bLong Financial LLC Acquires New Stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

bLong Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 9,648 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $504,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter worth $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 85.1% in the 3rd quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company's stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO traded up $0.62 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $53.37. 6,735,372 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,289,180. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $39.25 and a one year high of $58.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $52.65 and a 200 day moving average of $52.65. The company has a market cap of $90.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (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%. Sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.65%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on MO. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America raised Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus 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.