Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Down 0.4% - Here's Why

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 0.4% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $56.01 and last traded at $56.12. 1,227,782 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 87% from the average session volume of 9,735,099 shares. The stock had previously closed at $56.34.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on MO. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. UBS Group raised their target price on Altria Group from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, September 9th. Citigroup upped their price target on Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 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 investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $51.33.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.6 %

The stock has a fifty day moving average of $51.63 and a 200-day moving average of $49.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.48, a PEG ratio of 3.18 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $6.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $5.33 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 42.82% and a negative return on equity of 233.80%. Altria Group's revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.28 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th were paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 16th. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.29%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 68.92%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 420.0% in the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the period. Hobbs Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. raised its holdings in Altria Group by 63.9% during the 2nd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 667 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

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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