CAP Partners LLC Lowers Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

CAP Partners LLC decreased its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 3.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 6,667 shares of the company’s stock after selling 258 shares during the quarter. CAP Partners LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $349,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in Altria Group in the third quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 85.1% during the 3rd quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 410 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $53.84 on Tuesday. 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 fifty day moving average price of $53.09 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.24 billion, a PE ratio of 8.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. On average, equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.58%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MO has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America raised Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Barclays boosted their price target on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

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.