Prosperitas Financial LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO – Free Report) by 9.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 84,381 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,533 shares during the quarter. Altria Group makes up 1.7% of Prosperitas Financial LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Prosperitas Financial LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,682,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Balance Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Co bought a new position in Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $33,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 78.8% in the first quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 524 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evolution Advisers Inc. increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 110.9% in the second quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. now owns 578 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.
Altria Group News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
- Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
- Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria’s Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
- Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
- Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several research analysts recently commented on MO shares. Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. UBS Group increased their target price on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $71.00.
Read Our Latest Research Report on Altria Group
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other Altria Group news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,771,498.98. The trade was a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
Altria Group Trading Up 1.7%
Altria Group stock opened at $78.03 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $54.70 and a 1-year high of $79.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.29 billion, a PE ratio of 16.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.42. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $70.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.75.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.45 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.70 earnings per share for the current year.
Altria Group Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.74%.
Altria Group Company Profile
Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.
Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.
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