Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the eleven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $62.3333.

MO has been the topic of several research reports. UBS Group decreased their target price on Altria Group from $68.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 31st. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Wednesday, October 8th.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $57.75 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $96.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.48. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $58.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.67. Altria Group has a one year low of $50.08 and a one year high of $68.60.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 319.43% and a net margin of 37.89%.The company had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.38 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, October 30th that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to reacquire up to 1.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.3%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 80.92%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Kercheville Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC now owns 4,397 shares of the company’s stock valued at $290,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 2.9% in the third quarter. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,781 shares of the company’s stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the period. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.5% in the second quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,816 shares of the company’s stock valued at $224,000 after buying an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.6% during the first quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 26,335 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,581,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the period. Finally, Bar Harbor Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.1% during the second quarter. Bar Harbor Wealth Management now owns 5,656 shares of the company’s stock worth $332,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.