Catalyst Financial Partners LLC Grows Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Catalyst Financial Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,484 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 244 shares during the period. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $600,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MO. Avestar Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 9.6% in the 4th quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 10,546 shares of the company’s stock worth $552,000 after acquiring an additional 923 shares during the last quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors raised its position in Altria Group by 79.3% in the 4th quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors now owns 22,122 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,157,000 after purchasing an additional 9,784 shares during the period. Retirement Guys Formula LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 19.2% in the fourth quarter. Retirement Guys Formula LLC now owns 18,990 shares of the company’s stock worth $993,000 after purchasing an additional 3,061 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 14.7% during the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 524,653 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,550,000 after buying an additional 67,117 shares during the period. Finally, Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Lester Murray Antman dba SimplyRich now owns 6,337 shares of the company’s stock valued at $331,000 after buying an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of MO stock opened at $53.71 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.20, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $52.90 and a 200 day moving average of $52.55. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.25 and a 52 week high of $58.03.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.60%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 62.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

Altria Group 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.