Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Acquired by Teacher Retirement System of Texas

Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 136.4% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,022,121 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,166,701 shares during the quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas’ holdings in Altria Group were worth $105,737,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% during the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $57.97 on Thursday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.65 and a fifty-two week high of $59.67. The firm has a market cap of $98.01 billion, a PE ratio of 8.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The business’s fifty day moving average is $54.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.42.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.04%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 62.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on MO. Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price 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.