Altria Group, Inc. $MO Shares Acquired by Victory Financial Group LLC

Victory Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 255.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,243 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 9,522 shares during the quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $892,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 2,619 shares of the company’s stock valued at $191,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares in the last quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Riverbend Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,194 shares of the company’s stock valued at $552,000 after purchasing an additional 143 shares during the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,239 shares of the company’s stock worth $821,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bernardo Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,379 shares of the company’s stock worth $243,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Old Peak Finance LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 1.3% during the 2nd quarter. Old Peak Finance LLC now owns 11,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $858,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Altria Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Altria’s roughly 6% dividend yield remains a key attraction, offering more than twice Coca-Cola’s yield. The company recently delivered its 61st dividend increase in 57 years, reinforcing its status as a long-term income stock. Altria Now Yields Twice as Much as Coca-Cola
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlights Altria’s ability to support dividend growth through cigarette pricing power despite declining U.S. smoking rates. Its relatively low valuation and established cash generation could help limit downside for income-oriented investors. Altria Dividend Analysis
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are awaiting Altria’s October 29 third-quarter report for updated information on sales trends, earnings, guidance, and the company’s growth prospects. The company’s current full-year EPS guidance is $5.61 to $5.72, with analysts expecting approximately $5.67. Altria Earnings Preview
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst coverage remains cautious, with sell-side analysts assigning Altria a “Hold” rating. This suggests the stock’s high income potential is balanced against limited growth and tobacco-industry risks. Altria Rated Hold
• Negative Sentiment: Declining smoking rates remain a structural concern, while Treasury yields near 5% make high-yield stocks work harder to justify their risk. A disappointing earnings outlook or weaker-than-expected cigarette volumes could pressure the shares. How Will Altria Stock React to Earnings

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on MO shares. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They issued a “neutral” rating for the company. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a report on Monday, October 12th. Freedom Broker upgraded Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $70.11.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Altria Group news, Director Kathryn McQuade bought 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $67.62 per share, with a total value of $101,430.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,771,498.98. The trade was a 1.32% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Altria Group Trading Down 1.0%

Shares of MO stock opened at $72.77 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.35, a PEG ratio of 2.64 and a beta of 0.42. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $70.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $68.55. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $54.70 and a 12 month high of $77.06.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.50 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.44 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.11 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.1%. This is a boost from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is 93.67%.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc is a U.S.-based consumer products company focused primarily on tobacco, nicotine and related products. Through its operating companies, Altria sells cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, oral tobacco and nicotine products, and electronic vapor products.

Altria’s principal cigarette business is Philip Morris USA, whose portfolio includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia Slims. Its other major brands include Copenhagen and Skoal moist smokeless tobacco, Black & Mild cigars, on! nicotine pouches and NJOY electronic cigarettes.