Choreo LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Choreo LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 78.8% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 136,987 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 60,369 shares during the quarter. Choreo LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $7,141,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 420.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 85.1% during the 3rd quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.1 %

NYSE MO opened at $52.58 on Thursday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.25 and a 52 week high of $58.03. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $53.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.42. The firm has a market cap of $89.11 billion, a PE ratio of 8.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.76%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

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.