Promethium Advisors LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Promethium Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. by 27.6% in Q1, making it the firm's 10th largest position with holdings worth $3.7 million.
• Altria Group recently posted earnings of $1.44 per share for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, and its revenue increased by 0.2% year-over-year.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $1.06, up from $1.02, reflecting a dividend yield of 6.3% and a payout ratio of 78.92%.

Promethium Advisors LLC raised its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 27.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 60,555 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 13,096 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up approximately 2.4% of Promethium Advisors LLC's holdings, making the stock its 10th biggest position. Promethium Advisors LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,695,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 226.3% in the first quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 51.8% in the first quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 636 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MO traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $66.52. 5,935,439 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,133,504. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $48.86 and a 1-year high of $68.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $111.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.87, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.59. The company's 50-day moving average price is $62.56 and its 200-day moving average price is $59.70.

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

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. This is a positive change from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. Altria Group's payout ratio is currently 78.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Needham & Company LLC raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Bank of America boosted their price target on Altria Group from $64.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average 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.