PKS Advisory Services LLC Makes New $484,000 Investment in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

PKS Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 9,265 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $484,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Altria Group Stock Down 1.6 %

NYSE:MO opened at $56.73 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $95.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.65 and a twelve month high of $59.67. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $54.66 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.51.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 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%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.19%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Altria Group 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.