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Altria Profit Surpasses Estimates on Higher Prices (Update5) 

Altria Group Inc., the world's largest tobacco company, said third-quarter profit rose more than analysts anticipated on higher cigarette prices and sales of the top-selling Marlboro brand, spurring the company to raise its forecast for the year.

Profit adjusted for Altria's spinoff of Kraft Foods Inc. increased 19 percent to $2.63 billion, or $1.24 a share, beating the average estimate of analysts by 7 cents. Revenue rose 8.9 percent to $19.2 billion, New York-based Altria said today in a statement.

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