AlphaQuest LLC Decreases Stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

AlphaQuest LLC decreased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 57.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 20,630 shares of the company’s stock after selling 27,911 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,079,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Argentarii LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $331,000. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,139 shares of the company’s stock valued at $530,000 after acquiring an additional 556 shares during the period. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI now owns 5,077 shares of the company’s stock valued at $265,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares during the period. Axis Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $593,000. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 98,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,129,000 after acquiring an additional 10,287 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE MO opened at $58.98 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.65 and a 1 year high of $59.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.72 billion, a PE ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $53.29 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $53.16.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on MO. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

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.