Axim Planning & Wealth Buys Shares of 13,329 Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Axim Planning & Wealth bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm bought 13,329 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $769,000. Altria Group comprises 0.8% of Axim Planning & Wealth’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Navalign LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group by 62.9% during the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares during the period. Finally, EMC Capital Management bought a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MO shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $50.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Altria Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $70.44.

Insider Activity at Altria Group

In related news, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total value of $145,120.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 25,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,821,401.12. This represents a 7.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total transaction of $418,327.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 73,809 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,332,700.25. This represents a 7.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:MO opened at $71.83 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $69.40 and its 200-day moving average price is $64.92. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.70 and a twelve month high of $74.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $119.95 billion, a PE ratio of 15.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.46.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.07. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.34% and a negative return on equity of 298.69%. The firm had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.58 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.560-5.72 EPS. Analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 88.70%.

About Altria Group

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.