Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by New York State Teachers Retirement System

New York State Teachers Retirement System reduced its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 4.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,641,685 shares of the company's stock after selling 78,987 shares during the quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned 0.10% of Altria Group worth $98,534,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the first quarter valued at $31,000. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Altria Group stock traded down $0.49 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $58.14. 7,654,608 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,554,661. The firm has a market cap of $97.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.74, a PEG ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a fifty day moving average of $59.24 and a 200 day moving average of $56.33. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $45.73 and a 12-month high of $61.26.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.44% and a net margin of 43.09%. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.15 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid 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 7.02%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $56.00.

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.