Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC Acquires 4,146 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 3.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 117,026 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,146 shares during the quarter. Altria Group accounts for approximately 2.3% of Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,119,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Townsquare Capital LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 20.6% during the third quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 74,589 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,807,000 after acquiring an additional 12,727 shares during the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its stake in Altria Group by 10.3% during the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 72,830 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,717,000 after buying an additional 6,800 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 561,416 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,655,000 after acquiring an additional 18,745 shares in the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 84,863 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,331,000 after purchasing an additional 3,063 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arete Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter valued at $963,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. 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. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. 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. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $58.17 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $98.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $55.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.65 and a one year high of $59.67.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced 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 negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. Equities research analysts anticipate 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 will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.01%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

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.