Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered strong organic growth and margin expansion: net revenues $9.30B (+10.2% organic), adjusted diluted EPS $1.69 (+12.7% YoY; +17.3% ex-currency), and adjusted operating income margin 40.7% (+2.5pp YoY) .
- Versus Wall Street consensus, PM posted a beat on revenue ($9.30B vs $9.14B*) and EPS ($1.69 vs $1.61*); beats were driven by smoke-free momentum (IQOS, ZYN) and pricing, partially offset by currency headwinds. Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
- FY25 adjusted EPS guidance raised for currency only to $7.36–$7.49 (ex-currency unchanged at $7.26–$7.39); Q2 2025 adjusted EPS guided to $1.80–$1.85 including ~$0.06 FX tailwind .
- Key catalysts: acceleration in U.S. ZYN as capacity ramps (full normalization targeted mid-H2), continued double-digit IQOS IMS growth, and further margin expansion; watch EU flavor-ban annualization and Indonesia model change .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
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What Went Well
- “Exceptionally strong performance” with smoke-free organic net revenue up 20.4% and gross profit up 33.1%; smoke-free now ~42% of net revenues and ~44% of gross profit .
- IQOS: adjusted IMS +9.4% globally; share gains to record levels in Japan (HTU adjusted share 32.2%) and Europe (11.4%); multi-city offtake milestones (e.g., HTU >50% of offtake in key Japanese cities) .
- ZYN: U.S. shipments exceeded 200M cans in Q1 (+53% YoY) on ahead-of-schedule capacity; international nicotine pouches also +53% in cans, reinforcing multicategory strategy .
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What Went Wrong
- Currency headwinds: ~$0.07 unfavorable variance to adjusted EPS; transactional losses tied to FX volatility .
- EU flavor-ban annualization weighed on HTU in Italy and select markets; management expects progressive recovery through the year .
- Indonesia commercial model change reduced reported net revenue growth in SSEA/CIS/MEA (no meaningful OI impact but pressure on revenue optics) .
Financial Results
Estimates vs Actuals (S&P Global):
Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
Segment Net Revenues and Margins (Q1 2025):
KPIs (Q1 2025):
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO Jacek Olczak: “We achieved exceptionally strong performance in the first quarter, with continued volume growth supporting an excellent top-line performance and very strong margin expansion… Our smoke-free business goes from strength to strength…” .
- CFO Emmanuel Babeau: “We delivered… double-digit increases in organic net revenue, operating income and adjusted diluted EPS… fueled by rapid growth of ZYN and continued volume momentum… IQOS delivered close to +10% HTU adjusted IMS growth… adjusted OI margin reached 40.7% despite currency headwinds” .
- On ZYN supply: “We target full normalization of the supply situation in Q3 this year… shipments will reflect both consumer offtake acceleration and replenishment” .
- On margins: “Smoke-free gross margin now above 70%… many positive drivers: ZYN mix, IQOS scale, productivity, pricing, improving VEEV margins” .
Q&A Highlights
- ZYN normalization: Out-of-stocks remain but replenishment underway; normalization targeted by Q3 2025; shipments profile will show accelerating growth then fade as inventories normalize .
- Margin drivers: Smoke-free mix (ZYN in U.S.), pricing, cost/productivity, easing COGS headwinds; robust margin expansion expected in 2025 .
- IQOS IMS trajectory: Expect reacceleration in H2 as EU flavor-ban annualization fades; double-digit adjusted IMS growth sustained .
- Guidance phasing: Strong H1 implies slightly lower constant-currency EPS growth in H2 due to phasing of SG&A and shipments; underlying momentum intact .
- U.S. regulatory timelines: CTP process uncertainty; PM expects efficient approvals but provided no timing updates for IQOS ILUMA .
Estimates Context
- PM beat Q1 2025 consensus on revenue and EPS: actual $9.30B vs $9.14B*, and $1.69 vs $1.61*, reflecting smoke-free growth and pricing; currency was a headwind to EPS. Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
- Prior quarters also beat: Q3 2024 revenue $9.91B vs $9.69B*, EPS $1.91 vs $1.82*; Q4 2024 revenue $9.71B vs $9.44B*, EPS $1.55 vs $1.50*. Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
- Estimate revisions likely to push FY25 adjusted EPS toward the top-end given raised currency assumption and ZYN shipment guidance increase, while ex-currency EPS range is unchanged .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Smoke-free leadership accelerating: IQOS and ZYN drove double-digit organic growth and >70% smoke-free gross margins—core to PM’s margin expansion trajectory .
- Actionable: Position for continued beats as supply normalizes in U.S. ZYN and IQOS IMS accelerates in H2; watch Q2 EPS ($1.80–$1.85) as a near-term marker .
- Guidance quality: FY25 adjusted EPS raised for currency only; ex-currency guidance maintained—signals confidence in operational levers despite FX .
- Regional mix: EA/AU & PMI GTR posted 52.8% adjusted OI margins; Americas strong at 37.3% with U.S. ZYN; Europe pressured by higher SG&A but improving .
- Risks to monitor: EU flavor-ban annualization (near-term), Indonesia reporting optics, FX volatility; management cites no material tariff impact currently .
- Balance sheet: OCF >$11B, capex ~$1.5B, deleveraging progressing toward ~2x net debt/EBITDA by YE26—supports dividend continuity ($1.35/qtr) and future optionality .
- Trading implications: Near-term sentiment positive on beats and guidance; H2 ramp in smoke-free plus ZYN capacity normalization are potential re-rating catalysts; FX remains a swing factor .
Notes: All figures and statements are cited from PM’s Q1 2025 8-K and press release, Q1 2025 earnings call, and prior quarter materials. Consensus estimates marked with * are values retrieved from S&P Global.