Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading Down 2.8% – What’s Next?

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)’s share price was down 2.8% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $65.05 and last traded at $65.0920. Approximately 9,306,462 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 7% from the average daily volume of 9,979,536 shares. The stock had previously closed at $66.97.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on MO. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Citigroup upped their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Barclays increased their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd. Argus raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $65.11.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.9%

The firm has a market cap of $107.77 billion, a PE ratio of 15.68, a PEG ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 0.45. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $65.07 and its 200 day simple moving average is $62.62.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.30 EPS. Altria Group’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 103.16%.

Insider Transactions at Altria Group

In other Altria Group news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total value of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,221,318.33. The trade was a 13.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of MO. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 488,706 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,198,000 after buying an additional 38,878 shares in the last quarter. Lane Brothers & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $251,000. Fund Advisors of America Inc FL purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $715,000. Winthrop Partners WNY LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $334,000. Finally, Nalls Sherbakoff Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $48,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Company Profile

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.