Kera Capital Partners Inc. Takes $1.44 Million Position in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Kera Capital Partners Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 21,746 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,437,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth $25,000. Carderock Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Country Trust Bank boosted its position in Altria Group by 400.0% during 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. Finally, Anfield Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 334.7% during the second quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 539 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Altria Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $61.00 to $63.00 in a report on Friday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $62.56.

Altria Group Stock Up 2.7%

Shares of Altria Group stock opened at $60.11 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $58.10 and its 200 day moving average is $61.51. Altria Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $50.08 and a twelve month high of $68.60. The stock has a market cap of $100.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.47, a P/E/G ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.47.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 26th were paid a $1.06 dividend. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.1%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 26th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.92%.

Altria Group announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase program 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

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.