Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Beacon Financial Advisory LLC

Beacon Financial Advisory LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 1.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,732 shares of the company’s stock after selling 370 shares during the quarter. Beacon Financial Advisory LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 14.7% during the fourth quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 38,361 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,006,000 after purchasing an additional 4,924 shares during the period. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. Brandywine Oak Private Wealth LLC now owns 7,168 shares of the company’s stock valued at $375,000 after purchasing an additional 3,036 shares in the last quarter. Long Run Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 64.3% during the 4th quarter. Long Run Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,464 shares of the company’s stock worth $443,000 after buying an additional 3,312 shares during the period. Centennial Wealth Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Centennial Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 17,508 shares of the company’s stock worth $915,000 after buying an additional 1,066 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,029 shares of the company’s stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 437 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $52.58 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.11 billion, a PE ratio of 8.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.64. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $39.25 and a one year high of $58.03. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $52.42.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. Equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.76%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on MO shares. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

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.