World Investment Advisors Acquires 55,543 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Key Points

• World Investment Advisors increased its stake in Altria Group by 114.2% in the fourth quarter, buying 55,543 additional shares and bringing its total holding to 104,162 shares valued at about $6.0 million.
• Altria reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $1.32 on revenue of $4.76 billion, and it raised FY 2026 guidance to 5.56-5.72 EPS.
• The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, equal to an annualized yield of 5.9%, while analysts currently have a consensus rating of Hold with a $70.44 price target.

World Investment Advisors grew its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 114.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 104,162 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 55,543 shares during the quarter. World Investment Advisors' holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,006,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MO. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 64.7% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the company's stock valued at $926,000 after acquiring an additional 6,954 shares during the period. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 86.3% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the company's stock valued at $373,000 after acquiring an additional 2,946 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.9% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the company's stock valued at $565,000 after acquiring an additional 618 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at about $346,000. Finally, AXA S.A. bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at about $5,752,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.2%

MO stock opened at $72.19 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $120.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.48. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $68.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $63.89. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $54.70 and a 52 week high of $74.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 298.69% and a net margin of 34.34%.Altria Group's revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.23 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.560-5.72 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.9%. Altria Group's payout ratio is presently 88.70%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America boosted their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Altria Group from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, May 16th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $74.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $70.44.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

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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