Quantbot Technologies LP Takes Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 9,162 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $659,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fortress Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $202,000. Evolve Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,630,000. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $21,420,000. Emerald Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,509,000. Finally, Westpac Banking Corp acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $165,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MO has been the topic of several research reports. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $77.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Wall Street Zen lowered Altria Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, June 21st. Finally, BTIG Research initiated coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. They set a “neutral” rating on the stock. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $70.11.

Altria Group Trading Down 2.1%

MO stock opened at $67.66 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $112.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.46. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $54.70 and a 12 month high of $77.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $70.11 and a two-hundred day moving average of $68.95.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its 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 company had revenue of $5.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.44 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.610-5.720 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 9th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be paid a $1.11 dividend. This is a positive change from Altria Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.6%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 89.45%.

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.