Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Bought by Financial Security Advisor Inc.

Financial Security Advisor Inc. raised its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 96,296 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 4,389 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up about 1.3% of Financial Security Advisor Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Financial Security Advisor Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,035,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MO. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $40,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO stock opened at $55.06 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $52.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $93.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $39.25 and a 1 year high of $58.03.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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, analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.41%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on MO shares. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley cut 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 Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price 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.