Yousif Capital Management LLC Sells 9,621 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Yousif Capital Management LLC reduced its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 134,657 shares of the company’s stock after selling 9,621 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $8,895,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MO. Mattson Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Carderock Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth $27,000. Finally, Country Trust Bank increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 400.0% in the second quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $58.72 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $98.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.33 and a beta of 0.48. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $50.08 and a twelve month high of $68.60. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $61.71.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The company had revenue of $5.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.31 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.38 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. Altria Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.370-5.45 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group declared that its board has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, October 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 1.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 26th will be given a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 80.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MO has been the subject of a number of research reports. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $61.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $62.33.

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.