Goldman Sachs Reinforces Bullish View on Philip Morris with New Reporting Segmentation
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy PM?
Source: seekingalpha
- Reporting Structure Change: Philip Morris (PM) has scrapped its old four-region reporting setup in favor of three distinct business segments—International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles, and U.S.—which is expected to enhance investor visibility into sales and earnings growth, thereby boosting market confidence.
- Financial Restatement: The new reporting structure will recast financial data back to 2023, and while certain FX and equity expense items have been pulled into a new 'Corporate expenses and other' line, segment margins are slightly adjusted without impacting total earnings.
- Earnings Forecast Upgrade: Analyst Bonnie Herzog has slightly raised EPS estimates for PM while maintaining a 'Buy' rating and a 12-month price target of $205, reflecting confidence in PM's growth potential, particularly in the U.S. market.
- Optimistic Growth Outlook: Goldman Sachs believes PM is transforming into a faster-growing and more profitable business, anticipating strong top- and bottom-line growth over the next several years, especially driven by the compounding effects of IQOS and opportunities with ZYN products.
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Analyst Views on PM
Wall Street analysts forecast PM stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 157.790
Low
175.00
Averages
191.95
High
210.00
Current: 157.790
Low
175.00
Averages
191.95
High
210.00
About PM
Philip Morris International Inc. is an international tobacco company. The Company’s product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products. Its smoke-free business (SFB) also includes wellness and healthcare products, as well as consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. The Company’s segments include Europe Region; South and Southeast Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States, Middle East and Africa Region (SSEA, CIS & MEA); East Asia, Australia & PMI Global Travel Retail (EA, AU & PMI GTR), and Americas Region. The Company's brands include Marlboro, HEETS, IQOS, IQOS ILUMA, TEREA, VEEV and ZYN. Its IQOS smoke-free product brand portfolio includes heated tobacco and nicotine-containing vapor products. Its international cigarette brands are Chesterfield, L&M, and Philip Morris. It also owns a number of local cigarette brands, such as Dji Sam Soe and Sampoerna A in Indonesia, and Fortune and Jackpot in the Philippines.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Exhibition Highlights: Philip Morris and Devialet's collaboration launches the 'Soundsorial Design' exhibition at Milan Design Week 2026, showcasing an immersive experience of water and light that attracts over 35 million IQOS users, merging brand innovation with self-expression.
- Technological Innovation: The exhibition utilizes Devialet's sound technology to create an interactive experience where sound and visuals converge, emphasizing that sound is not merely a backdrop but the core of the exhibition, enhancing the brand's competitiveness in the premium market.
- Limited Edition Product Launch: The collaboration also unveils the 'Soundsorial' limited-edition capsule collection, pairing the IQOS ILUMA i PRIME with Devialet's Gemini II earbuds, featuring unique sound-wave-inspired designs that appeal to consumers seeking excellence.
- Market Strategy: Philip Morris is committed to a smoke-free future, with smoke-free products accounting for 41.5% of total revenues in 2025, demonstrating the company's leadership in transforming the tobacco industry while continuing to invest in innovative products to meet consumer demands.
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- Reporting Structure Change: Philip Morris (PM) has scrapped its old four-region reporting setup in favor of three distinct business segments—International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles, and U.S.—which is expected to enhance investor visibility into sales and earnings growth, thereby boosting market confidence.
- Financial Restatement: The new reporting structure will recast financial data back to 2023, and while certain FX and equity expense items have been pulled into a new 'Corporate expenses and other' line, segment margins are slightly adjusted without impacting total earnings.
- Earnings Forecast Upgrade: Analyst Bonnie Herzog has slightly raised EPS estimates for PM while maintaining a 'Buy' rating and a 12-month price target of $205, reflecting confidence in PM's growth potential, particularly in the U.S. market.
- Optimistic Growth Outlook: Goldman Sachs believes PM is transforming into a faster-growing and more profitable business, anticipating strong top- and bottom-line growth over the next several years, especially driven by the compounding effects of IQOS and opportunities with ZYN products.
See More
- Earnings Season Significance: Wall Street is set for a packed earnings season featuring key companies like Capital One and Boeing, with investors eager to glean insights into the economic impact of the Iran war from these reports.
- Capital One Performance Focus: Capital One is scheduled to report earnings on Tuesday, with market attention on its consumer health metrics and the progress of its acquisitions of Discover and Brex, particularly amid rising economic uncertainties.
- Boeing Earnings Outlook: Boeing is expected to release its earnings report on Wednesday, with market focus on order volumes in both its commercial and defense sectors, as well as free cash flow performance, especially after previous unexpected losses.
- GE Vernova Order Growth: GE Vernova will report alongside Boeing, with first-quarter new orders anticipated to reach $14.4 billion, reflecting a 65% year-over-year increase, indicating strong market performance amid rising electricity demand.
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- FDA Renewal Authorization: The U.S. FDA has announced the renewal of Philip Morris's Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) authorizations for the IQOS and HEETS products, allowing the company to continue sharing reduced exposure information with U.S. adults aged 21 and over, thereby promoting public health.
- Scientific Basis Support: The FDA's decision is based on scientific studies indicating that switching completely from conventional cigarettes to the IQOS system significantly reduces exposure to harmful chemicals, which is expected to improve the overall health of both smokers and non-smokers, further solidifying PMI's leadership in the heated tobacco market.
- Significant Market Potential: PMI aims to provide better smoke-free alternatives to approximately 25 million legal-age smokers in the U.S., with an estimated 43 million legal-age consumers globally using its smoke-free products by 2025, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- Ongoing Investment in Innovation: Since 2008, PMI has invested over $16 billion in the development of smoke-free products, focusing on scientific substantiation and commercialization of innovative products, with the goal of completely ending cigarette sales and driving the industry towards healthier alternatives.
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Renewed Authorization: The article discusses the renewed authorization for various IQOS products, specifically IQOS 2.4 and IQOS 3.0.
Product Coverage: It also covers the inclusion of Heets Amber, Green Menthol, and Blue Menthol in the authorization.
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- FDA Authorization: The U.S. FDA has authorized the use of IQOS as a modified risk tobacco product.
- Impact on Tobacco Products: This decision allows Philip Morris International to market IQOS with reduced risk claims compared to traditional tobacco products.
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