CWA Asset Management Group LLC Purchases 27,846 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• CWA Asset Management increased its Altria position by 12.7% in the third quarter, buying 27,846 shares to bring its holdings to 247,351 shares valued at approximately $16.7 million. Institutional investors collectively own 57.41% of the company.
• Altria raised its quarterly dividend from $1.06 to $1.11 per share, representing a $4.44 annualized payout and a 6.0% yield, though its payout ratio stands at 93.67%.
• The stock opened at $74.10, while analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $70.11. Recent quarterly earnings slightly missed expectations, but revenue rose 1.2% year over year.

CWA Asset Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 12.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 247,351 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 27,846 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $16,657,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 5.8% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 2,619 shares of the company's stock valued at $191,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 1.8% during the third quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the company's stock worth $552,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% in the second quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,239 shares of the company's stock worth $821,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.6% in the second quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,379 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Old Peak Finance LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% in the second quarter. Old Peak Finance LLC now owns 11,920 shares of the company's stock worth $858,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade acquired 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was bought at an average price of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. The trade was a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $74.10 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $54.70 and a 52 week high of $77.06. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $68.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $69.70. The company has a market cap of $123.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.42.

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 analysts' consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.44 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a dividend of $1.11 per share. This is an increase from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 93.67%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently issued reports on MO. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. Freedom Broker upgraded shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a "neutral" rating on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $70.11.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria's principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.

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