Sharpepoint LLC Boosts Stock Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Sharpepoint LLC grew its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 24.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 25,071 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,913 shares during the period. Sharpepoint LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,473,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the first quarter worth $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 226.3% during the 1st quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE MO traded up $0.79 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $58.54. 14,341,124 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,657,117. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $59.30 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.55. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $46.60 and a 1 year high of $61.26. The company has a market cap of $98.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.59.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.97%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 68.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Needham & Company LLC raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup lifted 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. UBS Group upgraded shares of Altria Group from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Altria Group in a report on Wednesday. They set an "underperform" rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $56.75.

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.