Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Has $4.22 Million Holdings in Altria Group, Inc. $MO

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lessened its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 23.3% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 73,162 shares of the company’s stock after selling 22,179 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,219,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Navalign LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 62.9% in the 4th quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 510 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 197 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Miller Capital Partners Inc. bought a new stake in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MO opened at $69.18 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $69.72 and a 200 day moving average price of $65.31. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $54.70 and a 52 week high of $74.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $115.53 billion, a PE ratio of 14.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.46.

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

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.1%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 88.70%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on MO shares. Bank of America upped their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a report on Friday, May 1st. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Altria Group from $68.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Five research 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’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $70.44.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Ennis Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.25, for a total transaction of $418,327.50. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 73,809 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,332,700.25. The trade was a 7.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.56, for a total transaction of $145,120.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 25,102 shares in the company, valued at $1,821,401.12. This trade represents a 7.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Altria Group 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.