Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Price Target Raised to $50.00 at Jefferies Financial Group

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) had its target price raised by equities researchers at Jefferies Financial Group from $47.00 to $50.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has an “underperform” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price objective would suggest a potential downside of 24.79% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on MO. Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $64.33.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.7%

MO opened at $66.48 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $63.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $62.64. Altria Group has a 1-year low of $52.82 and a 1-year high of $70.51. The stock has a market cap of $111.15 billion, a PE ratio of 16.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.45.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. Altria Group’s revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth $27,000. Navalign LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Country Trust Bank grew its position in Altria Group by 400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. EMC Capital Management bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

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.