Horizon Investments LLC Raises Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Horizon Investments LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 3.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 29,610 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 865 shares during the quarter. Horizon Investments LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,548,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its position in 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 acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $57.97 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $54.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $53.42. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.65 and a twelve month high of $59.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $98.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.85, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid 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 7.04%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MO has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on 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 Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

About Altria Group

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.