Altria Reports 2013 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results; Delivers Full-Year Adjusted Diluted EPS Growth of 7.7%

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE:MO) today announced its 2013 fourth-quarter and full-year business results and provided its guidance for 2014 full-year reported and adjusted diluted EPS.

“Altria delivered another year of strong results for its shareholders in 2013,” said Marty Barrington, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria. “Altria grew its full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share by 7.7% on the strength of its diverse business model and solid performance by its core businesses. Higher pricing and our operating companies’ brand-building activities contributed to operating companies income growth in all three of our reportable segments.”

“Altria also took important steps toward future growth in e-vapor and other innovative products for adult tobacco consumers,” said Mr. Barrington. “MarkTen is performing well in the e-vapor category, including its expanded test market in Arizona. Further, we believe our agreements with Philip Morris International create the foundation for commercializing our e-vapor products abroad and opportunities to expand our portfolio of innovative products in the U.S.”

Conference Call

As previously announced, a conference call with the investment community and news media will be webcast on January 30, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Access to the webcast is available at altria.com.

Cost Management

In the fourth quarter of 2013, Altria successfully completed a cost reduction program, announced in October 2011, for its tobacco and service company subsidiaries by delivering $400 million in annualized savings versus previously planned spending. Although the cost reduction program has concluded, Altria remains focused on productivity and cost management.

Cash Returns to Shareholders - Dividends and Share Repurchase Program

In December 2013, Altria’s Board of Directors (Board) declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.48 per common share. The current annualized dividend rate is $1.92 per common share. As of January 24, 2014, Altria’s annualized dividend yield was 5.1%.

Altria expects to continue to return a large amount of cash to shareholders in the form of dividends by maintaining a dividend payout ratio target of approximately 80% of its adjusted diluted EPS. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of the Board.

During the fourth quarter of 2013, Altria repurchased approximately 6.8 million shares of its common stock at an average price of $37.29 for a total cost of approximately $252 million. During the full year, Altria repurchased 16.7 million shares at an average price of $36.05 for a total cost of approximately $600 million.

Altria has approximately $457 million remaining in the current $1 billion program, which it expects to complete by the end of the third quarter of 2014. The timing of share repurchases depends upon marketplace conditions and other factors. The program remains subject to the discretion of the Board.

Capital Markets Activities - Fourth Quarter 2013

During the fourth quarter of 2013, Altria took several steps to enhance its capital structure. In October, Altria issued $3.2 billion in debt, consisting of $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of new senior unsecured 4.0% notes due in 2024 and $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of new senior unsecured 5.375% notes due in 2044.

In November, Altria completed a tender offer in which it purchased $2.1 billion aggregate principal amount of certain of its senior unsecured notes. This transaction resulted in a pre-tax charge of approximately $1.1 billion against fourth-quarter earnings, reflecting the loss on early extinguishment of debt. Altria also repaid approximately $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes that matured in November 2013.

As a result of its capital markets activities, Altria reduced its weighted average coupon interest rate to 5.9% at year-end 2013 from 7.2% at year-end 2012.

Innovative Products

During the fourth quarter of 2013, Altria and its companies continued developing and commercializing innovative products for adult tobacco consumers. Nu Mark LLC (Nu Mark) expanded its MarkTen e-cigarettes test market from Indiana to Arizona in December. MarkTen has achieved strong distribution and effective trial generation in Arizona to date.

As previously announced in December 2013, Altria subsidiaries executed strategic agreements with Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) subsidiaries to license and distribute e-vapor and other innovative products. Under these agreements, Altria is providing PMI with an exclusive license to commercialize Altria’s e-vapor products internationally, while PMI is providing Altria exclusive rights to two of its innovative next-generation products for commercialization in the U.S. The parties have also agreed to cooperate on scientific assessment, regulatory engagement and sharing of improvements regarding these products.

2014 Full-Year Guidance

Altria’s core tobacco businesses are positioned to deliver strong income growth through their leading premium brands. Altria also expects its 2014 earnings will benefit from lower interest expense, a lower effective tax rate and a reduction in shares from the current share repurchase program. However, Altria plans to continue making disciplined and incremental investments to build its e-vapor business and expects continued variability in gains from asset sales at Philip Morris Capital Corporation (PMCC). Finally, although some economic indicators are improving, adult tobacco consumers continue to face challenges.

Altria thus forecasts that 2014 full-year reported diluted EPS will be in the range of $2.51 to $2.58, which reflects estimated SABMiller plc (SABMiller) special items. Altria also forecasts its guidance for 2014 full-year adjusted diluted EPS, which excludes the special items shown in Table 1, will be in a range of $2.52 to $2.59, representing a growth rate of 6% to 9% from an adjusted diluted EPS base of $2.38 in 2013.

The factors described in the Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements section of this release represent continuing risks to this forecast. Reconciliations of full-year adjusted to reported diluted EPS are shown in Table 1.

Altria expects that capital expenditures for 2014 will be in the range of $150 million to $200 million and that depreciation and amortization will be approximately $220 million.

ALTRIA GROUP, INC.

Altria reports its financial results, including diluted EPS, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).Altria’s management reviews operating companies income (OCI), which is defined as operating income before corporate expenses and amortization of intangibles, to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources. Altria’s management also reviews OCI, operating margins and EPS on an adjusted basis, which excludes certain income and expense items that management believes are not part of underlying operations. These items may include, for example, loss on early extinguishment of debt, restructuring charges, SABMiller special items, certain PMCC leveraged lease items, certain tax items, tobacco and health judgments, and settlements of, and determinations made in, certain NPM adjustment disputes. Altria’s management does not view any of these special items to be part of Altria’s sustainable results as they may be highly variable and difficult to predict and can distort underlying business trends and results. Altria’s management also reviews income tax rates on an adjusted basis. Altria’s effective tax rate on operations may exclude certain tax items from its reported effective tax rate. Altria’s management believes that adjusted measures for OCI, operating margins and EPS, as well as the effective tax rate on operations, provide useful insight into underlying business trends and results and provide a more meaningful comparison of year-over-year results. Altria’s management uses adjusted measures internally 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 consistent with GAAP, and 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. Reconciliations of adjusted measures to corresponding GAAP measures are provided in the release. Comparisons are to the corresponding prior-year period unless otherwise stated.

Altria’s reportable segments are smokeable products, manufactured and sold by PM USA and John Middleton Co. (Middleton); smokeless products, manufactured and sold by or on behalf of U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC) and PM USA; and wine, produced and/or distributed by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (Ste. Michelle). Prior-period segment data have been recast to conform with the current-period segment presentation.

Altria’s net revenues decreased 2.6% to $6.1 billion for the fourth quarter of 2013, primarily due to lower net revenues from the smokeable products segment. For the full year, net revenues decreased 0.6% to $24.5 billion, primarily due to lower net revenues from the smokeable products segment, partially offset by higher net revenues from the smokeless products and wine segments, and higher gains on asset sales at PMCC. Altria’s revenues net of excise taxes decreased 1.3% to $4.4 billion for the fourth quarter and increased 0.9% to $17.7 billion for the full year of 2013.

Altria’s 2013 fourth-quarter reported diluted EPS decreased 56.4% to $0.24 primarily driven by the 2013 loss on early extinguishment of debt. Increased expenses related to innovative products also negatively affected reported diluted EPS for the quarter. These factors were partially offset by higher OCI in the smokeable products segment, the tax items discussed below and fewer shares outstanding. Altria’s fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS, which excludes the impact of the special items shown in Table 2, grew 3.6% to $0.57.

For the full year of 2013, Altria’s reported diluted EPS increased 9.7% to $2.26 primarily due to higher OCI in the smokeable products segment, which includes PM USA’s previously disclosed NPM Adjustment Items discussed below. A lower effective tax rate on operations, fewer shares outstanding and higher OCI in the smokeless products segment also contributed to higher reported diluted EPS for the year. These factors were partially offset by lower earnings from Altria’s equity investment in SABMiller and higher losses on early extinguishment of debt.

Altria’s adjusted diluted EPS, which excludes the special items shown in Table 2, increased 7.7% to $2.38 for the full year of 2013.

NPM Adjustment Items

NPM Adjustment Items affected comparisons of Altria’s full-year reported diluted EPS. For the full year, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales of $664 million, or $0.21 per share, which included $519 million related to the NPM Adjustment Settlement and $145 million related to the NPM Arbitration Panel Decision (collectively, the NPM Adjustment Items). The EPS impact of the NPM Adjustment Items is shown in Table 2 and Schedule 7.

Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt

Losses on early extinguishment of debt due to the debt tender offers in 2012 and 2013 affected comparisons of Altria’s fourth-quarter and full-year reported diluted EPS. During the fourth quarter of 2013 and the third quarter of 2012, Altria completed debt tender offers to purchase aggregate principal amounts of $2.1 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, of certain of its senior unsecured notes. As a result of these debt tender offers, Altria recorded pre-tax charges on early extinguishment of debt of approximately $1.1 billion, or $0.34 per share, against 2013 fourth-quarter earnings and $874 million, or $0.28 per share, against 2012 third-quarter earnings. These charges are reflected in Schedules 1 and 3, and the EPS impacts are shown in Table 2 and Schedules 6 and 7.

SABMiller Special Items

Special items related to Altria’s equity investment in SABMiller affected comparisons of Altria’s full-year reported diluted EPS. Special items for the full year of 2013 included costs related to SABMiller’s “business capability programme,” its economic and social development program in South Africa and asset impairment charges, partially offset by gains related to divestitures.

For the full year of 2012, SABMiller special items included gains resulting from SABMiller’s strategic alliance transactions with Anadolu Efes and Castel, partially offset by costs for SABMiller’s “business capability programme” and costs related to its acquisition of Foster’s Group Limited.

The EPS impact of these special items is shown in Table 2 and Schedule 7.

PMCC Leveraged Lease Benefit

Full-year comparisons of Altria’s reported diluted EPS were affected by a closing agreement (Closing Agreement) that Altria entered into with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2012. The agreement conclusively resolved the federal income tax treatment for all prior and future tax years of certain leveraged lease transactions entered into by PMCC. As a result of the Closing Agreement, Altria recorded a one-time net earnings benefit of $68 million during the second quarter of 2012 due primarily to lower than estimated interest on tax underpayments. The net benefit was recorded as a decrease of $75 million to the provision for income taxes and was partially offset by a reduction to cumulative lease earnings of $7 million against net revenues. The EPS impact of this one-time benefit is shown in Table 2 and Schedule 7.

Tax Items

Tax items affected Altria’s fourth-quarter and full-year reported diluted EPS comparisons. For the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, Altria recorded net tax benefits related to previously unrecognized tax credits and the reversal of tax accruals no longer required. Altria recorded tax items for 2012 primarily related to the reversal of tax reserves and associated interest following the closure of the IRS audit of Altria and its consolidated subsidiaries’ 2004-2006 tax years. The 2013 and 2012 tax items are reflected in Schedules 1 and 3, “Provision for income taxes,” and the EPS impacts are shown in Table 2 and Schedules 6 and 7.

A reconciliation between the reported effective tax rate and the effective tax rate on operations for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 is shown in the table below.

Altria anticipates that its 2014 full-year reported effective tax rate and effective tax rate on operations will be approximately 35.1%. The decrease in the projected 2014 full-year effective tax rate on operations is due to the reduction in certain consolidated tax benefits in 2013 resulting from the 2013 debt tender offer as well as increased recognition of tax credits in 2014.

SMOKEABLE PRODUCTS

The smokeable products segment grew its adjusted OCI and delivered strong adjusted OCI margin growth for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 primarily through higher pricing. PM USA’s investments in the Marlboro brand architecture contributed to Marlboro’s retail share growth versus both prior-year periods.

The smokeable products segment’s net revenues decreased 3.2% for the fourth quarter and 1.6% for the full year of 2013 primarily due to lower reported shipment volume, partially offset by higher pricing. Revenues net of excise taxes decreased 1.8% for the fourth quarter and 0.1% for the full year.

The smokeable products segment’s 2013 fourth-quarter reported OCI increased 4.5% primarily due to higher pricing, lower selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, and lower restructuring charges, partially offset by lower reported shipment volume. For the full year, the smokeable products segment’s reported OCI increased 13.2% primarily due to higher pricing, NPM Adjustment Items and lower SG&A expenses. These factors were partially offset by lower reported shipment volume and higher resolution expense. Adjusted OCI, which is calculated excluding the special items identified in Table 4, grew 3.6% for the fourth quarter and 2.4% for the full year of 2013.

Adjusted OCI margins for the smokeable products segment increased 2.2 percentage points to 42.1% for the fourth quarter of 2013 and increased 1.0 percentage point to 42.2% for the full year of 2013. Revenues and OCI for the smokeable products segment are summarized in Table 4.

PM USA’s 2013 fourth-quarter and full-year reported domestic cigarettes shipment volume decreased 5.8% and 4.1%, respectively, primarily due to the industry’s rate of decline, changes in trade inventories and other factors, partially offset by retail share gains. When adjusted for trade inventories and other factors, PM USA estimates that its domestic cigarettes shipment volume was down approximately 4% for both the fourth quarter and the full year, which is consistent with the estimated category decline. PM USA’s cigarette volume performance is summarized in Table 5.

Middleton’s 2013 fourth-quarter reported cigars shipment volume increased 8.5%. For the full year, Middleton’s reported shipment volume decreased 3.2% primarily due to changes in wholesale inventories and retail share losses. Middleton’s volume performance for machine-made large cigars is summarized in Table 5.

Marlboro gained 0.2 retail share points for the fourth quarter and 0.1 retail share point for the full year of 2013 behind investments in the Marlboro architecture. PM USA expanded Marlboro Edge distribution nationally in the fourth quarter. PM USA’s total retail share increased 0.3 share points for both the fourth quarter and full year of 2013, due to retail share gains by Marlboro, as well as L&M in Discount, partially offset by share losses on other portfolio brands. PM USA’s cigarette retail share performance is summarized in Table 6.

In the machine-made large cigars category, Black & Mild’s retail share for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 decreased 0.7 and 1.3 share points, respectively. Middleton’s retail share performance is summarized in Table 6.

SMOKELESS PRODUCTS

The smokeless products segment increased its adjusted OCI for the fourth quarter of 2013 primarily through higher pricing. For the full year, the smokeless products segment delivered solid adjusted OCI growth primarily driven by higher pricing and higher volume. USSTC grew Copenhagen and Skoal’s combined retail share and expanded adjusted OCI margins in both periods.

The smokeless products segment’s 2013 fourth-quarter net revenues declined 0.7%, primarily driven by higher promotional spending, mix due to growth in popular priced products and lower reported shipment volume, mostly offset by higher pricing. For the full year, the segment’s net revenues increased 5.1% primarily due to higher pricing and volume growth, partially offset by higher promotional investments and mix. The smokeless products segment’s revenues net of excise taxes decreased 1.7% for the fourth quarter and increased 4.4% for the full year of 2013.

The smokeless products segment’s reported OCI for the fourth quarter of 2013 was essentially unchanged primarily due to higher pricing, offset by higher promotional investments and lower volume. For the full year, the segment’s reported OCI increased 9.9% primarily driven by higher pricing, higher volume, lower restructuring charges and effective cost management. These factors were partially offset by higher promotional investments and mix. Adjusted OCI for the smokeless products segment, which is calculated excluding the special items identified in Table 7, increased 1.2% for the fourth quarter and 7.0% for the full year of 2013. Adjusted OCI margins for the smokeless products segment improved 1.7 percentage points to 62.5% for the fourth quarter and 1.5 percentage points to 62.3% for the full year. Revenues and OCI for the smokeless products segment are summarized in Table 7.

Calendar differences affected reported domestic smokeless products shipment volume in both the fourth quarter and the full year due to one less shipping day in 2013, representing approximately one full week of volume. USSTC and PM USA’s combined reported domestic smokeless products shipment volume decreased 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2013. For the full year, reported domestic smokeless shipment volume increased 3.2% due to volume growth for Copenhagen, partially offset by volume declines in Skoal and Other portfolio brands. Copenhagen and Skoal’s combined reported shipment volume decreased 3.5% for the fourth quarter and increased 4.3% for the full year of 2013.

After adjusting for calendar differences, trade inventory changes and other factors, USSTC and PM USA estimate that their combined domestic smokeless products shipment volume grew 5% both for the fourth quarter and the full year, while smokeless products category volume for both periods grew approximately 5.5%. Volume performance for the smokeless products segment is summarized in Table 8.

Copenhagen and Skoal’s combined retail share increased 0.2 share points to 50.9% for the fourth quarter of 2013 and 0.3 share points to 50.7% for the full year. Copenhagen’s retail share grew 1.5 share points for the fourth quarter and 1.4 share points for the full year, as the brand continued to benefit from products introduced over the past several years. Skoal’s 2013 fourth-quarter and full-year retail share declined 1.3 and 1.1 share points, respectively, primarily due to competitive activity and Copenhagen’s strong performance.

USSTC and PM USA’s combined smokeless products retail share for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 decreased 0.3 and 0.2 share points, respectively, as retail share losses for Skoal and Other portfolio brands were mostly offset by retail share gains for Copenhagen. Smokeless products retail share performance is summarized in Table 9.

WINE

Ste. Michelle delivered strong OCI growth for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013 through higher pricing and its focus on increasing distribution of premium brands.

Ste. Michelle grew net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2013 by 10.0% due to increased shipment volume and higher pricing. For the full year, Ste. Michelle grew net revenues by 8.6% due to higher shipment volume, improved premium mix and higher pricing. Revenues net of excise taxes grew 10.4% for the fourth quarter and 8.7% for the full year.

Ste. Michelle increased OCI for the fourth quarter of 2013 by 9.8% primarily driven by higher shipment volume and higher pricing, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs. For the full year, Ste. Michelle grew OCI by 13.5% due to higher shipment volume, higher pricing and improved premium mix, partially offset by higher manufacturing and SG&A costs. Ste. Michelle’s OCI margins decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 23.6% for the fourth quarter and expanded 0.8 percentage points to 20.1% for the full year. Revenues and OCI for the wine segment are summarized in Table 10.

Ste. Michelle’s 2013 wine shipment volume increased 5.8% for the fourth quarter and 5.0% for the full year primarily due to increased distribution of 14 Hands. Ste. Michelle’s reported shipment volume performance for wine is summarized in Table 11.

Altria’s Profile

Altria directly or indirectly owns 100% of each of PM USA, USSTC, Middleton, Nu Mark, Ste. Michelle and PMCC. Altria holds a continuing economic and voting interest in SABMiller.

The brand portfolios of Altria’s tobacco operating companies include Marlboro®, Black & Mild®, Copenhagen®, Skoal® and MarkTen™. Ste. Michelle produces and markets premium wines sold under various labels, including Chateau Ste. Michelle®, Columbia Crest®, 14 Hands® and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars®, and it imports and markets Antinori®, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte™ and Villa Maria Estate™ products in the United States. Trademarks and service marks related to Altria referenced in this release are the property of Altria or its subsidiaries or are used with permission. More information about Altria is available at altria.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Important factors that may cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the projections and forward-looking statements included in this press release are described in Altria’s publicly filed reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2013.

These factors include the following: Altria’s tobacco businesses (including PM USA, USSTC, Middleton and Nu Mark) being subject to significant competition; changes in adult tobacco consumer preferences and demand for their products; fluctuations in raw material availability, quality and price; reliance on key facilities and suppliers; reliance on critical information systems, many of which are managed by third-party service providers; fluctuations in levels of customer inventories; the effects of global, national and local economic and market conditions; changes to income tax laws; federal, state and local legislative activity, including actual and potential federal and state excise tax increases; increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions; the effects of price increases related to excise tax increases and concluded tobacco litigation settlements on trade inventories, consumption rates and consumer preferences within price segments; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; privately imposed smoking restrictions; and, from time to time, governmental investigations.

Furthermore, the results of Altria’s tobacco businesses are dependent upon their continued ability to promote brand equity successfully; to anticipate and respond to evolving adult consumer preferences; to develop, manufacture, market and distribute products that appeal to adult tobacco consumers (including, where appropriate, through arrangements with third parties); to improve productivity; and to protect or enhance margins through cost savings and price increases.

Altria and its tobacco businesses are also subject to federal, state and local government regulation, including broad-based regulation of PM USA and USSTC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Altria and its subsidiaries continue to be subject to litigation, including risks associated with adverse jury and judicial determinations, courts reaching conclusions at variance with the companies’ understanding of applicable law, bonding requirements in the limited number of jurisdictions that do not limit the dollar amount of appeal bonds and certain challenges to bond cap statutes.

Altria cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that it may make except as required by applicable law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Altria or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements referenced above.

1 Cost of sales includes charges for resolution expenses related to state settlement and other tobacco agreements, and FDA user fees. Supplemental information concerning those items and excise taxes on products sold is shown in Schedule 5.

1 Prior-period segment data have been recast to conform with the current-period segment presentation.

1 Cost of sales includes charges for resolution expenses related to state settlement and other tobacco agreements, and FDA user fees. Supplemental information concerning those items and excise taxes on products sold is shown in Schedule 5.

1 Prior-period segment data have been recast to conform with the current-period segment presentation.

1 Amount includes a pre-tax credit of $664 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 related to the NPM Adjustment Items.

1 Excludes the tax impact included in the PMCC leveraged lease benefit.