Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Position Decreased by Forum Financial Management LP

Forum Financial Management LP trimmed its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 37.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,471 shares of the company’s stock after selling 8,158 shares during the quarter. Forum Financial Management LP’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $889,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Navalign LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. EMC Capital Management purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Miller Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total value of $145,120.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 25,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,821,401.12. This trade represents a 7.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total value of $418,327.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 73,809 shares in the company, valued at $5,332,700.25. The trade was a 7.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on MO shares. Bank of America increased their price objective on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 target price on Altria Group in a report on Friday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Altria Group from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, May 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $77.00 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on Altria Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, May 1st. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $70.44.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $74.10 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $65.95. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $54.70 and a 1-year high of $74.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $123.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.50, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.46.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.07. Altria Group had a net margin of 34.34% and a negative return on equity of 298.69%. The business had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.23 EPS. Altria Group’s quarterly revenue was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Altria Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.560-5.72 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is 88.70%.

About Altria Group

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.