Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Bought by Vise Technologies Inc.

Vise Technologies Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 155,041 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 7,885 shares during the period. Vise Technologies Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $10,440,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Balance Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Evolution Advisers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 110.9% in the second quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. now owns 578 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GK Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter worth $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $78.03 on Monday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $54.70 and a 12-month high of $79.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $129.80 billion, a PE ratio of 16.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $70.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 330.66% and a net margin of 34.51%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.45 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.69 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a $1.11 dividend. This represents a $4.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a boost from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 91.74%.

Key Stories Impacting Altria Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria’s Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,771,498.98. This represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on MO. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $71.00.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.