one8zero8 LLC Makes New $1.68 Million Investment in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

one8zero8 LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund purchased 32,169 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,682,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Choate Investment Advisors grew its position in Altria Group by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 12,389 shares of the company’s stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 4,869 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 947,121 shares of the company’s stock worth $49,525,000 after purchasing an additional 152,945 shares during the period. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC grew its position in Altria Group by 10.7% during the 4th quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 67,331 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,521,000 after purchasing an additional 6,484 shares during the period. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 74.4% during the 4th quarter. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd now owns 13,600 shares of the company’s stock worth $711,000 after acquiring an additional 5,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, United Capital Management of KS Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. United Capital Management of KS Inc. now owns 8,894 shares of the company’s stock worth $465,000 after acquiring an additional 557 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

Altria Group Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $58.97 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $99.70 billion, a PE ratio of 9.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.65 and a twelve month high of $59.67. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $53.75 and its 200 day moving average price is $53.31.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share 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%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.92%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Altria Group Profile

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.