Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Down 0.5% - Here's Why

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) were down 0.5% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $49.95 and last traded at $50.02. Approximately 1,670,116 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average daily volume of 9,789,969 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.25.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on MO. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Bank of America cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Citigroup raised their price target on Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Altria Group from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $48.20.

Altria Group Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $85.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.46, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.65. The company's 50 day moving average is $51.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $48.17.

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

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.17%. This is an increase from Altria Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.98. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 16th. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.36%.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BSW Wealth Partners bought a new stake in Altria Group in the third quarter valued at $201,000. Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 9,161 shares of the company's stock valued at $468,000 after purchasing an additional 1,186 shares in the last quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. now owns 34,420 shares of the company's stock worth $1,757,000 after purchasing an additional 3,830 shares during the last quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. Prosperitas Financial LLC now owns 52,022 shares of the company's stock worth $2,655,000 after purchasing an additional 4,365 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GFS Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 1,955.7% during the 3rd quarter. GFS Advisors LLC now owns 7,092 shares of the company's stock valued at $362,000 after purchasing an additional 6,747 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.