Xponance Inc. Has $10.58 Million Stock Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Xponance Inc. decreased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 202,367 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,839 shares during the period. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $10,582,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd 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 period. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Promus Capital LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $58.31 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $54.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $53.38. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $40.65 and a one year high of $59.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $98.59 billion, a PE ratio of 8.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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, analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

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 dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.00%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on MO shares. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Two 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. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus 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.