Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd Decreases Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd lessened its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 4,664,986 shares of the company’s stock after selling 25,142 shares during the period. Altria Group accounts for about 1.6% of Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest holding. Swiss Life Asset Management Ltd owned approximately 0.28% of Altria Group worth $308,169,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Kercheville Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 3.7% in the third quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC now owns 4,397 shares of the company’s stock worth $290,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the period. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,781 shares of the company’s stock valued at $382,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the period. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 50,805 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,356,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 7,386 shares of the company’s stock worth $488,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Optimist Retirement Group LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 35,577 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,350,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on MO. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, UBS Group increased their price target on Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $65.11.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Trading Down 2.8%

Shares of MO stock opened at $65.09 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $108.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.45. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.82 and a 12-month high of $70.51. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $64.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.61.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 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%. The company’s quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.5%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is 103.16%.

About Altria Group

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.