Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts maintain a “Hold” consensus on Altria, with five buys, four holds and two sells among 11 analysts. The average 12-month price target is $70.11, while recent targets range from $58 to $79.
• Altria shares opened at $64.43, below their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, after declining 0.9%. The stock has traded between $54.70 and $77.06 over the past year.
• In its latest quarter, Altria reported $1.48 in adjusted EPS, slightly below the $1.50 consensus, while revenue of $5.36 billion modestly exceeded estimates and rose 1.2% year over year.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $70.1111.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on MO shares. Barclays decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Friday, May 1st. BTIG Research initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a "neutral" rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.9%

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $64.43 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $107.58 billion, a PE ratio of 13.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.46. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $71.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.69. Altria Group has a 12-month low of $54.70 and a 12-month high of $77.06.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Altria Group will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total value of $418,327.50. Following the sale, the director owned 73,809 shares in the company, valued at $5,332,700.25. This represents a 7.27% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total transaction of $145,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 25,102 shares in the company, valued at $1,821,401.12. This represents a 7.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the company's stock valued at $926,000 after buying an additional 6,954 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 86.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the company's stock worth $373,000 after acquiring an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its holdings in Altria Group by 6.9% in the 2nd quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the company's stock worth $565,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $346,000. Finally, AXA S.A. bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,752,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.

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