Mutual Advisors LLC Cuts Stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Mutual Advisors LLC decreased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 119,969 shares of the company’s stock after selling 10,149 shares during the quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,138,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Independent Wealth Network Inc. grew its holdings in Altria Group by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Independent Wealth Network Inc. now owns 18,421 shares of the company’s stock valued at $963,000 after purchasing an additional 449 shares in the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. boosted its position in Altria Group by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 38,591 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,018,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC now owns 29,873 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,562,000 after acquiring an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 30,110 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,574,000 after acquiring an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Albion Financial Group UT increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 46.1% during the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 2,760 shares of the company’s stock worth $144,000 after acquiring an additional 871 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 1.3 %

MO stock opened at $50.82 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $86.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.58, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $54.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $39.25 and a fifty-two week high of $58.03.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 68.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on MO shares. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $54.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.43.

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.