Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Acquired by ING Groep NV

ING Groep NV boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 95.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 251,063 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 122,772 shares during the period. ING Groep NV's holdings in Altria Group were worth $13,128,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Aviance Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC now owns 40,362 shares of the company's stock worth $2,060,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares in the last quarter. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,015 shares of the company's stock worth $681,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Altria Group by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,302 shares of the company's stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares in the last quarter. American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLP increased its holdings in Altria Group by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. American Institute for Advanced Investment Management LLP now owns 5,860 shares of the company's stock worth $299,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,851 shares of the company's stock worth $299,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock traded up $0.68 on Friday, hitting $55.01. 8,815,909 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,319,094. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $52.61 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.22 billion, a PE ratio of 8.40, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.64. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $39.25 and a twelve month high of $58.03.

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, beating 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 anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.42%. Altria Group's payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on MO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target 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. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average 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.