Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Purchased by Sowell Financial Services LLC

Sowell Financial Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 98,194 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,441 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $5,135,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Argentarii LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $331,000. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,139 shares of the company’s stock worth $530,000 after buying an additional 556 shares during the last quarter. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI raised its position in Altria Group by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Schaper Benz & Wise Investment Counsel Inc. WI now owns 5,077 shares of the company’s stock worth $265,000 after buying an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Axis Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $593,000. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its position in Altria Group by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 98,096 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,129,000 after buying an additional 10,287 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Up 1.4 %

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

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on MO shares. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently 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.