Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Down 0.5% – What’s Next?

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) was down 0.5% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $53.28 and last traded at $53.37. Approximately 4,563,210 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 42% from the average daily volume of 7,840,942 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.62.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on MO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $52.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.65. The firm has a market cap of $90.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.65%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its holdings 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 last quarter. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

About Altria Group

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.