Graver Capital Management LLC Makes New Investment in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Graver Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 5,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $261,000. Altria Group makes up 0.3% of Graver Capital Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 22nd biggest position.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on MO. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Barclays raised their price target on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $56.00.

Altria Group Stock Down 4.2%

Shares of MO stock traded down $2.50 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $56.94. 16,266,981 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,754,303. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $43.83 and a fifty-two week high of $61.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $95.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $58.04 and a 200-day moving average price of $55.29.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.64 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.15 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.17%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.34%.

Altria Group 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.