Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC Sells 6,462 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC decreased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. by 12.4%, selling 6,462 shares and retaining 45,724 shares after the sale, valued at approximately $2.68 million.
• Altria recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, reflecting an increase from the previous dividend of $1.02, with an annualized yield of 6.6%.
• Analysts have set varying price targets for Altria, with Goldman Sachs raising their target to $72.00 and others maintaining ratings of "buy," "hold," and "sell" as the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold."

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 12.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 45,724 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,462 shares during the period. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $2,681,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mattson Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,000. Carderock Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Sierra Ocean LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 226.3% in 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 period. Finally, TruNorth Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 51.8% in the 1st quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 636 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.2%

MO opened at $64.72 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $108.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.52, a PEG ratio of 3.60 and a beta of 0.55. The company's 50 day moving average is $65.76 and its 200 day moving average is $61.72. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $49.58 and a 12-month high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.21 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.24% and a negative return on equity of 295.26%. The firm's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.31 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.350-5.450 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This is an increase from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 15th. Altria Group's payout ratio is presently 82.01%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. Stifel Nicolaus set a $72.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, August 21st. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $62.11.

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.

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