LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC Increases Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 113.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,917 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 7,390 shares during the period. LaSalle St. Investment Advisors LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $727,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of Altria Group stock traded up $0.44 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $57.57. 6,382,766 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,005,965. The company has a market cap of $97.33 billion, a PE ratio of 8.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $56.31 and a 200-day moving average of $54.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.72 and a 12 month high of $60.18.

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Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly 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 net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.09%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on MO shares. UBS Group boosted their target price on 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 cut their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $54.00.

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.