The WSJ Leadership Institute Names Philip Morris International Among “Best Companies For the Future”

The ranking recognizes companies best positioned to thrive amid AI-driven and structural economic change

STAMFORD, CT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 26, 2026-- Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) has been named in the WSJ Leadership Institute’s inaugural “Best Companies for the Future” ranking, which evaluates large corporations on their ability to adapt and succeed in a rapidly evolving global environment. PMI ranks at #97 overall and is the third highest ranked company in the Food Beverage & Tobacco industry group after Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

Compiled by Bendable Labs for the WSJ Leadership Institute, a premium executive learning and leadership program from Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, the ranking assesses companies across six key dimensions - AI readiness, innovation, talent readiness, financial fitness, resilience, and agility - to identify those that are best positioned for long-term success.

PMI’s inclusion reflects the reality that today it is a leading international consumer goods company, focused on a smoke-free future that is underpinned by sustained investment in science, innovation, and evolved organizational capabilities.

“Being recognized as one of the ‘Best Companies for the Future’ underscores our commitment to reinventing PMI and delivering long-term value,” said Jacek Olczak, Group CEO. “Our progress toward a smoke-free future is driven by innovation, powered by our people, and grounded in a clear strategy to adapt to changing consumer preferences, technologies, and societal expectations.”

The inaugural ranking evaluates companies from the S&P 500 using a data-driven methodology based on 30 indicators from multiple external providers, focusing on how organizations integrate emerging technologies, strengthen their workforce, and build resilience in a changing marketplace.

PMI continues to make measurable progress in its business evolution, expanding access to smoke-free alternatives while evolving its model and capabilities to meet the demands of a rapidly shifting global landscape. Most recently, the company’s flagship heating tobacco product IQOS was listed among Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands, solidifying its global momentum for adult nicotine consumers seeking better alternatives to cigarettes.

Philip Morris International: A Global Smoke-Free Champion

Philip Morris International is a leading international consumer goods company, actively delivering a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, nicotine pouch, and e-vapor products. Our smoke-free products are available for sale in over 105 markets, and as of December 31, 2025, PMI estimates they were used by over 43 million legal-age consumers around the world, many of whom have moved away from cigarettes or significantly reduced their consumption. The smoke-free business accounted for 43% of PMI’s first-quarter 2026 total net revenues. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $16 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. Following a robust science-based review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the marketing of Swedish Match’s General snus and ZYN nicotine pouches and versions of PMI’s IQOS devices and consumables - the first-ever such authorizations in their respective categories. Versions of IQOS devices and consumables and General snus also obtained the first-ever Modified Risk Tobacco Product authorizations from the FDA. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI has a long-term ambition to expand into wellness areas. References to “PMI”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean Philip Morris International Inc., and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains projections of future results and goals and other forward-looking statements, including statements regarding business plans and strategies. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties, and inaccurate assumptions. In the event that risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, PMI is identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by PMI.

PMI's business risks include: marketing and regulatory restrictions that could reduce our competitiveness, disrupt our SFP commercialization efforts, eliminate our ability to communicate with adult consumers, or ban certain of our products in certain markets or countries; excise tax increases and discriminatory tax structures; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products; litigation related to tobacco and/or nicotine products and intellectual property rights; intense competition; inability to anticipate changes in adult consumer preferences; use and reliance on third-parties; the adverse effects of global and individual country economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters and conflicts; geopolitical instability affecting international trade; the impact and consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine; changes in adult smoker behavior; continued decline of tax-paid cigarettes; lost revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband and cross-border purchases; governmental investigations; unfavorable currency exchange rates and currency devaluations, sustained periods of elevated inflation, and limitations on the ability to repatriate funds; adverse changes in applicable corporate tax laws; disruptions in the credit markets or changes to its credit ratings; recent and potential future tariffs imposed by the U.S. and other countries; adverse changes in the cost, availability, and quality of tobacco and other agricultural products and raw materials, as well as product components for our electronic devices; and the integrity of its information systems and effectiveness of its data privacy policies. PMI's future profitability may also be adversely affected should it be unsuccessful, in key markets or systemically, in its efforts to introduce, commercialize, and grow smoke-free products or if regulation or taxation do not differentiate between such products and cigarettes; if it is unable to successfully introduce new products, promote brand equity; if there are prolonged disruptions of facilities used to produce its products; if it is unable to enter new markets or improve its margins through increased prices and productivity gains; if other market participants are more successful in their SFP commercialization efforts; if it is unable to attract and retain the best global talent; or if it is unable to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits from recent transactions and acquisitions. Future results are also subject to the lower predictability of our smoke-free products performance.

PMI is further subject to other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including PMI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025 and it Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. PMI cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not a complete discussion of all potential risks and uncertainties. PMI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, except in the normal course of its public disclosure obligations.

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Philip Morris International
Corey Henry
T: +1 (202) 679 7296
E: corey.henry@pmi.com

Source: Philip Morris International