Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) were down 0.2% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $45.91 and last traded at $45.94. Approximately 912,626 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 11,140,894 shares. The stock had previously closed at $46.03.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $50.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, March 25th. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $36.10 to $36.50 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, April 8th. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, May 31st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $46.90.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $79.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.61, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.66. The business’s 50-day moving average is $45.19 and its 200-day moving average is $42.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.15. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 222.80% and a net margin of 34.81%. The business had revenue of $4.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.71 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. Altria Group’s revenue was down 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 10th. Investors of record on Friday, June 14th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.52%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 82.01%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Charles N. Whitaker sold 22,487 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.95, for a total value of $988,303.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 173,485 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,624,665.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 61.3% in the first quarter. Abich Financial Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,487 shares of the company’s stock valued at $152,000 after buying an additional 1,325 shares during the period. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 20.3% in the 1st quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 10,965 shares of the company’s stock valued at $478,000 after acquiring an additional 1,854 shares during the period. HM Payson & Co. boosted its stake in Altria Group by 13.0% during the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 48,152 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,100,000 after acquiring an additional 5,522 shares during the last quarter. NBW Capital LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $242,000. Finally, Keynote Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the first quarter worth $1,150,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

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.