Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by First American Trust FSB

First American Trust FSB decreased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 7.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,655 shares of the company’s stock after selling 443 shares during the quarter. First American Trust FSB’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $296,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Life Planners acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% during the third quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the third quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on MO shares. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Bank of America raised shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $53.29.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Altria Group stock opened at $56.73 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $40.65 and a 1 year high of $59.67. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $54.66 and its 200-day moving average is $53.51. The company has a market cap of $95.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.66, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 46.90% and a negative return on equity of 258.72%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.19%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 62.29%.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.