Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Price Target Raised to $50.00 at Jefferies Financial Group

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) had its price target upped by Jefferies Financial Group from $47.00 to $50.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has an underperform rating on the stock.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price 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. UBS Group boosted their price target on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $64.33.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO traded down $0.50 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $66.48. The stock had a trading volume of 9,119,766 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,233,737. The business has a fifty day moving average of $63.25 and a 200 day moving average of $62.64. The firm has a market cap of $111.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.18, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.45. Altria Group has a 12 month low of $52.82 and a 12 month high of $70.51.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 103.16%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the second quarter worth $27,000. Navalign LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Country Trust Bank raised its position in shares of Altria Group by 400.0% during the 2nd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. EMC Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

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.