Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC

Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC reduced its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 117,809 shares of the company’s stock after selling 583 shares during the period. Altria Group makes up approximately 2.5% of Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,160,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $40,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on MO. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Barclays raised their target price on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Two 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $55.15 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $52.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.78. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $39.25 and a 1-year high of $58.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $93.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.40%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

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.