Natixis Advisors LLC Purchases 41,390 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Altria by 3.5%, buying 41,390 shares to hold 1,226,283 shares worth about $81.0 million (roughly 0.07% of the company).
• Altria announced a $1.06 quarterly dividend (ex‑dividend Mar 25, paid Apr 30), implying a $4.24 annual payout and a ~6.4% yield with a dividend payout ratio of 103.16%.
• Analysts show a mixed view but a consensus Hold rating with an average price target of $64.33, compared with the stock's recent price near $66.48 (5 Buy, 5 Hold, 2 Sell).

Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,226,283 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 41,390 shares during the quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Altria Group worth $81,008,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. CWA Asset Management Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 8.6% during the third quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 335,418 shares of the company's stock worth $22,158,000 after purchasing an additional 26,624 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% in the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 3,522,209 shares of the company's stock valued at $232,677,000 after buying an additional 44,303 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Altria Group by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,073,682 shares of the company's stock worth $797,587,000 after buying an additional 814,665 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Altria Group by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 159,717,148 shares of the company's stock worth $9,364,216,000 after acquiring an additional 1,599,923 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Silver Oak Securities Incorporated grew its holdings in Altria Group by 155.4% during the 3rd quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 31,220 shares of the company's stock worth $2,062,000 after acquiring an additional 18,997 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on MO shares. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Argus raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $64.33.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $66.48 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $111.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.45. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $52.82 and a 1-year high of $70.51. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $63.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $62.58.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.30 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.4%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.16%.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc NYSE: MO is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company's operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria's principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.

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