Csenge Advisory Group Grows Stock Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Csenge Advisory Group raised its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 8.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 59,044 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 4,360 shares during the period. Csenge Advisory Group's holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,434,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Sierra Ocean LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 226.3% during the 1st quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the last quarter. Inlight Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock traded up $0.06 on Friday, hitting $58.04. 5,686,380 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,685,507. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $47.57 and a 12 month high of $61.26. The company has a 50 day moving average of $59.06 and a 200 day moving average of $56.84. The stock has a market cap of $97.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.59.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results 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 295.44% and a net margin of 43.09%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.15 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.03%. Altria Group's payout ratio is 68.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group raised Altria Group from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Barclays boosted their target price on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $56.75.

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.