Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Acquired by Blueprint Investment Partners LLC

Blueprint Investment Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 115.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,115 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,030 shares during the period. Blueprint Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $686,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Life Planners purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. VSM Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 420.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the third quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO stock opened at $57.46 on Friday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $54.42 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.47. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.65 and a 12 month high of $59.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.14 billion, a PE ratio of 8.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.56.

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, topping the consensus estimate 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 anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.10%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 62.29%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on MO. Bank of America upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $55.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $53.29.

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.