World Investment Advisors Has $1.92 Million Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

World Investment Advisors grew its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO - Free Report) by 95.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 36,623 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 17,846 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors' holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,915,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth $34,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently issued reports on MO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Altria Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $54.00.

Remove Ads

Altria Group Stock Performance

MO stock traded down $1.84 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $56.05. 16,322,328 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,941,049. The firm has a market cap of $94.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $40.65 and a 1-year high of $60.18. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $55.72 and its 200 day simple moving average is $53.80.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 EPS 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 research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.28%. Altria Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

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.