Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership's 10th Largest Position

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 0.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,273,491 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 76,004 shares during the quarter. Altria Group accounts for 0.9% of Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership's holdings, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned 1.31% of Altria Group worth $1,164,681,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Townsquare Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Altria Group by 20.6% during the third quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 74,589 shares of the company's stock worth $3,807,000 after buying an additional 12,727 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its position in Altria Group by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 72,830 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,717,000 after acquiring an additional 6,800 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Altria Group by 3.5% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 561,416 shares of the company's stock worth $28,655,000 after purchasing an additional 18,745 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 84,863 shares of the company's stock worth $4,331,000 after buying an additional 3,063 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arete Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter worth $963,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Altria Group Stock Down 4.4 %

Shares of Altria Group stock traded down $2.61 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $56.18. 9,373,371 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,190,764. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.65 and a fifty-two week high of $60.18. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $55.38 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $94.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. 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 report on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $54.00.

Altria Group 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.