Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Bought by Sowell Financial Services LLC

Sowell Financial Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 98,194 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 1,441 shares during the quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,135,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 420.0% during the third 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. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $57.79 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $53.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $53.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.65 and a 12-month high of $58.59. The stock has a market cap of $97.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.82, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 62.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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