Altria Group, Inc. $MO Shares Acquired by Viking Fund Management LLC

Key Points

• Viking Fund Management increased its stake in Altria (MO) by 14.1% to 202,000 shares (about $11.65M), representing roughly 1.3% of the fund and its 20th-largest holding.
• Altria declared a $1.06 quarterly dividend (annualized $4.24) with an ex-dividend date of March 25 and a yield of about 6.6%, though the payout ratio is high at ~103%.
• Insider sale: SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares at an average price of $67.57 (~$1.89M), reducing his ownership by 13.37% to 180,869 shares.

Viking Fund Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 14.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 202,000 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 25,000 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up approximately 1.3% of Viking Fund Management LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Viking Fund Management LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $11,647,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the company's stock worth $926,000 after acquiring an additional 6,954 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 86.3% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the company's stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 6.9% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the company's stock worth $565,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth about $3,107,000. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth about $1,915,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE MO opened at $64.31 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.65, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.45. The business's 50 day moving average is $65.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.51. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.82 and a 12-month high of $70.51.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 firm's quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.6%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 103.16%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on MO. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Citigroup raised 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. 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. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $65.11.

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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