Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Increases Stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 47.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 111,544 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 35,983 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,833,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

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

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock traded down $0.24 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $58.58. The stock had a trading volume of 8,941,376 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,856,770. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $56.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.39. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $42.40 and a one year high of $60.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.94, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.96%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on 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. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $54.00.

Altria Group 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.