SG Americas Securities LLC Buys 2,962,270 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 438.6% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,637,678 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,962,270 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $209,749,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kercheville Advisors LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kercheville Advisors LLC now owns 4,397 shares of the company’s stock worth $290,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the period. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Founders Grove Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,781 shares of the company’s stock valued at $382,000 after buying an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR now owns 50,805 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,356,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 7,386 shares of the company’s stock worth $488,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Optimist Retirement Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 35,577 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,350,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on MO shares. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Barclays raised 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 upgraded Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $65.11.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In other news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $64.38 on Tuesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $52.82 and a 1 year high of $70.51. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $65.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $62.53. The company has a market cap of $107.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.66, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.45.

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

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be given a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.6%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 103.16%.

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.