Capital Management Corp VA Grows Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Capital Management Corp VA raised its stake in Altria by 41.1% to 102,680 shares (about $5.92 million), part of broader institutional buying that leaves hedge funds and institutions owning 57.41% of the stock.
• Altria beat Q1 estimates with EPS of $1.32 (vs. $1.25 expected) and revenue of $4.76 billion (vs. $4.58 billion expected), and reconfirmed FY2026 EPS guidance of 5.560–5.72 (analysts forecast ~5.66).
• The company offers strong income with a $1.06 quarterly dividend ($4.24 annualized) implying a 5.7% yield, though the dividend payout ratio is elevated at 103.16%.

Capital Management Corp VA increased its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 41.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 102,680 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 29,913 shares during the period. Capital Management Corp VA's holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,921,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. PKO Investment Management Joint Stock Co purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $1,776,000. Souders Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 20.4% during the fourth quarter. Souders Financial Advisors now owns 5,957 shares of the company's stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 11.4% during the fourth quarter. CX Institutional now owns 143,593 shares of the company's stock worth $8,280,000 after buying an additional 14,700 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 27.9% during the fourth quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 71,401 shares of the company's stock worth $4,117,000 after buying an additional 15,595 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sandro Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $268,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $74.37 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.70 and a 12-month high of $74.56. The company has a market capitalization of $124.30 billion, a PE ratio of 15.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.48. The firm's 50-day moving average is $66.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $62.67.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.07. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.34% and a negative return on equity of 298.69%. The company had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.23 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.560-5.72 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th were issued a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 103.16%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Thursday. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a report on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $69.63.

Trending Headlines about Altria Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat and guidance intact — Altria topped revenue and EPS estimates, cited pricing and cost controls as drivers, and reconfirmed FY2026 EPS guidance, a key reason investors are buying the stock. Altria beats quarterly profit estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Stifel raised its price target to $77 and kept a Buy rating, signaling incremental analyst confidence that supports the rally. Stifel raises PT to $77
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley highlights solid profit momentum and visibility from Altria’s pricing and portfolio; that institutional endorsement helped market sentiment. Morgan Stanley bullish note
• Positive Sentiment: Index/momentum attention — coverage noting an “S&P 500 moment” and recent share-price momentum has likely attracted passive and momentum flows into MO. Altria’s S&P 500 Moment
• Positive Sentiment: Income appeal — MO continues to be featured in low-risk/dividend lists, reinforcing demand from income-focused investors. Low-risk investment list
• Neutral Sentiment: Citigroup raised its target to $70 but kept a Neutral rating — signal of modestly improved fundamentals but still cautious relative to current levels. Citigroup PT update
• Neutral Sentiment: Corporate housekeeping: Altria will webcast its 2026 annual meeting — routine disclosure, minimal immediate price impact but relevant for shareholder engagement. Webcast of annual meeting
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation/momentum checks — analysts and media note strong 1‑year and 3‑month returns and mixed earnings expectations; market is re-pricing income story vs. growth risks. Valuation check
• Negative Sentiment: Macro/inflation caution — some analysts warn inflation and macro uncertainty increase downside risk despite the dividend and pricing power; a few commentators downgraded or advocated caution. Inflation and macro risk concerns

Insider Activity

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,221,318.33. This represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Altria Group

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.