Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Bought by VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al

VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 6.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,308,468 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 79,946 shares during the quarter. Altria Group comprises about 0.5% of VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest holding. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al owned 0.08% of Altria Group worth $88,112,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Parcion Private Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 59.3% during the third quarter. Parcion Private Wealth LLC now owns 20,678 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,392,000 after buying an additional 7,697 shares in the last quarter. Partners Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 62.5% in the third quarter. Partners Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,101 shares of the company’s stock valued at $965,000 after buying an additional 5,425 shares in the last quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 53.0% in the third quarter. Soltis Investment Advisors LLC now owns 24,752 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,667,000 after buying an additional 8,571 shares in the last quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 4.4% in the third quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 12,281 shares of the company’s stock valued at $827,000 after buying an additional 522 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Everett Harris & Co. CA lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA now owns 25,235 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,699,000 after acquiring an additional 3,425 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

NYSE MO opened at $78.03 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.70 and a twelve month high of $79.81. The stock has a market cap of $130.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.42. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $70.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.75.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 330.66% and a net margin of 34.51%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.45 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.70 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. 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. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. Altria Group’s payout ratio is presently 91.74%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Altria Group news, Director Kathryn McQuade purchased 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. This represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting 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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Citigroup boosted their target price on Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday. BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target 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. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $71.00.

About Altria Group

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.