Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Up 0.2%

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)’s share price rose 0.2% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $45.62 and last traded at $45.54. Approximately 1,411,775 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 87% from the average daily volume of 11,168,102 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.46.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $36.10 to $36.50 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, April 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $50.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Monday, March 25th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $46.90.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $78.24 billion, a PE ratio of 9.53, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.64. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $45.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $42.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $1.15 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.15. The firm had revenue of $4.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.71 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.81% and a negative return on equity of 222.80%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.18 EPS. Analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 14th will be given a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.61%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 82.01%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Altria Group

In other Altria Group news, VP Charles N. Whitaker sold 22,487 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.95, for a total value of $988,303.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 173,485 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,624,665.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MO. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 22.0% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 563,905 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,712,000 after purchasing an additional 101,670 shares in the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 293.6% in the 3rd quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 55,546 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,336,000 after purchasing an additional 41,432 shares in the last quarter. AXQ Capital LP acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,480,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its stake in Altria Group by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 9,174,355 shares of the company’s stock worth $381,278,000 after acquiring an additional 722,258 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Alps Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Altria Group by 4.8% during the 3rd quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 579,859 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,383,000 after acquiring an additional 26,469 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.