Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado Reduces Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado reduced its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 231,808 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,968 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado's holdings in Altria Group were worth $12,121,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,805,286 shares of the company's stock worth $3,127,218,000 after acquiring an additional 2,296,972 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 41,938,507 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,193,687,000 after purchasing an additional 1,134,748 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in Altria Group by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 22,273,491 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,164,681,000 after purchasing an additional 76,004 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in Altria Group by 9.1% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 11,801,958 shares of the company's stock valued at $617,124,000 after purchasing an additional 983,328 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in Altria Group by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 6,218,299 shares of the company's stock valued at $325,155,000 after purchasing an additional 222,584 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of MO traded down $0.08 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $58.18. The company had a trading volume of 8,844,149 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,772,483. The company has a market capitalization of $98.36 billion, a PE ratio of 8.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $43.37 and a one year high of $60.18. The company's fifty day moving average price is $57.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.66.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. Analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.01%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group lifted their target price on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Citigroup lifted their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price 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. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $55.00.

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.