Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Global Retirement Partners LLC

Global Retirement Partners LLC trimmed its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 32.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 75,988 shares of the company's stock after selling 36,250 shares during the quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,973,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in MO. Convergence Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 95,244 shares of the company's stock worth $4,980,000 after acquiring an additional 17,985 shares in the last quarter. Plan Group Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 10.4% during the fourth quarter. Plan Group Financial LLC now owns 23,436 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,225,000 after purchasing an additional 2,213 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $286,000. Callahan Advisors LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 15.1% in the fourth quarter. Callahan Advisors LLC now owns 8,581 shares of the company's stock worth $449,000 after buying an additional 1,124 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 40.2% during the fourth quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 70,826 shares of the company's stock worth $3,703,000 after buying an additional 20,309 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of 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. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Two 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. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO traded up $0.75 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $55.08. 5,251,801 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,208,794. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $39.25 and a 52-week high of $58.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.41, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.64. The company's 50 day moving average price is $52.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $52.66.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.41%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

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.