Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Buys 3,511,430 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management increased its Altria stake by 3,511,430 shares, or 3,691.2%, to 3,606,561 shares valued at approximately $259.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 57.41% of Altria.
• Altria reported quarterly revenue of $5.36 billion, slightly above expectations, but earnings per share of $1.48 missed estimates by $0.02. The company maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $5.61–$5.72.
• Altria paid a quarterly dividend of $1.06, equivalent to $4.24 annually and a 6.3% yield; analysts have a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $70.78.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 3,691.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,606,561 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 3,511,430 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.22% of Altria Group worth $259,492,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Navalign LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 62.9% during the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miller Capital Partners Inc. purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total transaction of $145,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 25,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,821,401.12. This trade represents a 7.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total transaction of $418,327.50. Following the sale, the director owned 73,809 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,332,700.25. This trade represents a 7.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $67.64 on Friday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $71.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $68.57. The firm has a market cap of $112.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.46. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.70 and a 1 year high of $77.06.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.44 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.68 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th were paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 15th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.3%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 89.45%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Altria Group in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $70.78.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc NYSE: MO is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company's operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria's principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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