New York, Feb 7, 2026, 15:18 EST — Market is done for the day.
Philip Morris International closed at $182.81, gaining 0.45% on the day. The move followed the company’s raised 2026 profit forecast, which it attributed to strength in its nicotine pouch segment. 1
This is coming to a head, with the stock now essentially a litmus test for the future of smoke-free products as profit drivers in an increasingly crowded field. Zyn’s the wild card. Traders are zeroed in, looking for clues that volume growth isn’t undercutting pricing power.
U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, so attention turns to Monday’s open. A clearer profit outlook is on the table, but investors are eyeing whether rivals will push for bigger discounts—a move that could quickly hit margins.
Philip Morris International posted adjusted earnings of $1.70 per share for the fourth quarter, climbing from $1.55 a year ago, as net revenues advanced 6.8% to $10.362 billion. Looking ahead, the company expects first-quarter adjusted EPS between $1.80 and $1.85, and sees 2026 reported diluted EPS coming in at $7.87 to $8.02. PMI also gave a nod to its extended long-term growth targets, which focus on “organic” results—those that exclude currency movements and deal-related effects. 2
Philip Morris CEO Jacek Olczak told Reuters the firm is lining up refreshed Zyn offerings, though any launch hinges on regulatory approval, with competitors ratcheting up pressure. Jefferies’ Andrei Andon-Ionita described the company’s new goals as a “reassuring outlook” for growth, but pointed to British American Tobacco as a significant U.S. nicotine pouch rival. 3
The market held steady going into the weekend. U.S. indexes surged Friday, and the Dow topped 50,000 at the close—never been higher. PMI didn’t budge as much compared to the big benchmarks, a gap that’s got some traders pointing to “defensive” cash sticking to the sidelines instead of piling in. 4
Desks head into early next week watching for fresh analyst notes and any new signals on pouch market share chatter. Options often show more life in this setup—when consumer stocks move on category numbers instead of just headline jolts, flows can get interesting.
Still, one clear risk stands out. A price war in the pouch aisle could mean higher volume, sure, but with revenue and profit per can taking a hit—so forecasts could slide, even as the company grabs more shelf space.
Heated tobacco, including IQOS, stays in focus—tax tweaks or price shifts can jolt demand in a flash. If core markets start showing any slowdown, the stock’s smoke-free pitch could take a real hit.
Income-focused investors have their sights on PMI’s upcoming dividend dates: declaration lands March 5, 2026, with shares going ex-dividend March 19, and payments expected April 13. 5
