The Altria Group, owner of the world's largest cigarette business and controlling shareholder of Kraft Foods, said on Thursday that its first-quarter profit rose 34 percent on a tax benefit and the strong performance of its domestic tobacco operations.

Altria earned $3.48 billion, or $1.65 a share, in the quarter, up from $2.6 billion, or $1.25 a share, in the period a year ago. The recent results include a benefit of 46 cents a share from a reversal of tax reserves after an Internal Revenue Service review of the company's returns from 1996 to 1999, along with several other items.