AlphaQuest LLC Sells 13,805 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• AlphaQuest LLC reduced its stake in Altria Group by 66.9%, now holding 6,825 shares valued at $410,000 as of the end of the 1st quarter.
• Altria Group's quarterly dividend increased to $1.06, with a current dividend yield of 6.4%, reflecting a boost from the previous dividend of $1.02.
• Analysts have set an average price target of $60.88 for Altria Group, with the company receiving mixed ratings from various brokerages, including upgrades and downgrades.

AlphaQuest LLC cut its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 66.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,825 shares of the company's stock after selling 13,805 shares during the period. AlphaQuest LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $410,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 226.3% in the 1st quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 353 shares during the period. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $38,000. Finally, TruNorth Capital Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 51.8% in the 1st quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 636 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of MO stock traded up $0.79 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $67.21. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,929,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,053,823. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $61.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $59.14. The company has a market capitalization of $112.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.00, a PEG ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $48.86 and a fifty-two week high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.21 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.26% and a net margin of 37.24%.The company's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.31 EPS. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.350-5.450 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. This is an increase from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 78.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America boosted their price target on Altria Group from $64.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, August 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus set a $72.00 target price on Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Barclays upped their price objective on Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. UBS Group raised Altria Group from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price objective on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $60.88.

Altria Group Profile

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.