V Square Quantitative Management LLC Trims Stake in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• V Square Quantitative Management LLC has reduced its stake in Altria Group by 26.4%, selling 4,382 shares during the second quarter, leaving it with 12,237 shares valued at approximately $717,000.
• Altria Group recently declared a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, representing a yield of 6.5% and an increase from the previous dividend of $1.02.
• Analysts have varying opinions on Altria Group, with price targets ranging from $50 to $72, and the consensus rating currently being a Hold.

V Square Quantitative Management LLC lowered its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 26.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,237 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,382 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $717,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 52.8% in the second quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 7,806 shares of the company's stock worth $458,000 after purchasing an additional 2,699 shares during the last quarter. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in Altria Group by 27.6% during the second quarter. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,813 shares of the company's stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares during the last quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,513 shares of the company's stock worth $968,000 after buying an additional 1,091 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 30.8% in the 2nd quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 6,588 shares of the company's stock worth $386,000 after buying an additional 1,552 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tritonpoint Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 21.8% during the 2nd quarter. Tritonpoint Wealth LLC now owns 5,246 shares of the company's stock valued at $313,000 after buying an additional 938 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $65.58 on Tuesday. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $64.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $60.73. The firm has a market cap of $110.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.68, a PEG ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $48.86 and a 1 year high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.26% and a net margin of 37.24%.The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.21 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.350-5.450 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 10th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.5%. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 82.01%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MO. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, August 22nd. UBS Group upgraded Altria Group from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group began 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 set a $72.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $60.88.

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.

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