Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Price Target Raised to $77.00

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) had its target price raised by Morgan Stanley from $71.00 to $77.00 in a research report report published on Friday,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Freedom Broker raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. Barclays cut their price target on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued 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 $71.00.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $78.03 on Friday. Altria Group has a twelve month low of $54.70 and a twelve month high of $79.81. The company has a market capitalization of $129.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.43. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $70.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.45 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.69 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s payout ratio is presently 91.74%.

Insider Transactions at Altria Group

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade purchased 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were bought at an average price of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the purchase, the director directly owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This represents a 1.32% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the third quarter valued at about $173,000. Bfsg LLC lifted its position in Altria Group by 14.3% during the 3rd quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the company’s stock worth $121,000 after buying an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 114.7% during the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 40,640 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,020,000 after acquiring an additional 21,714 shares during the period. Optimist Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 35,912 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,418,000 after buying an additional 862 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. 3Chopt Investment Partners LLC now owns 74,486 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,098,000 after buying an additional 2,836 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Altria Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria’s Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.