Integrated Advisors Network LLC Increases Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Integrated Advisors Network LLC increased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 152.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 78,346 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 47,277 shares during the period. Integrated Advisors Network LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,702,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 4,581 shares of the company’s stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 5,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.1% in the first quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,499 shares of the company’s stock worth $390,000 after purchasing an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Fiduciary Group LLC now owns 13,778 shares of the company’s stock worth $720,000 after purchasing an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Portfolio Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. Private Portfolio Partners LLC now owns 21,717 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,136,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.8%

Altria Group stock opened at $58.58 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $58.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $56.05. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $43.83 and a twelve month high of $61.26. The company has a market cap of $98.68 billion, a PE ratio of 8.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.64 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. The firm’s revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.15 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.96%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 68.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the topic of several research reports. UBS Group lifted their target price on Altria Group from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Needham & Company LLC raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays lifted their target price on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Wall Street Zen cut Altria Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $56.00.

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.