Keystone Financial Planning Inc. Reduces Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Keystone Financial Planning Inc. trimmed its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 109,694 shares of the company’s stock after selling 381 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up 1.8% of Keystone Financial Planning Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Keystone Financial Planning Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,736,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 8.0% in the 4th quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC now owns 4,058 shares of the company’s stock valued at $212,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital boosted its position in Altria Group by 54.6% during the fourth quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 19,447 shares of the company’s stock worth $989,000 after acquiring an additional 6,872 shares during the last quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc boosted its position in Altria Group by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,302 shares of the company’s stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares during the last quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA grew its stake in Altria Group by 114.3% in the 4th quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA now owns 10,365 shares of the company’s stock worth $542,000 after acquiring an additional 5,528 shares during the period. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management raised its holdings in Altria Group by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 117,971 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,169,000 after acquiring an additional 5,231 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays lifted their price target on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.33.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO stock traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $50.97. 3,324,136 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,334,336. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $39.25 and a fifty-two week high of $58.03. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $54.56 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $51.84. The company has a market capitalization of $86.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.61, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.03. Altria Group had a net margin of 42.82% and a negative return on equity of 233.80%. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.28 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.00%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.92%.

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.