Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Avior Wealth Management LLC

Avior Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 31.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,803 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,569 shares during the quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $59.60 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $45.17 and a 1 year high of $61.26. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $59.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $56.17. The firm has a market cap of $100.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.98, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.44% and a net margin of 43.09%. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. Altria Group's quarterly revenue was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.85%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Needham & Company LLC raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $56.00.

Altria Group Profile

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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