Financial Advisors Network Inc. Has $5.35 Million Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Financial Advisors Network Inc. significantly increased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. by 554% in Q1, now holding 89,186 shares valued at $5.35 million.
• Altria Group reported an EPS of $1.44 for the last quarter, exceeding estimates, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 0.2% totaling $5.29 billion.
• Analysts have varying views on Altria Group, with the average rating at "Hold" and a consensus target price of $59.13.

Financial Advisors Network Inc. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 554.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 89,186 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 75,550 shares during the period. Altria Group makes up 0.9% of Financial Advisors Network Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Financial Advisors Network Inc.'s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,353,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vista Investment Partners II LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 4.2% in the first quarter. Vista Investment Partners II LLC now owns 4,302 shares of the company's stock valued at $258,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Wealth Alliance LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.9% during the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 9,452 shares of the company's stock worth $567,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.5% during the first quarter. Patten & Patten Inc. TN now owns 12,049 shares of the company's stock worth $723,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 2.7% during the first quarter. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,762 shares of the company's stock worth $406,000 after buying an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.1% during the first quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 4,721 shares of the company's stock worth $283,000 after buying an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE MO opened at $65.82 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $110.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.73, a P/E/G ratio of 3.54 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $48.86 and a one year high of $66.29. The stock's 50-day moving average is $60.31 and its 200-day moving average is $58.34.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.37 by $0.07. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.24% and a negative return on equity of 295.26%. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.21 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays raised their price target on Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 target price for the company. Needham & Company LLC raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $59.13.

Altria Group Company 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.

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