Founders Financial Alliance LLC Grows Stock Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Founders Financial Alliance LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 66,717 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 599 shares during the period. Altria Group comprises about 1.0% of Founders Financial Alliance LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 20th largest position. Founders Financial Alliance LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,489,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Promus Capital LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on MO. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price 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. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE MO opened at $58.98 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.65 and a 12 month high of $59.67. The company has a 50-day moving average of $53.29 and a 200-day moving average of $53.16. The company has a market cap of $99.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 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%. As a group, equities 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. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.92%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.