Paradigm Capital Management LLC NV Makes New Investment in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Paradigm Capital Management LLC NV acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 31,436 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,262,000. Altria Group accounts for 1.9% of Paradigm Capital Management LLC NV’s portfolio, making the stock its 13th largest position.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MO. Fiduciary Financial Advisors acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $250,000. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $369,000. Tandem Financial LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth $452,000. Brandywine Trust Co. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $2,217,000. Finally, L2 Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $609,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $68.08 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $70.14 and its 200 day moving average is $68.91. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.68 billion, a PE ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.46. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.70 and a 1 year high of $77.06.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The firm’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. Barclays decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. UBS Group upped their target price on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Altria Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.11.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.