Luken Investment Analytics LLC Takes $47,000 Position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Luken Investment Analytics LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 900 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $47,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Algert Global LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group by 32.0% during the second quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 9,600 shares of the company’s stock worth $437,000 after acquiring an additional 2,330 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth approximately $16,747,000. Heritage Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $443,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 7.9% during the second quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 9,696 shares of the company’s stock worth $442,000 after acquiring an additional 708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Bank Trust Division boosted its stake in Altria Group by 5.7% during the 3rd quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Division now owns 7,176 shares of the company’s stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 387 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $51.59 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $39.25 and a one year high of $58.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $53.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $52.29.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.28 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 233.80% and a net margin of 42.82%. On average, analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.13 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.91%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is 68.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on MO. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $44.50 to $48.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Bank of America raised Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 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 MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $53.43.

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.