Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock: Asset Management One Co. Ltd. Cuts Holdings

Key Points

• Asset Management One Co. Ltd. reduced its Altria stake by 2.9% in the third quarter, selling 24,146 shares and retaining 820,477 shares valued at $55.3 million. Other institutional investors increased their positions, and institutions collectively own 57.41% of the stock.
• Altria raised its quarterly dividend to $1.11 per share, representing a 6.0% annualized yield and a 93.67% payout ratio. The company’s latest quarterly earnings slightly missed estimates, while revenue rose 1.2% year over year.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $70.11, below the stock’s reported $73.45 price. Shares trade near their 52-week high amid expectations that pricing and nicotine-pouch growth can offset declining cigarette volumes.

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. cut its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 820,477 shares of the company's stock after selling 24,146 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.'s holdings in Altria Group were worth $55,251,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of MO. Procyon Advisors LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 59.3% during the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 38,926 shares of the company's stock worth $2,569,000 after purchasing an additional 14,490 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR raised its stake in Altria Group by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 266,504 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,696,000 after purchasing an additional 21,124 shares during the period. Callan Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at $2,911,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 26.9% in the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 1,164,691 shares of the company's stock valued at $83,800,000 after purchasing an additional 246,702 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 21.6% in the first quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 95,137 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,278,000 after purchasing an additional 16,877 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Altria Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Altria’s approximately 6% dividend yield and status as a “Dividend King” continue to attract income-focused investors. One analysis notes that 226 shares could generate roughly $1,000 in annual dividends and argues that the company’s low price-to-earnings ratio may limit downside. Dividend analysis
• Positive Sentiment: Previews for Altria’s third-quarter report anticipate sales and earnings growth, with higher pricing and continued momentum in nicotine pouches potentially offsetting lower cigarette volumes. This provides a near-term earnings catalyst, although the projections have not yet been confirmed by reported results. Altria Q3 earnings preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Sell-side analysts have assigned Altria a “Hold” rating, suggesting that its high yield and defensive tobacco cash flows are largely balanced by limited growth prospects and industry risks. Altria analyst rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Wall Street estimates for the quarter focus on key operating metrics beyond revenue and EPS, particularly pricing, shipment volumes, and nicotine-pouch performance. These figures will help determine whether Altria’s reduced combustible-tobacco volumes are being successfully replaced by newer products. Wall Street projections for Altria
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary on high-yield retirement stocks highlights the risk that Altria’s elevated payout reflects slow growth, regulatory pressure, and continuing declines in cigarette consumption. A disappointing earnings report or weaker nicotine-pouch trends could increase concerns about long-term dividend growth and valuation.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Altria Group news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 114,929 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,771,498.98. The trade was a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays decreased their target price on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group upped their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Monday, October 12th. Finally, BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Five research 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 has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $73.45 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.70 and a fifty-two week high of $77.06. The stock's 50-day moving average is $69.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.47. The firm has a market cap of $122.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.50 and a beta of 0.42.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Altria Group's quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. Altria Group's payout ratio is 93.67%.

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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