Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Bought by Choreo LLC

Key Points

• Choreo LLC increased its Altria position by 16.2% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 165,116 shares valued at approximately $11.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own 57.41% of Altria.
• Altria reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $1.52, surpassing the $1.51 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $5.44 billion. The company also raised its full-year outlook and expanded its share-repurchase program.
• Altria increased its quarterly dividend to $1.11 per share, representing a 5.7% annualized yield. Despite positive earnings and capital returns, analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with a $71 price target, below the reported $78.03 trading price.

Choreo LLC grew its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 16.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 165,116 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 23,011 shares during the quarter. Choreo LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $11,119,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade purchased 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the purchase, the director owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Altria Group News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria's Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating

Altria Group Trading Up 1.7%

MO stock opened at $78.03 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $70.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.75. The stock has a market cap of $130.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.42. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.70 and a 1 year high of $79.81.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.45 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.70 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $1.11 per share. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group's payout ratio is presently 91.74%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Friday. 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 note on Tuesday, July 7th. Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a "neutral" rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $71.00.

About Altria Group

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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