Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Down 0.1%

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)’s stock price was down 0.1% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $48.71 and last traded at $49.07. Approximately 1,690,484 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 10,701,672 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.12.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on MO shares. UBS Group upped their price objective on Altria Group from $36.10 to $36.50 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, April 8th. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 28th. Bank of America increased their price target on Altria Group from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Argus raised 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, three have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $47.10.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The stock’s 50-day moving average is $46.41 and its 200 day moving average is $43.52. The firm has a market cap of $84.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.31, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.66.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 25th. The company reported $1.15 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.15. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.81% and a negative return on equity of 222.80%. The business had revenue of $4.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.71 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.18 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 10th. Investors of record on Friday, June 14th were given a $0.98 dividend. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 14th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 82.01%.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In other Altria Group news, VP Charles N. Whitaker sold 22,487 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $43.95, for a total transaction 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 SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,209,168 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,778,000 after buying an additional 10,858 shares during the last quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 125.2% during the 4th quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 15,437 shares of the company’s stock worth $623,000 after buying an additional 8,583 shares during the last quarter. ZRC Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 67.6% during the 4th quarter. ZRC Wealth Management LLC now owns 677 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 273 shares during the last quarter. Smith Anglin Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Smith Anglin Financial LLC now owns 7,375 shares of the company’s stock worth $298,000 after buying an additional 832 shares during the last quarter. Finally, PFG Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 14,344 shares of the company’s stock worth $579,000 after buying an additional 559 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

About Altria Group

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.