MO hit a new 52-week high on Tuesday, touching $76.17 before settling around $76.48 — well above its previous close of $72.89. The stock is up 30.45% year-to-date and has returned 32.55% over the past year.
The move comes after a strong earnings beat last quarter. Altria posted EPS of $1.32 against a consensus estimate of $1.25. Revenue came in at $4.76 billion, up 5.3% year over year, and beat analyst expectations of $4.58 billion.
For full-year 2026, the company guided for EPS of $5.56 to $5.72. Analysts are currently projecting $5.70 for the year.
Altria paid a $1.06 quarterly dividend on July 10, representing an annualized payout of $4.24 and a yield of around 5.5%. The company has now maintained its dividend for 56 consecutive years.
The payout ratio sits at 88.7%, which is high, but the income profile continues to attract yield-focused investors.
Two directors did sell stock in May. Debra J. Kelly sold 5,790 shares at $72.25, reducing her position by 7.27%. Ellen R. Strahlman sold 2,000 shares at $72.56, a 7.38% reduction. Both transactions were disclosed with the SEC.
Institutional investors hold 57.41% of the stock. Several funds added to positions in recent quarters, including Bernardo Wealth Planning, which increased its stake by 4.6% in Q2.
The consensus rating on MO is “Hold,” with an average price target of $70.78 — below where the stock is currently trading.
UBS has a Buy rating with a $79 price target. Bank of America adjusted its estimates after favorable regulatory changes in the tobacco sector in Q2. BTIG initiated coverage in July with a Neutral rating.
Citigroup raised its target from $65 to $70 with a Neutral rating. Morgan Stanley holds a $71 target. Jefferies has an Underperform rating with a $60 target. Among the 12 analysts covering the stock, five rate it a Buy, five Hold, and two Sell.
The FDA recently proposed a rule requiring foreign tobacco manufacturers to register their facilities. That proposal was seen as a positive for domestic producers like Altria.
Oral tobacco sales showed growth through late May, while cigarette and vapor sales declined, according to Bank of America data.
MO has a market cap of $127.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.01, and a beta of 0.45. Its 50-day moving average is $71.90 and the 200-day is $67.95.
The post Altria (MO) Stock Breaks 52-Week High — What’s Driving the Move? appeared first on CoinCentral.
