Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Kovack Advisors Inc.

Kovack Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 12.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 23,224 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,202 shares during the quarter. Kovack Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,214,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the third quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $55.06 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.41, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $52.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $52.85. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.25 and a 12 month high of $58.03.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. Analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.41%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 62.29%.

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.