AE Wealth Management LLC Sells 18,864 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• AE Wealth Management LLC trimmed its Altria stake by 2.9%
• Altria announced a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share (annualized $4.24), implying a 6.5% yield, but the payout ratio is elevated at 103.16%, which may raise sustainability concerns.
• Insider selling: SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares at an average price of $67.57 (≈$1.89M), reducing his position by 13.37%, signaling notable insider disposition.

AE Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 642,015 shares of the company's stock after selling 18,864 shares during the quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $37,018,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. EMC Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter valued at about $33,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Gould Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Finally, Elevation Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 79.0% during the fourth quarter. Elevation Wealth Partners LLC now owns 630 shares of the company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $64.95 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $66.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $62.63. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $54.70 and a one year high of $70.51. The company has a market capitalization of $108.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.41.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The business had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.5%. Altria Group's payout ratio is currently 103.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Citigroup upped their target price 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. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $65.88.

Insider Buying and Selling at Altria Group

In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. This represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

More Altria Group News

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Featured in dividend/high-yield roundups that can support demand from income-focused investors; such coverage helps explain interest in MO among yield-seeking flows. The $40,000 Dividend Raise Hiding in These Four Tickers on a $600k Account
• Positive Sentiment: Positive analyst/author view arguing Wall Street is warming to Altria’s pricing power and new-product potential — could underpin upside if execution continues. Altria: Wall Street Finally Came To Its Senses
• Neutral Sentiment: Company announced it will host a webcast for 2026 first‑quarter results — investors will get direct management commentary; this is the near-term catalyst to watch. Altria to Host Webcast of 2026 First-Quarter Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Pre-earnings previews expect a marginal rise in EPS this quarter; results (volumes, pricing, margin drivers) will determine near-term moves. What to Expect From Altria Group’s Q1 2026 Earnings Report
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks notes elevated investor searches and attention — higher retail/institutional focus can mean larger intraday moves around news. Investors Heavily Search Altria Group, Inc. (MO): Here is What You Need to Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Article about Keurig earnings included in the feed but is unrelated to MO; no direct impact. Keurig Gears Up for Q1 Earnings: Key Metrics Investors Should Track
• Negative Sentiment: Critical Seeking Alpha piece argues Altria’s growth runway is constrained and flags balance-sheet/valuation concerns — such narratives can pressure the stock and raise questions about dividend sustainability for some investors. Very Bad News For Altria: This Dividend King Is Running Out Of Runway

Altria Group 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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