Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Down 1.9% - Here's Why

Key Points

• Altria shares fell 1.9% to about $67.42, with trading volume 18% below the average. Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating and a $70.11 price target.
• The company slightly missed quarterly earnings expectations, reporting $1.48 in EPS versus $1.50 forecast, although revenue rose 1.2% year over year to $5.36 billion.
• Altria increased its quarterly dividend from $1.06 to $1.11 per share, providing an annualized payout of $4.44 and a yield of approximately 6.6%.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) shares were down 1.9% during trading on Wednesday. The company traded as low as $66.91 and last traded at $67.4230. 7,517,941 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average daily volume of 9,189,482 shares. The stock had previously closed at $68.72.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on MO. Barclays dropped their target price on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Wall Street Zen lowered Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, June 21st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a "neutral" rating for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $70.11.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $112.58 billion, a PE ratio of 14.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a 50 day moving average of $68.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $69.22.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a $1.11 dividend. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group's payout ratio is presently 93.67%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade acquired 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 62.9% during the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 78.8% during the first quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 524 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based holding company focused primarily on tobacco and nicotine products. Through its operating companies, Altria manufactures and markets cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, oral nicotine products and electronic cigarettes. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Marlboro cigarettes, Copenhagen and Skoal smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, NJOY e-cigarettes and on! nicotine pouches.

Altria's principal businesses include Philip Morris USA, the largest U.S.

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