Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Gets Price Target Increase from UBS Group

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) had its price objective increased by analysts at UBS Group from $79.00 to $83.00 in a research note issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group‘s target price points to a potential upside of 6.37% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on MO. Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Citigroup increased their target price on Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $71.44.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $78.03 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $129.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $70.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.75. Altria Group has a fifty-two week low of $54.70 and a fifty-two week high of $79.81.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.45 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $173,000. Bfsg LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 14.3% during the third quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the company’s stock worth $121,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 114.7% during the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 40,640 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,020,000 after buying an additional 21,714 shares during the last quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 35,912 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,418,000 after buying an additional 862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC now owns 74,486 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,098,000 after buying an additional 2,836 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.