Proficio Capital Partners LLC Invests $773,000 in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 10,740 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $773,000.

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Barclays dropped 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. BTIG Research started coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Altria Group from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, June 21st. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $69.63 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $54.70 and a fifty-two week high of $77.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $116.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.69, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.45. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $70.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $69.03.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). The business 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%. Altria Group’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a $1.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.4%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 89.45%.

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.