Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Trading Down 2.1% – Time to Sell?

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)’s stock price dropped 2.1% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $67.41 and last traded at $67.6560. Approximately 5,850,089 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 9,348,375 shares. The stock had previously closed at $69.12.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the topic of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Altria Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, June 21st. Finally, BTIG Research began coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Stock Down 2.1%

The firm has a market capitalization of $112.97 billion, a PE ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.46. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $70.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $68.93.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.50 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 33.99% and a negative return on equity of 315.29%. The business had revenue of $5.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.44 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Altria Group

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 64.7% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 17,702 shares of the company’s stock valued at $926,000 after acquiring an additional 6,954 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 86.3% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 6,361 shares of the company’s stock worth $373,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946 shares in the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.9% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 9,630 shares of the company’s stock worth $565,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $346,000. Finally, AXA S.A. acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $5,752,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Company Profile

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.