Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading 1.7% Higher – Should You Buy?

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) traded up 1.7% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $56.97 and last traded at $56.59. 2,331,113 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 8,947,388 shares. The stock had previously closed at $55.66.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. UBS Group increased their price target on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $54.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average of $55.77 and a 200 day moving average of $53.86. The stock has a market cap of $94.25 billion, a PE ratio of 8.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates 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 expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.32%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 62.29%.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

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

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.