Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Stock Has Average Target Price of $70.11 According to Analysts

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the thirteen ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $71.67.

Several analysts have issued reports on MO shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $79.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday.

Altria Group Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $77.28 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $70.68 and its 200-day moving average is $68.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $129.05 billion, a PE ratio of 15.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.42. Altria Group has a 12-month low of $54.70 and a 12-month high of $79.81.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 315.29% and a net margin of 33.99%. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.45 EPS. Altria Group’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Altria Group will post 5.69 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 91.74%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cortland Associates Inc. MO grew its holdings in Altria Group by 1.2% during the third quarter. Cortland Associates Inc. MO now owns 11,079 shares of the company’s stock valued at $746,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the period. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 5.8% in the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 2,619 shares of the company’s stock valued at $191,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 1.8% in the third quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the company’s stock worth $552,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 1.3% in the second quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $821,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. Finally, Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 4.6% in the second quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,379 shares of the company’s stock worth $243,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Altria Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Altria reported third-quarter revenue of $5.44 billion, up 3.6% year over year, while adjusted EPS of $1.52 modestly exceeded consensus. Strength in Marlboro and Basic, along with growing on! nicotine-pouch sales, helped drive the performance. Management also raised its outlook, reinforcing the earnings momentum. MO Q3 deep dive: smoke-free momentum and price discipline drive guidance raise
• Positive Sentiment: The nationwide launch of on! PLUS 12mg nicotine pouches expands Altria’s higher-strength product offering and could help it capture additional growth in oral nicotine, a key part of its smoke-free strategy. Can Altria’s on! PLUS 12mg Rollout Accelerate Nicotine Pouch Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target from $79 to $83 and maintained a Buy rating, implying further potential upside based on the company’s earnings and product momentum. UBS Group recommendations
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent coverage highlights Altria’s substantial dividend yield and cash-flow distribution, which may appeal to income-focused investors, but comparisons with Kraft Heinz and British American Tobacco suggest investors should weigh yield, payout sustainability and growth prospects. Better Dividend Stock: Altria vs. Kraft Heinz
• Negative Sentiment: Barclays lifted its price target from $58 to $60 but retained an Underweight rating. The target remains well below the recent share price, signaling concerns that the stock’s strong run has outpaced its fundamental growth. Barclays stock recommendations

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.