Altria Group, Inc. $MO Shares Bought by Sage Advisors LLC

Sage Advisors LLC lifted its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 12.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 73,670 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 8,103 shares during the period. Altria Group comprises 2.8% of Sage Advisors LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 9th largest position. Sage Advisors LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,248,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kercheville Advisors LLC increased its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 50,805 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,356,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 7,386 shares of the company’s stock valued at $488,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, Optimist Retirement Group LLC increased 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 purchasing an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on MO shares. Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $65.11.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Up 1.3%

Shares of MO stock opened at $64.60 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $52.82 and a 12 month high of $70.51. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $65.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $62.54. The firm has a market cap of $108.00 billion, a PE ratio of 15.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.45.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share 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. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.6%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.