Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC Buys 15,176 Shares of Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC increased its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 33.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,900 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 15,176 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Advisor Solutions LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,867,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Country Trust Bank lifted its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Anfield Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 334.7% in the second quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 539 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Altria Group Price Performance

Shares of MO stock opened at $68.89 on Wednesday. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $52.82 and a one year high of $70.51. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $62.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.57. The company has a market capitalization of $115.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.76, a PEG ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.45.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 287.61% and a net margin of 29.84%.The business’s quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.30 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 103.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Citigroup upped their price objective on Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, February 9th. UBS Group lifted their target price on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. Finally, Argus raised Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $64.33.

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.