Brokerages Set Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Target Price at $53.33

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the seven brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have given a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $53.33.

A number of analysts have issued reports on MO shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. UBS Group increased their price target on Altria Group from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, September 9th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $53.58 on Friday. Altria Group has a 52 week low of $39.25 and a 52 week high of $58.03. The company has a market capitalization of $90.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.05, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $51.15.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.33 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 233.80% and a net margin of 42.82%. The business’s revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.28 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.12 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.61%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 68.92%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. raised its position in Altria Group by 63.9% during the 2nd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 667 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 85.1% in the third quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 410 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Company Profile

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.