Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Down 2.2% - Should You Sell?

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) traded down 2.2% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $57.35 and last traded at $57.52. 5,569,448 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 8,896,862 shares. The stock had previously closed at $58.79.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on MO shares. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America raised Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $54.00.

Altria Group Trading Up 1.4 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $97.95 billion, a PE ratio of 8.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $55.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.72.

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Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results 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 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. Research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current 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 given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.04%. Altria Group's payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MO. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 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.