse verdicts currently on appeal, to obtain stays of judgments pending appeals, as of March 31, 2022, PM USA had posted appeal bonds totaling $50 million, which have been collateralized with restricted cash that is included in assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.
Litigation is subject to uncertainty, and an adverse outcome or settlement of litigation could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year, as more fully disclosed in Note 10.
Equity and Dividends
During the first three months of 2022 and 2021, we paid dividends of $1,645 million and $1,601 million, respectively, an increase of 2.7%, reflecting a higher dividend rate, partially offset by fewer shares outstanding as a result of shares we repurchased under our share repurchase program. Our current annualized dividend rate is $3.60 per share. We maintain our long-term objective of a dividend payout ratio target of approximately 80% of our adjusted diluted EPS. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors (“Board of Directors” or “Board”).
For a discussion of our share repurchase program, see Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 and Part II, Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds of this Form 10-Q.
Financial Review
Cash Provided by/Used in Operating Activities
During the first three months of 2022, net cash provided by operating activities was $3,075 million compared with $3,040 million during the first three months of 2021, essentially unchanged.
We had a working capital deficit at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Our management believes that we have the ability to fund working capital deficits with cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under the Credit Agreement and access to credit markets.
Cash Provided by/Used in Investing Activities
During the first three months of 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $34 million compared with $29 million during the first three months of 2021, essentially unchanged.
Cash Provided by/Used in Financing Activities
During the first three months of 2022, net cash used in financing activities was $2,232 million compared with $2,172 million during the first three months of 2021. This increase was due primarily to the following:
▪higher repurchases of common stock in 2022; and
▪higher dividends paid in 2022;
partially offset by:
▪2021 debt tender offers and redemption transactions, which included proceeds of $5.5 billion from the issuance of long-term senior unsecured notes used to repurchase and redeem $5.0 billion of our senior unsecured notes and payment of $0.6 billion for the premiums and fees.
New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
See Note 11. New Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 for a discussion of issued accounting guidance applicable to, but not yet adopted by, us.
Contingencies
See Note 10 for a discussion of contingencies.
Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information
PM USA (the “Guarantor”), which is a 100% owned subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc. (the “Parent”), has guaranteed the Parent’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its Credit Agreement and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program (the “Guarantees”). Pursuant to the Guarantees, the Guarantor fully and unconditionally guarantees, as primary obligor, the payment and performance of the Parent’s obligations under the guaranteed debt instruments (the “Obligations”), subject to release under certain customary circumstances as noted below.
The Guarantees provide that the Guarantor guarantees the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of the Obligations. The liability of the Guarantor under the Guarantees is absolute and unconditional irrespective of: any lack of validity, enforceability or genuineness of any provision of any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any agreement or instrument relating thereto; any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guarantee, for all or any of the Obligations; or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Parent or the Guarantor.
Under applicable provisions of federal bankruptcy law or comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer law, the Guarantees could be voided, or claims in respect of the Guarantees could be subordinated to the debts of the Guarantor, if, among other things, the Guarantor, at the time it incurred the Obligations evidenced by the Guarantees:
▪received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration therefor; and
▪either:
▪was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such occurrence;
▪was engaged in a business or transaction for which the assets of the Guarantor constituted unreasonably small capital; or
▪intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.
In addition, under such circumstances, the payment of amounts by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantees could be voided and required to be returned to the Guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the Guarantor, as the case may be.
The measures of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing considerations will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding with respect to the foregoing. Generally, however, the Guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
▪the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the saleable value of its assets, all at a fair valuation;
▪the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
▪it could not pay its debts as they become due.
To the extent the Guarantees are voided as a fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other reason, the holders of the guaranteed debt obligations would not have any claim against the Guarantor and would be creditors solely of the Parent.
The obligations of the Guarantor under the Guarantees are limited to the maximum amount as will not result in the Guarantor’s obligations under the Guarantees constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor that are relevant under Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to the Guarantees. For this purpose, “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
The Guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from the Obligations upon the earliest to occur of:
▪the date, if any, on which the Guarantor consolidates with or merges into the Parent or any successor;
▪the date, if any, on which the Parent or any successor consolidates with or merges into the Guarantor;
▪the payment in full of the Obligations pertaining to such Guarantees; and
▪the rating of the Parent’s long-term senior unsecured debt by S&P of A or higher.
The Parent is a holding company; therefore, its access to the operating cash flows of its wholly owned subsidiaries consists of cash received from the payment of dividends and distributions, and the payment of interest on intercompany loans by its subsidiaries. Neither the Guarantor nor other 100% owned subsidiaries of the Parent that are not guarantors of the debt (“Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries”) are limited by contractual obligations on their ability to pay cash dividends or make other distributions with respect to their equity interests.
The following tables include summarized financial information for the Parent and the Guarantor. Transactions between the Parent and the Guarantor (including investment and intercompany balances as well as equity earnings) have been eliminated. The Parent’s and the Guarantor’s intercompany balances with Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries have been presented separately. This summarized financial information is not intended to present the financial position or results of operations of the Parent or the Guarantor in accordance with GAAP.
Summarized Balance Sheets
(in millions of dollars)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Parent | | Guarantor |
| | | March 31, 2022 | | December 31, 2021 | | March 31, 2022 | | December 31, 2021 |
| Assets | | | | | | | | |
Due from Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | $ | 18 | | | $ | 25 | | | $ | 239 | | | $ | 240 | |
| Other current assets | | 5,498 | | | 4,635 | | | 712 | | | 874 | |
| Total current assets | | $ | 5,516 | | | $ | 4,660 | | | $ | 951 | | | $ | 1,114 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Due from Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | $ | 4,790 | | | $ | 4,790 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | |
| Other assets | | 11,364 | | | 11,195 | | | 1,763 | | | 1,764 | |
| Total non-current assets | | $ | 16,154 | | | $ | 15,985 | | | $ | 1,763 | | | $ | 1,764 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Due to Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | | $ | 1,157 | | | $ | 1,179 | | | $ | 859 | | | $ | 778 | |
| Other current liabilities | | 4,464 | | | 3,339 | | | 5,705 | | | 4,452 | |
| Total current liabilities | | $ | 5,621 | | | $ | 4,518 | | | $ | 6,564 | | | $ | 5,230 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Total non-current liabilities | | $ | 27,375 | | | $ | 28,865 | | | $ | 977 | | | $ | 979 | |