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

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of "Hold" from the eight ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $54.00.

Several brokerages have issued reports on MO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price 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. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $58.72 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $57.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.48. Altria Group has a 12 month low of $42.76 and a 12 month high of $60.18.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted 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 negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.95%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.29%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Inlight Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $32,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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