Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. Buys 7,523 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 2.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 363,694 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 7,523 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $19,010,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price target on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Altria Group from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $54.00.

Altria Group Stock Up 1.0 %

NYSE MO opened at $57.19 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $96.69 billion, a PE ratio of 8.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.54. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $56.31 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.65 and a 52 week high of $60.18.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data 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%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current 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 7.13%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

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.