Two Sigma Investments LP Sells 851,827 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Two Sigma Investments LP reduced its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 84.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 159,949 shares of the company's stock after selling 851,827 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP's holdings in Altria Group were worth $8,364,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on MO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup boosted their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $56.00.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.7%

Altria Group stock traded down $0.42 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $59.06. 1,507,590 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,629,525. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $58.23 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.49 billion, a PE ratio of 9.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $43.83 and a one year high of $61.26.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.15 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.91%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.34%.

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.