Cullen Capital Management LLC Takes Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Cullen Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 2,311,947 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $166,345,000. Altria Group accounts for about 1.6% of Cullen Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Whalen Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $352,000. Dearborn Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $288,000. D.B. Root & Company LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $260,000. GSG Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $227,000. Finally, Asset One Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter worth approximately $254,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $68.46 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $54.70 and a one year high of $77.06. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $70.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $68.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $114.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.44, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.46.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 315.29% and a net margin of 33.99%.The business had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BTIG Research initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. UBS Group upped their price objective on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 target price on Altria Group in a report on Friday, May 1st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $70.11.

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.