Kestra Advisory Services LLC Decreases Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Kestra Advisory Services LLC reduced its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. by 0.9%, owning 453,352 shares valued at approximately $27.21 million after selling 3,995 shares in the recent quarter.
• Altria Group announced a quarterly dividend increase to $1.06 per share, up from $1.02, with a yield of 6.3% and a payout ratio of 78.92%.
• Several research analysts have differed in their ratings for Altria Group, with two rating it as a "Buy" and others issuing "Hold" or "Sell" ratings, and an average price target of $60.00.

Kestra Advisory Services LLC decreased its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 0.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 453,352 shares of the company's stock after selling 3,995 shares during the quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $27,210,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MO. GQG Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 8,146.4% during the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 18,698,594 shares of the company's stock worth $1,122,290,000 after acquiring an additional 18,471,846 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth $219,141,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 63,288,773 shares of the company's stock worth $3,798,592,000 after acquiring an additional 3,483,487 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 40.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 11,961,220 shares of the company's stock worth $717,913,000 after acquiring an additional 3,415,237 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 111.3% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 5,558,252 shares of the company's stock worth $333,606,000 after acquiring an additional 2,928,006 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Citigroup raised their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Barclays raised their target price on Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 target price for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Altria Group from $63.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $60.00.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of MO opened at $67.6150 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $113.59 billion, a PE ratio of 13.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.59. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $61.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $58.76. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.86 and a 12-month high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued 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. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.21 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.26% and a net margin of 37.24%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.31 EPS. 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 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.3%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 78.92%.

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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