Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Acquires 11,492 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,707,718 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 11,492 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned about 0.10% of Altria Group worth $112,812,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Country Trust Bank lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 400.0% in the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 334.7% during the second quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 539 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the period. Winnow Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $61.15 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $102.66 billion, a PE ratio of 11.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.47. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $58.49 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $61.60. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $50.08 and a fifty-two week high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The company had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.38 EPS. The business’s revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. Analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 1.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.9%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 80.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $61.00 to $63.00 in a report on Friday, January 9th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $62.56.

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.