Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Down 0.3%

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) were down 0.3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $50.42 and last traded at $50.47. Approximately 1,630,695 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 10,183,499 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.63.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America upped their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, September 4th. UBS Group increased their price objective on Altria Group from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a report on Monday, September 9th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, September 9th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, May 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $49.67.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $51.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $86.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.65.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by ($0.04). Altria Group had a net margin of 42.25% and a negative return on equity of 232.55%. The business had revenue of $6.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.39 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.31 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 16th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This is a boost from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.12%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 16th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is 85.36%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Delta Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Altria Group by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Delta Investment Management LLC now owns 7,064 shares of the company's stock worth $322,000 after buying an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 18.5% during the second quarter. Scarborough Advisors LLC now owns 1,283 shares of the company's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 76,595 shares of the company's stock worth $3,489,000 after acquiring an additional 203 shares during the last quarter. SP Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. SP Asset Management LLC now owns 8,211 shares of the company's stock valued at $374,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Certuity LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 13,664 shares of the company's stock valued at $622,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Altria Group Company 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.