MML Investors Services LLC Has $19.80 Million Stock Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

MML Investors Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 4.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 378,570 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 15,675 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $19,795,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Truvestments Capital LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 4,581 shares of the company's stock worth $240,000 after purchasing an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 5,052 shares of the company's stock valued at $264,000 after buying an additional 194 shares during the period. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,015 shares of the company's stock valued at $681,000 after buying an additional 198 shares during the period. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Fragasso Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,302 shares of the company's stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 199 shares during the period. Finally, First Citizens Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. First Citizens Financial Corp now owns 4,402 shares of the company's stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO stock traded up $0.16 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $58.72. The company had a trading volume of 6,051,518 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,845,603. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $42.40 and a 52 week high of $60.18. The company has a market capitalization of $99.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.96, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $54.42.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

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 dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.95%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on MO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price 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. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two 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 data from 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.