Sonora Investment Management Group LLC Lowers Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Sonora Investment Management Group LLC reduced its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 5.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 18,212 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,143 shares during the period. Sonora Investment Management Group LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $952,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MO. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter valued at about $41,000. Fairman Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 85.1% during the third quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 410 shares during the period. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 27.7% in the 4th quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 921 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $51.59 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $39.25 and a 1 year high of $58.03. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $53.75 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.44 billion, a PE ratio of 8.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.64.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 42.82% and a negative return on equity of 233.80%. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.91%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 68.92%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Citigroup raised their target price on Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, January 16th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $54.00 price target for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.43.

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.