Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Purchased by Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC

Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 74,058 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 505 shares during the period. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,872,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Enterprise Financial Services Corp raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% in the 4th quarter. Enterprise Financial Services Corp now owns 5,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $264,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Sowell Financial Services LLC now owns 98,194 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,135,000 after acquiring an additional 1,441 shares in the last quarter. Argentarii LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $331,000. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,139 shares of the company’s stock valued at $530,000 after buying an additional 556 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI now owns 5,077 shares of the company’s stock valued at $265,000 after buying an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Stock Up 1.4 %

MO opened at $57.79 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $40.65 and a 52-week high of $58.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $53.15 and its 200-day moving average is $53.10.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released 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%. Equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.06%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MO has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of 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. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average 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.