GQG Partners LLC Invests $11.86 Million in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

GQG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 226,748 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,857,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MO shares. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target 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 upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.0 %

MO opened at $57.62 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $97.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.80, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $54.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.48. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.65 and a 12 month high of $59.67.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.08%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

About Altria Group

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.