Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading Down 0.9% - Here's Why

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) shares were down 0.9% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $57.51 and last traded at $57.39. Approximately 4,237,099 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 52% from the average daily volume of 8,909,919 shares. The stock had previously closed at $57.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on MO shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective 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. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $54.00.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.5 %

The company has a market capitalization of $95.80 billion, a PE ratio of 8.64, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $56.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.96.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company 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 dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.20%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.29%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Benin Management CORP bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $225,000. Iams Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $209,000. SS&H Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $213,000. Apella Capital LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 79.9% in the 1st quarter. Apella Capital LLC now owns 7,939 shares of the company's stock worth $447,000 after buying an additional 3,527 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Viking Fund Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 12.9% in the 1st quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 175,250 shares of the company's stock worth $10,519,000 after buying an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.