Altria Shares End 7-Day Winning Streak with 0.01% Decline

Altria Group's shares ended in the red on Friday, snapping seven consecutive sessions of gains. The stock closed 0.01% lower at $67.67 after gaining over 3% in the preceding six sessions. Despite this, its shares have still risen on a year-to-date basis.

Altria Group's shares ended in the red on Friday, July 2, 2025, snapping a seven-session winning streak. The stock closed at $67.67, marking a 0.01% decline from its previous close. Despite this, Altria Group has shown resilience, with a year-to-date gain of over 3% following a strong six-session upward trend.

During the first quarter of 2025, several institutional investors and hedge funds increased their stakes in Altria Group. Berkshire Asset Management LLC PA grew its holdings by 28.4%, owning 33,181 shares valued at $2,004,000 after purchasing an additional 7,338 shares [1]. Paradigm Capital Management LLC NV also increased its stake by 4.2%, now owning 30,978 shares valued at $1,859,000 [1]. Financial Advisors Network Inc. saw a significant increase of 554.0%, holding 89,186 shares valued at $5,353,000 after buying an additional 75,550 shares [1].

Analysts remain divided on Altria Group, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $59.13 [1]. While some analysts have raised their target prices and ratings, others have maintained a cautious outlook. For instance, Barclays increased its target price to $57.00 but gave the company an "underweight" rating [1]. Jefferies Financial Group issued an "underperform" rating with a $50.00 price target [1]. UBS Group upgraded shares to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price objective to $59.00 [1].

Fundamentally, Altria Group reported earnings per share of $1.44 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.37. However, the company faced a significant decline in earnings per share of -41.76% year-over-year and weak cash flow growth [2]. Analysts are closely monitoring the company's earnings trends and leverage management.

Despite mixed fundamentals, Altria Group's shares have shown strong short-term fund flows, with a fund flow score of 7.86 out of 10, indicating positive buying activity from both institutional and retail investors [2]. The stock's recent price rise of 6.34% was driven by bullish technical indicators, but investors should exercise caution due to overbought signals and long-term competitive risks [2].

In conclusion, Altria Group's shares ended in the red on Friday, but the stock has shown resilience with a year-to-date gain. The company's shares are supported by strong short-term fund flows and mixed analyst ratings. However, investors should closely monitor the company's earnings trends and long-term competitive risks.

References:
[1] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-altria-group-inc-mo-shares-acquired-by-berkshire-asset-management-llc-pa-2025-08-19/
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/stock-analysis-altria-group-outlook-bullish-technicals-mixed-analysts-evolving-tobacco-trends-2508/