Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) Shares Sold by Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.

Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 14.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 30,000 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,942 shares during the period. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,569,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Savant Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 104,107 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,444,000 after acquiring an additional 3,484 shares during the period. Wagner Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Wagner Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,834 shares of the company’s stock valued at $776,000 after acquiring an additional 1,472 shares during the period. Wealthstar Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $603,000. Focused Wealth Management Inc grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 11.4% during the 4th quarter. Focused Wealth Management Inc now owns 30,633 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,602,000 after acquiring an additional 3,126 shares during the period. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 107.7% during the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 22,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,192,000 after acquiring an additional 11,820 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America upgraded 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. 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. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Altria Group from $54.00 to $53.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $53.29.

Altria Group Price Performance

MO opened at $53.84 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $53.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.49. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $39.25 and a 1-year high of $58.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $91.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.64.

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, equities analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is presently 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.