Vanguard Group Inc. Purchases 1,903,530 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• Vanguard Group increased its stake in Altria by 1.2% in Q4, buying 1,903,530 shares to hold 160,980,626 shares (9.59%) valued at about $9.28 billion.
• Altria declared a quarterly dividend of $1.06 (annualized $4.24), with an ex-dividend date of March 25 and payment on April 30, implying a yield of about 6.3% and a payout ratio of 103.16%.
• Analysts are mixed: the consensus is an average rating of "Hold" with an average price target of $65.88 (five Buys, four Holds, two Sells).

Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 1.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 160,980,626 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,903,530 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 9.59% of Altria Group worth $9,282,143,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Kercheville Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC now owns 4,397 shares of the company's stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Kanawha Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC now owns 19,546 shares of the company's stock worth $1,127,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the period. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 2.9% in the third quarter. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,781 shares of the company's stock valued at $382,000 after buying an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.3% in the third quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 50,805 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,356,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the period. Finally, SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 17.1% in the fourth quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 1,166 shares of the company's stock valued at $67,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares in the company, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Citigroup upped their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Argus raised Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Bank of America raised their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $65.88.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.0%

Altria Group stock opened at $66.86 on Monday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.70 and a 12-month high of $70.51. The business's 50-day moving average price is $66.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $62.56. The stock has a market cap of $111.74 billion, a PE ratio of 16.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.41.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The company had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.30 EPS. The firm's revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 103.16%.

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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