Birch Financial Group LLC Takes Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Birch Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 10,948 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $631,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Range Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 13.9% during the fourth quarter. Range Financial Group LLC now owns 58,096 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,350,000 after purchasing an additional 7,077 shares during the period. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 15.8% in the 4th quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 18,825 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,085,000 after purchasing an additional 2,571 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management grew its position in Altria Group by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 104,192 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,008,000 after purchasing an additional 5,535 shares during the period. Financial Planning Hawaii Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $548,000. Finally, Westend Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 15.5% during the 4th quarter. Westend Capital Management LLC now owns 1,807 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,000 after purchasing an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $66.97 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $111.97 billion, a PE ratio of 16.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.45. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $65.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $62.49. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $52.82 and a 1-year high of $70.51.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. The business’s revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed 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 is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 103.16%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MO shares. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $65.11.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of Altria Group 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 transaction, 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

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.