Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Gap Down - Should You Sell?

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $52.66, but opened at $51.02. Altria Group shares last traded at $50.69, with a volume of 2,849,226 shares trading hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Citigroup increased their target price on Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $53.43.

Altria Group Stock Down 2.8 %

The stock has a market cap of $86.72 billion, a PE ratio of 8.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $53.75 and a 200 day moving average of $52.29.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 233.80% and a net margin of 42.82%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.13 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued 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 7.97%. Altria Group's payout ratio is 68.92%.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted 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 worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Peterson Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, Fairman Group LLC lifted its position 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 purchasing an additional 410 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

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.

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