Altria Group had virtually flat revenue and lower profit in the second quarter, as lower sales of its nicotine pouches offset some of the growth in its cigarettes business.

The tobacco company on Thursday posted a profit of $2.3 billion, or $1.37 a share, compared with $2.38 billion, or $1.41 a share, a year earlier.

Stripping out certain one-time items, adjusted per-share earnings were $1.48, behind the $1.50 anticipated by analysts, according to FactSet.

Revenue was roughly flat at $6.11 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast revenue of $5.35 billion.

Within smokeable products, which includes Marlboro and Virginia Slims cigarettes, revenue increased 0.7%. That growth was driven by higher pricing and offset partially by more promotions and lower shipment volume.

Revenue from the company's oral-tobacco business, which includes on! nicotine pouches, fell 5.3%.

Altria narrowed its full-year guidance for adjusted earnings per share to a range of $5.61 to $5.72, from a previous range of $5.56 to $5.72.

The narrowed outlook reflects Altria's expectation that it will get a greater benefit from cigarette import and export activity in the second half of the year compared with the first.

Shares were down 3.4% to $72.40 in premarket trading Thursday.