Altria Group, Inc. $MO Shares Sold by Sunbelt Securities Inc.

Sunbelt Securities Inc. decreased its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 9.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 77,148 shares of the company’s stock after selling 7,678 shares during the quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,096,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Country Trust Bank grew its holdings in Altria Group by 400.0% in the second quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 334.7% during the second quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 539 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, Gould Capital LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the third quarter worth approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.9%

NYSE MO opened at $66.96 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $52.82 and a fifty-two week high of $70.51. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $64.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $62.59. The stock has a market cap of $111.94 billion, a PE ratio of 16.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.45.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on MO. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. UBS Group increased their target price on Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Argus upgraded Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $65.11.

Insider Transactions at Altria Group

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at $12,221,318.33. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.