32,779 Shares in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Bought by Inceptionr LLC

Inceptionr LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 32,779 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,714,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Promus Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth $34,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO stock opened at $55.95 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $52.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.01. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $40.65 and a 1-year high of $58.59. The company has a market capitalization of $94.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.54, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.64.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (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%. On average, analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid 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 7.29%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.29.

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.