Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Acquired by Callan Capital LLC

Callan Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 25.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 11,905 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,399 shares during the period. Callan Capital LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $623,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Winebrenner Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $359,000. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 18.5% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 39,874 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,085,000 after acquiring an additional 6,216 shares in the last quarter. Lane & Associates LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Lane & Associates LLC now owns 5,963 shares of the company’s stock worth $311,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,489 shares of the company’s stock worth $653,000 after acquiring an additional 620 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compass Capital Corp MA ADV acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $203,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised 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. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target 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. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Trading Up 1.2 %

Altria Group stock opened at $55.01 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $93.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.40, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $52.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.73. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.25 and a 52 week high of $58.03.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.42%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

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.