Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Lowers Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV reduced its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 621,653 shares of the company's stock after selling 20,355 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV's holdings in Altria Group were worth $32,506,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MO. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. UBS Group lifted their price target on Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $56.00.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MO traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $59.90. 3,886,191 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,769,533. The stock has a market cap of $101.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.15, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $43.44 and a twelve month high of $60.18. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $57.61 and a 200-day moving average price of $54.92.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.81%. 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.