Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC Increases Stock Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 117.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 58,564 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 31,647 shares during the period. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,062,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 4,581 shares of the company's stock worth $240,000 after buying an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 5,052 shares of the company's stock worth $264,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,015 shares of the company's stock worth $681,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the period. Asset Dedication LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 27.7% during the 4th quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 921 shares of the company's stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 14,321 shares of the company's stock worth $762,000 after purchasing an additional 201 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Two investment 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's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $56.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock traded up $0.44 during trading on Friday, hitting $59.74. 4,860,327 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,666,396. The stock has a market cap of $100.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $58.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $55.68. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $43.83 and a 12-month high of $61.26.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.64 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.15 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.83%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 68.34%.

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.