Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Up 0.1% - Should You Buy?

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) rose 0.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $58.71 and last traded at $58.64. Approximately 994,553 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 9,597,629 shares. The stock had previously closed at $58.56.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on MO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $55.00.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.1 %

The business's 50-day moving average price is $57.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $54.60. The company has a market capitalization of $98.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly 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%. Analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.01%. Altria Group's payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the third quarter valued at about $2,041,000. Wealthquest Corp purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $209,000. Chelsea Counsel Co. lifted its position in Altria Group by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Chelsea Counsel Co. now owns 20,300 shares of the company's stock worth $1,056,000 after buying an additional 1,465 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 35.9% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 13,174 shares of the company's stock valued at $672,000 after acquiring an additional 3,478 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.9% during the third quarter. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. now owns 82,445 shares of the company's stock worth $4,208,000 after acquiring an additional 730 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.