Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. Has $1.96 Million Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. grew its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 9.7% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 37,453 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,321 shares during the period. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,958,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Financial Life Planners acquired a new position in Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 420.0% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 572 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the period. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Promus Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $57.74 on Thursday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $40.65 and a 52 week high of $59.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.61 billion, a PE ratio of 8.81, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $54.80 and its 200-day moving average is $53.54.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 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, analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.07%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company 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 lifted their price target for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, December 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Company 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.