Rathbones Group PLC Trims Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Rathbones Group PLC lowered its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 4.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 303,922 shares of the company's stock after selling 14,422 shares during the period. Rathbones Group PLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $15,892,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 2.2% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 2,159,890 shares of the company's stock worth $107,679,000 after buying an additional 46,697 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank lifted its position in Altria Group by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 367,469 shares of the company's stock worth $19,215,000 after acquiring an additional 19,893 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 240,454 shares of the company's stock valued at $12,573,000 after purchasing an additional 12,011 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 8.3% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 706,967 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,084,000 after purchasing an additional 54,102 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 48.8% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 89,761 shares of the company's stock worth $4,581,000 after purchasing an additional 29,421 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Remove Ads

Altria Group Price Performance

MO traded up $0.43 during trading on Friday, reaching $56.81. 4,059,871 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,012,763. The company has a market capitalization of $96.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.65 and a 1 year high of $60.18. The business's 50 day moving average price is $56.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.00.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. On average, analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.18%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of 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 increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $54.00.

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.