Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock: Sterling Capital Management LLC Boosts Stake

Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 176,961 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 12,828 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $11,917,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Altria Group by 78.8% in the 1st quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 524 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 110.9% in the 2nd quarter. Evolution Advisers Inc. now owns 578 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GK Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Altria Group during the third quarter worth about $43,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Altria Group

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade purchased 1,500 shares of the company’s 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 completion of the transaction, the director 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Key Headlines Impacting Altria Group

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts expect Altria to benefit from favorable earnings comparisons and estimates, raising the possibility of an earnings beat in the upcoming report. A stronger-than-expected result could support the stock and reinforce fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $5.61–$5.72. Altria (MO) Earnings Expected to Grow: Should You Buy?
• Positive Sentiment: Altria extended its $3 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility by one year to October 2030. The unchanged terms preserve a substantial liquidity backstop and provide flexibility for working capital, capital allocation and shareholder returns ahead of earnings. Earnings Beat Hopes Could Matter For Altria Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Altria remains popular with income-focused investors because of its roughly 5.7% yield, repeated dividend increases and long-term total returns driven primarily by distributions rather than share-price appreciation. This may attract defensive investors, particularly when cash flows remain resilient. Altria’s Stock Has a Surprising 10-Year Return
• Negative Sentiment: Altria pays out approximately 89.3% of earnings as dividends. While the payout supports the stock’s income appeal, the limited earnings retained for reinvestment leaves less cushion if cigarette volumes decline, regulatory pressures increase or earnings weaken. Altria Pays Out 89.3% of Its Earnings as Dividends
• Negative Sentiment: Longer-term concerns remain over shrinking cigarette volumes, previous write-downs and Altria’s weaker position in smoke-free products. Those structural risks may be weighing on the shares even as investors await a potentially favorable quarterly update.

Altria Group Price Performance

NYSE:MO traded down $1.69 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $74.38. 6,392,274 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,482,814. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $54.70 and a twelve month high of $77.06. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $69.58 and a 200 day moving average of $69.93. The stock has a market cap of $124.19 billion, a PE ratio of 15.69, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.42.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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). 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.44 earnings per share. The firm’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. Equities research analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a $1.11 dividend. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. This is a boost from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Altria Group’s payout ratio is currently 93.67%.

Altria Group 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.