Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock: Ashton Thomas Securities LLC Trims Stake

Key Points

• Ashton Thomas Securities cut its Altria stake by 76.5% in the third quarter, selling 17,592 shares and retaining 5,398 shares valued at approximately $364,000. Institutional investors collectively own 57.41% of the company.
• Altria reported quarterly EPS of $1.52, slightly ahead of estimates, while revenue reached $5.44 billion and rose 1% year over year. The stock opened at $76.66, near its 12-month high of $77.06.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend from $1.06 to $1.11 per share, equating to a 5.8% yield, while analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $70.11.

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC cut its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 76.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,398 shares of the company's stock after selling 17,592 shares during the quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $364,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 2,619 shares of the company's stock valued at $191,000 after buying an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the company's stock worth $552,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% during the second quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,239 shares of the company's stock worth $821,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.6% during the second quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,379 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Old Peak Finance LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% during the second quarter. Old Peak Finance LLC now owns 11,920 shares of the company's stock worth $858,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Altria Group Stock Up 5.0%

MO stock opened at $76.66 on Friday. The company's 50-day moving average price is $70.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.65. The firm has a market cap of $128.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.42. Altria Group, Inc. 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 quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.45 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a $1.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.8%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 93.67%.

More Altria Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly earnings beat expectations: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 4.8% year over year to $1.52, compared with the $1.51 analyst consensus and $1.45 in the prior-year quarter. Net revenue, after excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion and exceeded estimates. Altria (MO) stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher guidance and buybacks support the stock: Altria raised its full-year adjusted EPS outlook, signaling confidence in continued earnings growth. The company also expanded its share-repurchase program, which could enhance per-share results and return additional capital to investors. Altria Q3 Profit Climbs, Raises FY26 Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Pricing power remains a key earnings driver: Strong pricing helped lift profits in Altria’s smokeable-products business, while the discount segment gained traction as consumers faced economic pressure. These trends helped offset ongoing volume challenges in traditional tobacco. Altria Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Pricing & Higher Profits
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation and options activity are drawing attention: Commentary described unusual call-option activity as a potentially lower-risk way to position for further gains, while another analysis argued that MO may still be undervalued based on its cash-generation potential despite a roughly 153% five-year share-price return. However, the stock is now near its 12-month high, which may limit near-term upside. Altria’s unusual call activity offers a lower-risk way to wait for a payoff
• Negative Sentiment: Long-term risks remain: Declining cigarette consumption, regulatory uncertainty and dependence on pricing rather than volume growth continue to challenge Altria’s growth profile. The recent rally also raises the risk of profit-taking if future results or guidance fail to maintain momentum.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on MO. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Monday, October 12th. BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a "neutral" rating on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Profile

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria's principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.

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