Sigma Planning Corp Lowers Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Sigma Planning Corp decreased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 11.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,813 shares of the company’s stock after selling 8,388 shares during the quarter. Sigma Planning Corp’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,546,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Callan Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 25.2% in the fourth quarter. Callan Capital LLC now owns 11,905 shares of the company’s stock worth $623,000 after buying an additional 2,399 shares during the last quarter. Winebrenner Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $359,000. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 18.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 39,874 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,085,000 after purchasing an additional 6,216 shares during the period. Lane & Associates LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Lane & Associates LLC now owns 5,963 shares of the company’s stock worth $311,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Finally, Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,489 shares of the company’s stock worth $653,000 after purchasing an additional 620 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $55.01 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.61 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.73. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.25 and a 12 month high of $58.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.40, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS 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 issued a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.42%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays upped their price target on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has a consensus 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.