Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Position Increased by Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 5.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 144,956 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,498 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $7,580,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of MO. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.2 %

MO stock opened at $58.17 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $55.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.59. The company has a market capitalization of $98.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.65 and a 52 week high of $59.67.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors 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 yield of 7.01%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on MO. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company 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 assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.29.

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.