Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading Down 0.7% - Here's Why

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) traded down 0.7% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $53.50 and last traded at $53.45. 1,052,520 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 86% from the average session volume of 7,262,898 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.85.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective 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. StockNews.com raised shares of Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $53.29.

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Altria Group Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $90.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.15, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.64. The business's 50 day moving average price is $52.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.57.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (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%. On average, equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 62.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $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.