Advisory Alpha LLC Reduces Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Advisory Alpha LLC trimmed its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 11,205 shares of the company’s stock after selling 310 shares during the period. Advisory Alpha LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $586,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. XML Financial LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 40.5% during the 4th quarter. XML Financial LLC now owns 37,370 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,954,000 after purchasing an additional 10,781 shares during the last quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 25.9% during the 4th quarter. Simon Quick Advisors LLC now owns 10,433 shares of the company’s stock valued at $546,000 after purchasing an additional 2,148 shares during the period. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,230 shares of the company’s stock worth $378,000 after purchasing an additional 376 shares during the period. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 14,321 shares of the company’s stock valued at $762,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Octavia Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.0% during the fourth quarter. Octavia Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 104,623 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,577,000 after buying an additional 5,885 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $50.82 on Thursday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $39.25 and a 1 year high of $58.03. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $54.19 and a 200-day moving average price of $52.11. The firm has a market cap of $86.14 billion, a PE ratio of 8.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.03. Altria Group had a net margin of 42.82% and a negative return on equity of 233.80%. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.33 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.28 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.13 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.03%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.92%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $54.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $53.43.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.