Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Purchased by Amundi

Amundi increased its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 710,094 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 12,217 shares during the period. Amundi’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $36,563,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $57.83 on Thursday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $40.65 and a 52-week high of $59.67. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $53.52 and a 200-day moving average of $53.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.77 billion, a PE ratio of 8.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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%. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.05%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on MO. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America upgraded 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 report on Friday, December 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus 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.