Soltis Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO – Free Report) by 53.0% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 24,752 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,571 shares during the period. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,667,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of MO. Balance Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth approximately $26,000. Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Co purchased a new position in Altria Group during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Altria Group by 78.8% during 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. grew its holdings in Altria Group by 110.9% in the second quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. now owns 578 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.
Trending Headlines about Altria Group
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
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research firms have recently commented on MO. Barclays cut their price objective on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Five 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, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $71.00.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO
Altria Group Stock Up 1.7%
MO opened at $78.03 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.70 and a twelve month high of $79.81. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $70.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.75. The company has a market cap 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.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 330.66% and a net margin of 34.51%. Altria Group’s revenue was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.45 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.70 earnings per share for the current year.
Altria Group Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were paid a $1.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. This is an increase from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 91.74%.
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade acquired 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were bought at an average price of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.
Altria Group 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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