Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Hold" by the eight ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have assigned a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $54.00.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on MO. UBS Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of 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. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the period. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

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Altria Group Stock Performance

Altria Group stock traded down $1.06 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $58.96. The company's stock had a trading volume of 19,146,750 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,921,810. Altria Group has a one year low of $40.65 and a one year high of $60.20. The stock has a market cap of $99.68 billion, a PE ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a 50 day moving average of $55.23 and a 200-day moving average of $53.65.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group's payout ratio is 62.29%.

About Altria Group

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.