Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Bought by MML Investors Services LLC

MML Investors Services LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 4.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 378,570 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 15,675 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $19,795,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also 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. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $57.66 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.48 billion, a PE ratio of 8.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $42.02 and a fifty-two week high of $60.18. The company has a fifty day moving average of $56.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.36.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. Research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm 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 dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.08%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, 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 report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $54.00.

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.