Principal Securities Inc. Increases Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Principal Securities Inc. raised its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 18.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 83,134 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 12,839 shares during the quarter. Principal Securities Inc.'s holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,347,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position 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 purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 85.1% during the 3rd quarter. Fairman Group LLC now owns 892 shares of the company's stock worth $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 Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of MO traded up $0.62 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $53.37. The stock had a trading volume of 6,735,372 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,289,180. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.25 and a 12 month high of $58.03. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $52.62 and a 200 day simple moving average of $52.65. The company has a market capitalization 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 issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (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 forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays increased their price target on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $53.29.

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.