Keb Asset Management LLC Makes New Investment in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Keb Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,833 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $200,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter worth $34,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $57.79 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.70 billion, a PE ratio of 8.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.65 and a one year high of $58.59. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.11.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its earnings results 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 analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.06%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. 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.