Question

Schedule 1 ALTRIA GROUP, INC. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Earnings For the Quarters Ended September 30, (dollars in millions, except per share data) (Unaudited) 2019 2018 % Change 0.3% $ $ 6,856 1,915 1,444 3,497 494 7.4 % 13.8% Net revenues Cost of sales Excise taxes on products Gross profit Marketing, administration and research costs Asset impairment and exit costs Operating companies income Amortization of intangibles General corporate expenses Operating income Interest and other debt expense, net Net periodic benefit income, excluding service cost Earnings from equity investments Impairment of JUUL equity securities Loss on Cronos-related financial instruments Earnings (losses) before income taxes Provision for income taxes Net earnings (losses) Ner earnings, losses attributable to noncontrotting interests Net earnings (losses) attributable to Altria 6,837 2,037 1,545 3,255 619 (2) 2,638 20 61 2,557 159 (21) (189) 15.1% 3,002 12 46 2,944 293 (24) (333) 4,500 636 (100.0)%+ (2,128) 474 (2,602) 2,608 664 1,944 (100.0%+ s (2,600) $ 1,943 (100.0%+ Per share data: Basic and diluted earnings (losses) per share attributable to Altria S (1.39) $ 1.03 (100.0%+ Weighted average diluted shares outstanding 1,868 1,883 (0.8)% Cost of sales includes charges for resolution expenses related to state settlement agreements and FDA user fees. Supplemental information concerning those items, excise taxes on products sold and earnings from equity investments is shown in Schedule 5.

Why did Altria report a loss in the third quarter?

Answer 1

While the company generated sales and gross margin higher in Q3 of 2019 versus Q3 of 2018, it suffered a net loss in Q3 2019. The main reason for this loss was impairment of JUUL securities for $4500 million, together with a loss of $636 million on Cronos related financial instruments and an increase in interest expense by $134 million. All these expenses and charges were partially offset by an $144 million increase in earnings from equity investments.

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