Analysts expect Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) to post earnings per share (EPS) of $ 1.17 for the current quarter, Zacks Investment Research reports. Four analysts have estimated the profits of Altria Group. The lowest EPS estimate is $ 1.14 and the highest is $ 1.22. Altria Group posted earnings per share of $ 1.09 in the same quarter of last year, indicating a positive growth rate of 7.3% year-over-year. The company is expected to release its next quarterly earnings report on Tuesday, July 27.

According to Zacks, analysts predict that Altria Group will report annual earnings of $ 4.59 per share for the current year, with EPS estimates ranging from $ 4.52 to $ 4.69. For the next fiscal year, analysts predict the company will report earnings of $ 4.84 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $ 4.74 to $ 4.96. Zacks earnings per share averages are an average based on a survey of research companies that track Altria Group.

Altria Group (NYSE: MO) last reported its results on Wednesday, April 28. The company reported earnings per share of $ 1.07 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $ 1.04 by $ 0.03. Altria Group generated a net margin of 16.80% and a return on equity of 215.81%. The company posted revenue of $ 4.13 billion for the quarter, compared to $ 4.98 billion according to analysts’ estimates. During the same period of the previous year, the company posted EPS of $ 1.09. Altria group sales fell 4.6% year-on-year.

Several brokerages recently commented on MO. Citigroup Inc. The Russell-based 3% minimum coupon capital protected reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a price target of $ 46.00 on shares of the Altria group in a report released on Monday March 22 . Argus reaffirmed a “conservation” note on the actions of the Altria group in a report published on Tuesday, May 11. UBS Group downgraded Altria Group shares from a “buy†rating to a “neutral†rating and set a target price of $ 46.00 for the share. in a report on Tuesday March 16. Morgan Stanley raised its price target for Altria Group shares from $ 49.00 to $ 52.00 and rated the stock “overweight” in a report released on Monday, May 10. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Altria Group shares from a “hold†rating to a “buy†rating and increased its target price for the stock from $ 40.00 to $ 58.00 in a research note. Friday March 26. Four analysts rated the stock with a conservation rating and eight gave the company’s stock a buy rating. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $ 51.10.

In addition, director Ellen R. Strahlman acquired 2,000 shares of the company in a transaction on Wednesday, May 26. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $ 49.59 per share, for a total value of $ 99,180.00. The purchase was disclosed in a file with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.07% of the company’s shares.

Large investors have recently changed their positions in the company. Intrust Bank NA increased its stake in Altria Group shares by 9.3% in the 1st quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 22,753 shares of the company valued at $ 1,164,000 after purchasing an additional 1,936 shares in the last quarter. Warren Averett Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group shares in the 1st quarter valued at $ 240,000. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group increased its stake in Altria Group shares by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 23,164 shares of the company valued at $ 1,185,000 after purchasing an additional 1,588 shares in the last quarter. Columbia Asset Management increased its stake in Altria Group shares by 5.1% in the first quarter. Columbia Asset Management now owns 15,955 shares of the company valued at $ 816,000 after purchasing 775 additional shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its stake in Altria Group shares by 10.7% in the first quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 21,915 shares of the company valued at $ 1,121,000 after purchasing an additional 2,112 shares in the last quarter. 60.65% of the shares are currently held by institutional investors.

MO shares opened at $ 49.78 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $ 49.76. The company has a leverage ratio of 9.41, a quick ratio of 0.61, and a current ratio of 0.80. Altria Group has a one-year minimum of $ 35.83 and a one-year maximum of $ 52.59. The company has a market cap of $ 92.12 billion, a price / earnings ratio of 21.36, a P / E / G ratio of 2.69, and a beta of 0.61.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 9. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 15 will receive a dividend of $ 0.86. This represents a dividend of $ 3.44 on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.91%. The ex-dividend date is Monday June 14. The Altria Group’s dividend payout rate is currently 78.90%.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc. operates as a holding company, which is engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes in the United States. It operates in the following segments: Smokable Products, Smokeless Products and Wine. The smoking products segment includes cigarettes manufactured and sold by PM USA and large machine-made cigars and pipe tobacco manufactured and sold by Middleton.

Further reading: Fundamental analysis and individual investors

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