Shah Wealth Advisors LLC Takes $1.21 Million Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Shah Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 16,800 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,209,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in Altria Group by 5.8% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 2,619 shares of the company’s stock worth $191,000 after buying an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 1.3% in the second quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,239 shares of the company’s stock valued at $821,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,379 shares of the company’s stock valued at $243,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. Old Peak Finance LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Old Peak Finance LLC now owns 11,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $858,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 23,324 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,678,000 after purchasing an additional 152 shares during the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the topic of a number of research reports. BTIG Research assumed coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Altria Group from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Wall Street Zen cut Altria Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, June 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.11.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO opened at $68.80 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.70 and a 1 year high of $77.06. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $69.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.07. The company has a market cap of $114.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.45.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.44 earnings per share. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $1.11 per share. This is a boost from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 89.45%.

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.