Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC Takes Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 20,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,095,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the third quarter valued at $34,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.7 %

MO stock opened at $58.97 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $99.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.00, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $53.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.31. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.65 and a twelve month high of $59.67.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. Research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Company 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.