Altria Group Earnings: Another Quarter of Winning Profitability

S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Altria Group Inc. (NYSE:MO) reported its results for the second quarter. Altria Group manufactures and sells cigarettes and tobacco products as well as maintaining a portfolio of leveraged and direct finance leases.

Investing Insights: Is TV the Next Bullish Catalyst for Apple’s Stock?

Altria Group Inc. Earnings Cheat Sheet

Results: Net income for the tobacco rose to $1.23 billion (60 cents per share) vs. $444 million (21 cents per share) in the same quarter a year earlier. This is a more than twofold rise from the year-earlier quarter.

Actual vs. Wall St. Expectations: Altria Group Inc. reported adjusted net income of 59 cents per share. By that measure, the company beat the mean estimate of 57 cents per share.

Quoting Management: “Altria delivered excellent financial results for the second quarter and first six months of 2012, reflecting the strength of our diverse business model,” said Marty Barrington, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria. “The brand-building activities of our tobacco companies contributed to adjusted operating companies income and margin growth in the smokeable and smokeless products segments. Exceptionally strong gains from our investment in SABMiller and our financial services business complemented these results.”

Key Stats:

The company beat estimates last quarter after meeting expectations in the first quarter with net income of 49 cents per share.

Net income has increased 23.4% year-over-year on average across the last five quarters. The biggest gain came in the most recent quarter, when income climbed more than twofold from the year-earlier quarter.

Looking Forward: The average estimate for the third quarter is steady at 60 cents a share. At $2.21 per share, the average estimate for the fiscal year has risen from $2.20 sixty days ago.

Stocks with improving earnings metrics are worthy of your extra attention. In fact, “E = Earnings Are Increasing Quarter-Over-Quarter” is a core component of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework for this very reason. Don’t waste another minute — click here and get our CHEAT SHEET stock picks now.

(Company fundamentals provided by Xignite Financials. Earnings estimates provided by Zacks)

Don’t Miss These Hot Additional Stories:

The Dow is NOT Lovin’ McDonald’s Right Now>>

SILVER: A Metal of Sunken Treasure and Champions>>

Will New Apple Products PUMP UP Shares?