Altria Group, Inc. $MO Stock Holdings Increased by AlphaQuest LLC

AlphaQuest LLC boosted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) by 224.6% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 50,493 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 34,939 shares during the quarter. AlphaQuest LLC’s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,336,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Country Trust Bank boosted its position 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 acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Anfield Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Winnow Wealth LLC bought a new position in Altria Group during the second quarter worth $35,000. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Altria Group in the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MO. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Altria Group from $63.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday. Argus raised shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $63.00.

Altria Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Altria Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised its 2026 profit outlook, saying price increases on cigarettes and oral products should lift full‑year profit above analysts’ estimates — a key offset to volume declines. Marlboro-maker Altria forecasts 2026 profit above estimates after price hikes
• Positive Sentiment: UBS lifted its price target and kept a Buy rating, signaling some analysts view Altria’s pricing power and dividend as supportive for valuation recovery. UBS lifts Altria (MO) price target, keeps buy rating
• Positive Sentiment: Management reiterated a “progressive” dividend growth posture and highlighted capital return (buybacks) capacity — supportive for income investors. Altria aims for ‘progressive’ dividend rate growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released its full Q4/2025 results, slide deck and guidance documents — useful for modeling but largely reiterative of management commentary. Altria Reports 2025 Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Results; Provides 2026 Earnings Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Full earnings call transcript is available for details on product volumes, on! pouch growth and FDA/strategic updates — useful for granular read‑throughs. Altria Group, Inc. (MO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: EPS of $1.30 missed consensus (~$1.32) and cigarette shipment volumes declined, which pressured smokeable revenue despite pricing — the central reason for the stock weakness. Altria Group Inc (MO) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong EPS Growth Amidst Volume Declines
• Negative Sentiment: Broad coverage (AP, WSJ, Barron’s, Zacks) highlighted the profit decline driven by cigarette volume drops and called the quarter a disappointment versus expectations. Altria earnings fall short amid lower cigarette sales and competition for nicotine products
• Negative Sentiment: Company filings highlighted leverage levels in its consolidated financial statements, a reminder of balance‑sheet risk amid ongoing M&A and buybacks. Altria Files 2025 Consolidated Financial Statements Highlighting Leverage

Altria Group Trading Down 5.3%

NYSE:MO opened at $59.78 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $59.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.72. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $50.08 and a 1-year high of $68.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.41, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.47.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.02 billion. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.89% and a negative return on equity of 319.43%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

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

Altria Group announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, October 30th that permits the company to repurchase $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 1.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s board of directors 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.