IFM Investors Pty Ltd Cuts Stake in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• IFM Investors Pty Ltd reduced its stake in Altria Group, Inc. by 4.0%, now holding 281,666 shares valued at approximately $16.9 million.
• Altria Group recently announced its quarterly results, reporting an EPS of $1.44, surpassing estimates, and a revenue increase of 0.2% year-over-year.
• The company has increased its quarterly dividend to $1.06, reflecting a 6.4% yield, with a payout ratio of 78.92%.

IFM Investors Pty Ltd cut its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 4.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 281,666 shares of the company's stock after selling 11,798 shares during the period. IFM Investors Pty Ltd's holdings in Altria Group were worth $16,906,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 226.3% during the first quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 353 shares during the period. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 51.8% during the first quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 636 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 217 shares during the period. Finally, Menard Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $66.64. 7,962,739 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,965,362. The company has a market cap of $111.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.89, a P/E/G ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $48.86 and a one year high of $68.60. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $63.28 and a 200 day moving average of $60.09.

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

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. This is an increase from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 78.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Needham & Company LLC raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. UBS Group raised Altria Group from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price target on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus set a $72.00 price target on Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $60.88.

About Altria Group

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.