Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Citigroup Analyst Says

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) had its price target raised by equities research analysts at Citigroup from $70.00 to $72.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. Citigroup‘s price objective would suggest a potential downside of 7.73% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the company. Freedom Broker upgraded Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 16th. UBS Group increased their price target on Altria Group from $76.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. BTIG Research initiated coverage on Altria Group in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on Altria Group from $64.00 to $58.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Altria Group from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Friday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $71.00.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO traded up $1.28 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $78.03. 20,516,040 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,095,007. Altria Group has a fifty-two week low of $54.70 and a fifty-two week high of $79.81. The business has a 50-day moving average of $70.23 and a 200-day moving average of $68.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $130.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.42.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.31 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 315.29% and a net margin of 33.99%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.45 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Altria Group will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Altria Group

In other news, Director Kathryn McQuade acquired 1,500 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 9th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $67.62 per share, for a total transaction of $101,430.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 114,929 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,771,498.98. This trade represents a 1.32% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altria Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Procyon Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 59.3% in the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 38,926 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,569,000 after purchasing an additional 14,490 shares during the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 266,504 shares of the company’s stock worth $17,696,000 after purchasing an additional 21,124 shares during the last quarter. Callan Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $2,911,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 26.9% during the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 1,164,691 shares of the company’s stock worth $83,800,000 after purchasing an additional 246,702 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 21.6% in the 1st quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 95,137 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,278,000 after buying an additional 16,877 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group News Summary

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

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.