Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Purchased by Vise Technologies Inc.

Vise Technologies Inc. boosted its holdings in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 155,041 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,885 shares during the quarter. Vise Technologies Inc.’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $10,440,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of MO. Cidel Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 6.2% in the 3rd quarter. Cidel Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,357,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares in the last quarter. Americana Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 40.6% in the third quarter. Americana Partners LLC now owns 10,890 shares of the company’s stock valued at $733,000 after purchasing an additional 3,143 shares in the last quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.7% in the third quarter. Aprio Wealth Management LLC now owns 28,105 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,893,000 after acquiring an additional 994 shares during the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 25.9% during the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 17,743 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,195,000 after purchasing an additional 3,653 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming grew its stake in Altria Group by 26.2% in the 3rd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 3,960 shares of the company’s stock worth $267,000 after acquiring an additional 823 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Altria Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS rose to $1.52 from $1.45 a year earlier, exceeding the $1.51 consensus estimate. Net revenue, excluding excise taxes, increased 3.6% to $5.44 billion, supported by higher pricing and stronger smokeable-product profits. Altria MO stock is up, what you need to know
• Positive Sentiment: Higher full-year outlook and buybacks: Altria raised its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance after the quarterly beat and expanded its share-repurchase program. The combination of improved earnings visibility and capital returns helped support the bullish investor reaction. MO Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Higher Guidance and Nicotine Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Core and next-generation products remain supportive: Needham said Altria’s smokeable volumes continue to outperform the broader industry, helped by its portfolio strategy. Management also highlighted growth in nicotine pouches, giving investors an additional source of expansion beyond traditional cigarettes. Altria’s Smokeable Volumes Continue to Outperform Industry, Needham Says
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation is attracting attention: Some analysis continues to view Altria as undervalued based on its cash-generation and dividend profile, although the stock’s roughly 153% five-year gain means investors are increasingly focused on whether future cash flows justify the higher valuation. Altria Group Stock Still Appears Undervalued Following Its 153% Run
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst target remains a near-term constraint: Morgan Stanley raised its price target from $71 to $77 but maintained an “equal weight” rating, implying limited upside from the current trading level. This suggests some analysts believe the recent rally has already priced in much of the earnings improvement. Morgan Stanley Altria rating

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Kathryn McQuade purchased 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 114,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,771,498.98. The trade was a 1.32% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, Freedom Broker raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 16th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $71.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

Altria Group stock opened at $78.03 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $70.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $129.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.43. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $54.70 and a 52-week high of $79.81.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.51% and a negative return on equity of 330.66%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.31 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.45 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were given a $1.11 dividend. This represents a $4.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.7%. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 91.74%.

Altria Group Company Profile

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.