Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC Purchases 8,165 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 4.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 195,930 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 8,165 shares during the quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $11,297,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Country Trust Bank grew its holdings in Altria Group by 400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. EMC Capital Management acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Gould Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 634.5% during the third quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 639 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 552 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Down 0.9%

MO stock opened at $64.46 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $107.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.68, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.45. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $65.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $62.57. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.82 and a 12-month high of $70.51.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. Research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.6%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 103.16%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Argus raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Citigroup upped their price target on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Barclays raised their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $65.11.

Altria Group Company Profile

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.