Entropy Technologies LP Purchases New Shares in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Entropy Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 64,770 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,387,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MO. Wedmont Private Capital boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 14.5% in the third quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 12,575 shares of the company’s stock worth $628,000 after acquiring an additional 1,588 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 7.2% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 14,760 shares of the company’s stock worth $753,000 after acquiring an additional 986 shares in the last quarter. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 4.7% in the third quarter. Quotient Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,902 shares of the company’s stock worth $250,000 after acquiring an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Beaumont Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group in the third quarter worth $350,000. Finally, Fiduciary Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 7.3% in the third quarter. Fiduciary Financial Group LLC now owns 6,804 shares of the company’s stock worth $337,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Altria Group stock opened at $52.65 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $89.24 billion, a PE ratio of 8.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.64. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $39.25 and a one year high of $58.03. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $53.09 and a 200 day moving average of $52.44.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 negative return on equity of 258.72% and a net margin of 46.90%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is 62.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com raised Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target 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. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Altria Group from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Barclays boosted their price target on Altria Group from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target 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.