CWA Asset Management Group LLC Acquires 20,732 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

CWA Asset Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 6.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 356,150 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 20,732 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up approximately 0.7% of CWA Asset Management Group LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest position. CWA Asset Management Group LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $20,536,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Aventura Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $133,000. Hilltop National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Hilltop National Bank now owns 12,707 shares of the company’s stock worth $733,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the last quarter. Next Level Private LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Next Level Private LLC now owns 37,487 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,162,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Precedent Wealth Partners LLC now owns 34,434 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,985,000 after acquiring an additional 1,734 shares during the period. Finally, KFA Private Wealth Group LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $2,069,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have commented on MO shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five investment 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $65.11.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In other news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

MO opened at $64.46 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $52.82 and a fifty-two week high of $70.51. The company has a market capitalization of $107.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.45. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $65.21 and a 200-day moving average of $62.61.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 last year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.