Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Sold by Capital Investment Advisors LLC

Key Points

• Capital Investment Advisors LLC cut its Altria stake by 38.7% in the third quarter, selling 263,635 shares and retaining 417,366 shares valued at approximately $28.1 million. Other institutional investors increased their positions, with institutions and hedge funds collectively owning 57.41% of Altria.
• Altria raised its quarterly dividend to $1.11 per share, equivalent to a $4.44 annualized payout and roughly a 6% yield, but its payout ratio has climbed to 93.67%. The high payout supports income investors while leaving less room to absorb declining cigarette volumes and regulatory or product-transition risks.
• The stock opened at $74.38, near its 12-month high, while analysts maintained a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $70.11. Altria’s latest quarterly EPS slightly missed estimates, though analysts expect fiscal 2026 EPS of about $5.67 within management’s $5.61–$5.72 guidance range.

Capital Investment Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 38.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 417,366 shares of the company's stock after selling 263,635 shares during the quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $28,105,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 16.1% in the third quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,255 shares of the company's stock valued at $489,000 after purchasing an additional 1,006 shares in the last quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL raised its holdings in Altria Group by 4.2% in the 3rd quarter. Capital City Trust Co. FL now owns 5,690 shares of the company's stock valued at $383,000 after acquiring an additional 228 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 0.6% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 33,854 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,280,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 7.8% in the third quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 176,961 shares of the company's stock valued at $11,917,000 after buying an additional 12,828 shares in the last quarter. Finally, XXI Wealth LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 10.5% in the third quarter. XXI Wealth LLC now owns 20,227 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,362,000 after purchasing an additional 1,930 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Altria Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Altria to benefit from favorable earnings comparisons and estimates, raising the possibility of an earnings beat in the upcoming report. A stronger-than-expected result could support the stock and reinforce fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $5.61–$5.72. Altria (MO) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Altria extended its $3 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility by one year to October 2030. The unchanged terms preserve a substantial liquidity backstop and provide flexibility for working capital, capital allocation and shareholder returns ahead of earnings. Earnings Beat Hopes Could Matter For Altria Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Altria remains popular with income-focused investors because of its roughly 5.7% yield, repeated dividend increases and long-term total returns driven primarily by distributions rather than share-price appreciation. This may attract defensive investors, particularly when cash flows remain resilient. Altria’s Stock Has a Surprising 10-Year Return
• Negative Sentiment: Altria pays out approximately 89.3% of earnings as dividends. While the payout supports the stock’s income appeal, the limited earnings retained for reinvestment leaves less cushion if cigarette volumes decline, regulatory pressures increase or earnings weaken. Altria Pays Out 89.3% of Its Earnings as Dividends
• Negative Sentiment: Longer-term concerns remain over shrinking cigarette volumes, previous write-downs and Altria’s weaker position in smoke-free products. Those structural risks may be weighing on the shares even as investors await a potentially favorable quarterly update.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade acquired 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 114,929 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 2.2%

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $74.38 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $124.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.42. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $69.93. 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 announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business's revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current 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 paid a dividend of $1.11 per share. 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%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. Altria Group's payout ratio is currently 93.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Freedom Broker upgraded shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target 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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