Altria Group Inc. (MO:NYSE)

Altria Group Inc. announced that they will report Q4, 2009 results on January 28, 2010.

Altria Group Inc. reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. For the quarter, the company reported net earnings attributable to the company of $882 million or $0.43 per basic share and $0.42 per diluted share on net revenue of $6,300 million against net earnings attributable to the company of $867 million or $0.42 per basic and diluted share on net revenue of $5,238 million for the same period a year ago. Operating income of $1,394 million compared to $1,329 million for the same period a year ago. Earnings before income taxes were $1,234 million compared to $1,358 million for the same period a year ago. Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $0.48 compared to $0.46 for the same period a year ago. Operating income increased 4.9% due primarily to higher OCI from financial services and cigars, as well as the OCI contribution from the UST acquisition, and lower general corporate expenses. For the nine months, the company reported net earnings were $2,482 million and net earnings attributable to the company of $2,481 million or $1.20 per basic share and $1.19 per diluted share on net revenue of $17,542 million against net earnings were $4,312 million and net earnings attributable to the company of $4,251 million or $2.04 per basic share and $2.03 per diluted share on net revenue of $14,702 million for the same period a year ago. Operating income of $4,262 million compared to $3,884 million for the same period a year ago. Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes of $3,802 million compared to $3,808 million for the same period a year ago. Earnings from continuing operations of $2,482 million and earnings from continuing operations attributable to the company of $2,481 million or $1.20 per basic share and $1.19 per diluted share compared to earnings from continuing operations of $2,411 million and earnings from continuing operations attributable to the company of $2,411 million or $1.16 per basic share and $1.15 per diluted share for the same period a year ago. Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations of $1.37 compared to $1.28 for the same period a year ago. Net revenues increased 19.3% reflecting higher pricing related primarily to the FET increase on tobacco products, and the acquisition of UST. Operating income increased 9.7% due primarily to higher OCI from cigarettes, financial services and cigars, as well as the OCI contribution from the UST acquisition, lower corporate exit costs, and lower general corporate expenses. On August 27, 2009, the company announced that its Board of Directors had voted to increase the company's regular quarterly dividend by 6.3% to $0.34 per common share versus the previous rate of $0.32 per common share. The new annualized dividend rate is $1.36 per common share. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of company's Board of Directors. The company narrows its 2009 full-year guidance for reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to a range of $1.53 to $1.56. The company previously forecasted that its 2009 full-year guidance for reported diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be in the range of $1.51 to $1.56. This revised forecast includes estimated net charges of $0.21 per share related to exit, integration and implementation costs, UST acquisition-related costs, SABMiller special items, and tax items. The company also narrows its 2009 full-year guidance for adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations to a range of $1.74 to $1.77, representing a growth rate of 5% to 7% from an adjusted base of $1.65 per share in 2008. The company previously forecasted that its 2009 full-year guidance for adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations would be in the range of $1.72 to $1.77, representing a growth rate of 4% to 7%.

Altria Group Inc. reported capital expenditures for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009. For the quarter, the company reported capital expenditures of $60 million.