Principal Financial Group Inc. Trims Stake in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Principal Financial Group reduced its Altria stake by 1% in the second quarter, selling 19,251 shares and retaining 1.93 million shares valued at approximately $139.1 million. Institutional investors collectively own 57.41% of Altria.
• Altria reported quarterly revenue of $5.36 billion, slightly above estimates, while EPS of $1.48 missed expectations by $0.02; revenue increased 1.2% year over year. Management’s fiscal 2026 EPS guidance is $5.61–$5.72.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with a consensus “Hold” rating and average price target of $70.11. Two Altria directors also sold shares in May, reducing their holdings by roughly 7% each.

Principal Financial Group Inc. cut its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,933,124 shares of the company's stock after selling 19,251 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned 0.12% of Altria Group worth $139,088,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Navalign LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 62.9% in the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the period. Miller Capital Partners Inc. purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Quattro Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total transaction of $418,327.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 73,809 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,332,700.25. This trade represents a 7.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total value of $145,120.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 25,102 shares in the company, valued at $1,821,401.12. This trade represents a 7.38% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $65.32 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.70 and a fifty-two week high of $77.06. The company has a market capitalization of $109.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a fifty day moving average of $70.55 and a 200 day moving average of $68.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group's revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. Analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on MO shares. BTIG Research initiated coverage on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a "neutral" rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Company Profile

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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