Altria Group Stock (NYSE:MO), Trade Ideas

Altria Group

Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the us with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs. It operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category.

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Corporate profit growth rose in Q3 2023 and is expected to continue in Q1.

Can Magnificent 7 Help Script Market Turnaround? Earnings Pick Up Pace With Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet And Tesla Expected This Week

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Facing delays, the FDA&#39;s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes in the US encounters setbacks as White House officials miss yet another deadline. Industry giants like Altria and British American Tobacco face uncertainty as calls to enforce the ban intensify.

Biden Government Again Missed Menthol Cigarettes Ban Deadline, Lawsuit Challenges FDA&#39;s Delay

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Anheuser-Busch shares are trading lower by 4.6% during Thursday&#39;s session. Altria announced its intent to sell a portion of its investment in the company.

Why Anheuser-Busch (BUD) Stock Is Falling

Altria Group Inc

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As the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38342737/nasdaq-100-notches-worst-day-since-late-2023-worst-week-since-late-2022-as-ai-driven-chipmakers-tu">market runs into rough weather,</a> the importance of the upcoming week&#8217;s earnings cannot be emphasized enough. A lot is riding on the earnings reports of companies like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (GOOG).
The Season So Far: The percentage of S&amp;P 500 companies that have reported positive earning surprises and the magnitude of earnings surprises are at or above their 10-year averages, <a href="https://insight.factset.com/sp-500-earnings-season-update-april-19-2024?utm_source=Direct&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_campaign=FO-04-19-2024&amp;utm_content=httpsinsightfactsetcomsp500earningsseasonupdateapril192024">said</a> FactSet in its report released Friday. That said, substantial downward revisions to earnings per share (EPS) estimates of two healthcare companies have led to a decline in earnings growth over the past two weeks.
The combined earnings per share growth rate of S&amp;P 500 companies, considering both the already reported actual results and the estimates for those yet to report, is at 0.5%, according to FactSet. The metric, however, fell from the 0.9% estimated previous week and the 3.4% estimated at the end of the first quarter. Earnings growth for the quarter may extend the positive growth streak to three quarters.
So far, 14% of the S&amp;P 500 companies have reported March quarter results. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-tech-stocks">Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now</a>
Look Ahead: The upcoming week will likely feature earnings releases from 158 S&amp;P 500 companies, including 11 Dow 30 components. With the bank earnings tapering off, the spotlight shifts to tech companies, as they begin to roll out their quarterly scorecard this week.
Apart from some big techs, which are part of the group called the &#8220;Magnificent Seven,&#8221; homebuilders, defense contractors, airlines and transportation companies are also due to release their quarterly reports. 
All eyes are focused on Tesla as analysts expect a downbeat report from the company. Analysts see the scope of a further contraction in margin and potentially a double miss yet again in the first quarter.
AI stalwarts Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are widely expected to report strong results. Following the recent tech-led sell-off, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said, &#8220;We believe 1Q earnings will be a major positive catalyst for the tech sector and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38252477/why-microsoft-alphabet-amazon-palantir-and-meta-could-rise-15-in-2024-according-to-">expect tech stocks to be up another 15% for the year</a> adding to the strong start to 2024.&#8221;
The earnings schedule of key names are as follows:
Monday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMP#NYSE">AMP</a>), Nucor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>) Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLF#NYSE">CLF</a>), Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKG#NYSE">PKG</a>) and SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>)</li>
</ul>
Tuesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>), General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), General Motors Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>), Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), PepsiCo. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NYSE">PEP</a>), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>), United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) and Xerox Holdings Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRX#NYSE">XRX</a>), Halliburton Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Visa, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Texas Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>), Tesla, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>), Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>), Chubb Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>), Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNI#NYSE">CNI</a>) and Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>)</li>
</ul>
Wednesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>), Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>), Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>), Hasbro, Inc. (NASDA: HAS), General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>), Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) and AT&amp;T Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>), Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>), ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>), QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QS#NYSE">QS</a>), O&#8217;Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORLY#NASDAQ">ORLY</a>), Meta Platforms, Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTH#NYSE">MTH</a>), Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNX#NYSE">KNX</a>), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>)</li>
</ul>
Thursday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>), American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), AstraZeneca Plc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>), CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMS#NYSE">CMS</a>), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), Dow Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOW#NYSE">DOW</a>), Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOG#NYSE">HOG</a>), Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTZ#NASDAQ">HTZ</a>), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NASDAQ">MBLY</a>), Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>), Newmont Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), Sanofi (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) and STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STM#NYSE">STM</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Alphabet, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYD#NYSE">BYD</a>), Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>), Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>), KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Microsoft, Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDOC#NYSE">TDOC</a>), T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) and Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>)</li>
</ul>
Friday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Aon plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AON#NYSE">AON</a>), Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALV#NYSE">ALV</a>), AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>), Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>), Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHTR#NASDAQ">CHTR</a>), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWL#NASDAQ">NWL</a>)</li>
</ul>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of the broader S&amp;P 500 Index, ended Friday&#8217;s session down 0.87% at $495.16, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data. </a>The ETF has pulled back from its all-time high (intraday) of $524.61 hit on March 28. The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), an ETF levered more to high-profile, non-financial tech companies, has lost 7.72% from its all-time intraday high of $449.34 (March 21).
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38342737/nasdaq-100-notches-worst-day-since-late-2023-worst-week-since-late-2022-as-ai-driven-chipmakers-tu">Nvidia In Correction Territory — Did AI-Led Tech Stock Bubble Just Burst? This Data Point Offers A Clue.</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Altria Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) short percent of float has risen 329.27% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 60.34 million shares sold short, which is 3.52% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.27 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Altria Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1713551427_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Altria Group has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Altria Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Altria Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 9.49%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Looking Into Altria Group's Recent Short Interest

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MO, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 10 uncommon options trades for Altria Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 70% bullish and 30%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $395,876, and 2 are calls, for a total amount of $117,900.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $22.5 to $60.0 for Altria Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Altria Group stands at 1922.44, with a total volume reaching 1,022.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Altria Group, situated within the strike price corridor from $22.5 to $60.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712858507_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$7.3</td>
<td>$7.15</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$88.5K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$20.25</td>
<td>$18.2</td>
<td>$19.2</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$86.4K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$19.75</td>
<td>$17.65</td>
<td>$18.85</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$75.4K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$1.1</td>
<td>$1.07</td>
<td>$1.1</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$50.4K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">464</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$46.1K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">87</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the us with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs. It operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category.
In light of the recent options history for Altria Group, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Altria Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,502,386, with MO's price down by -0.36%, positioned at $41.53.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 14 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Altria Group</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $43.25.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Sell rating on Altria Group with a target price of $36. </li>
<li>An analyst from Stifel downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $50. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Altria Group with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Markets

This Is What Whales Are Betting On Altria Group

UBS analyst Faham Baig maintains Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) with a Sell and raises the price target from $36.1 to $36.5.

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

UBS Maintains Sell on Altria Group, Raises Price Target to $36.5

Benzinga's options scanner has just identified more than 9 option transactions on Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>), with a cumulative value of $518,462. Concurrently, our algorithms picked up 6 puts, worth a total of 380,242.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $35.0 to $47.5 for Altria Group over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Altria Group's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Altria Group's whale activity within a strike price range from $35.0 to $47.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Altria Group Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712170003_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$1.17</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$1.13</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$113.0K</td>
<td>491</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$4.0</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$102.9K</td>
<td>861</td>
<td>265</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$87.4K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$4.05</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$64.7K</td>
<td>861</td>
<td>444</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$4.05</td>
<td>$3.9</td>
<td>$3.95</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$58.4K</td>
<td>861</td>
<td>592</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, US Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the US with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs. It operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category.
In light of the recent options history for Altria Group, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Altria Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 7,617,467, the price of MO is up 0.14% at $42.99. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 22 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $50.0.
<ul>
<li>Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Stifel lowers its rating to Buy with a new price target of $50.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Altria Group, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Altria Group Unusual Options Activity For April 03

The FDA&#8217;s proposal to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes in the United States is facing another setback as White House officials have missed yet another deadline for the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cigarettes" rel="noreferrer noopener">final ruling on the ban</a>.&nbsp;
Menthol cigarettes, which make up a third of the industry&#8217;s market share in the United States, have long been criticized for their appeal to young smokers and significant health impacts, particularly within Black communities, where they are heavily marketed.&nbsp;
Civil rights groups have argued that menthol cigarettes pose a disproportionately higher risk in Black communities, with about 81% of Black adults who smoke cigarettes using menthol varieties compared to 34% of white adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
After the FDA proposed banning menthol cigarettes in 2022, several health and anti-smoking groups urged the Biden administration to enforce it.&nbsp;
However, the Administration has delayed issuing a final rule, missing the latest deadline set for March 2024.&nbsp;
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the NAACP, both supporting the ban, expressed disappointment over the delay, emphasizing the potential benefits of eliminating menthol cigarettes, including reducing the number of young smokers and saving lives.
Altria Group Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) and&nbsp;British American Tobacco Industries&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTI#NYSE">BTI</a>) are among the companies with significant exposure to menthol sales, with over 20% of their revenue coming from menthol products, Reuters noted citing a&nbsp;Morningstar&nbsp;analyst.
The uncertainty around the menthol ban has prompted British American Tobacco to write down the value of some of its U.S. cigarette brands. Meanwhile, over 100 organizations, including prominent medical and civil rights groups, have called on Biden not to delay the ban further.
Public health groups have filed a lawsuit against U.S. regulators for failing to implement the menthol ban, claiming that the delays are unreasonable and unlawful. Menthol cigarettes have been linked to millions of premature deaths in the U.S., especially among Black smokers, whom aggressive marketing tactics have targeted.&nbsp;
According to critics, the FDA&#8217;s inaction on menthol fits a sluggish response to public health risks, the Bloomberg&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-02/public-health-groups-sue-fda-again-over-long-delayed-menthol-ban?srnd=industries-v2&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>&nbsp;highlighted.
Price Action:&nbsp;MO shares are down 0.50% at $43.01, and BTI shares are down 0.12% at $30.32 on the last check Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image by svklimkin from Pixabay

Biden Government Again Missed Menthol Cigarettes Ban Deadline, Lawsuit Challenges FDA's Delay

Altria Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) short percent of float has fallen 10.75% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 14.61 million shares sold short, which is 0.83% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.45 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Altria Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1711643410_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Altria Group has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Altria Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Altria Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.02%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

(MO) - Analyzing Altria Group's Short Interest

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether this is an institution or just a wealthy individual, we don't know. But when something this big happens with MO, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 8 options trades for Altria Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 75% bullish and 25%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, 7 are puts, for a total amount of $482,691, and there was 1 call, for a total amount of $32,000.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $32.5 to $45.0 for Altria Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Altria Group's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Altria Group's whale activity within a strike price range from $32.5 to $45.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Altria Group Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1711567837_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/19/24</td>
<td>$44.50</td>
<td>$108.0K</td>
<td>509</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$83.1K</td>
<td>400</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$81.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>234</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$78.4K</td>
<td>982</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$52.1K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>374</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs. It operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category.
<h3>Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,331,150, the MO's price is up by 1.03%, now at $43.56. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 29 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $50.0.
<ul>
<li>In a cautious move, an analyst from Stifel downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $50. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Altria Group options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Spotlight on Altria Group: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity

Stifel analyst Matthew Smith reiterates Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) with a Buy and maintains $50 price target.

Reiteration

Stifel Reiterates Buy on Altria Group, Maintains $50 Price Target

Altria Enters $2.4B Accelerated Share Repurchase Transactions In Connection With Closing Of Offering Of Anheuser-Busch InBev Stock

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Altria Group.
Looking at options history for Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) we detected 14 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 57% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 42% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $410,143 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $304,794.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $37.5 and $47.5 for Altria Group, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Altria Group stands at 1458.62, with a total volume reaching 3,685.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Altria Group, situated within the strike price corridor from $37.5 to $47.5, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1710876672_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$37.50</td>
<td>$96.5K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">267</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$78.0K</td>
<td>55</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">697</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">481</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$62.0K</td>
<td>120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">69</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, has acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Altria Group, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Altria Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 6,785,957, the price of MO is up by 0.11%, reaching $44.56.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 37 days from now.</li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Altria Group options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Altria Group

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Altria Group. Our analysis of options history for Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) revealed 10 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 50% of traders were bullish, while 50% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $354,591, and 5 were calls, valued at $240,155.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $40.0 to $45.0 for Altria Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Altria Group's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Altria Group's whale activity within a strike price range from $40.0 to $45.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Altria Group Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1710515782_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$139.3K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">470</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$117.4K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">214</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$84.4K</td>
<td>12.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/28/24</td>
<td>$41.00</td>
<td>$66.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">301</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>133</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">547</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations and Helix Innovations. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 42% annual share in 2022. Altria holds a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, has acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and recently exited its strategic investment in Juul Labs.
In light of the recent options history for Altria Group, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 5,579,654, the MO's price is down by -0.86%, now at $43.9. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Altria Group with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In Altria Group Options

Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) shares are trading lower by 5.45% to $61.03 during Thursday&#8217;s session after Altria Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) announced its intent to sell a portion of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/03/b37676114/altria-announces-intent-to-sell-a-portion-of-its-investment-in-anheuser-busch-inbev">investment in the company</a>.
Altria announced its intention to sell a portion of its investment in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NA (ABI) through a global secondary offering. This offering includes public offerings of ABI shares in the United States and other countries, as well as a private placement in Europe and the UK. Additionally, ABI will repurchase $200 million of shares directly from Altria. 
Altria currently holds approximately 10% ownership in ABI and is offering 35 million of its ordinary shares. The underwriters may have an option to purchase additional shares, and Altria has agreed to a 180-day lockup with the lead underwriter for its remaining ABI shares. The proceeds from the offering will be used for additional share repurchases of Altria&#8217;s common stock. 
Altria&#8217;s CEO, Billy Gifford, expressed confidence in the transaction, stating it is an opportunity to unlock value from their ABI investment while maintaining confidence in ABI&#8217;s long-term strategies and brands. The offering and partial sale have been approved by Altria&#8217;s Board of Directors.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37638491/a-few-lucky-people-can-get-reddit-ipo-shares-heres-how">A Few Lucky People Can Get Reddit IPO Shares: Here&#8217;s How</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Is BUD A Good Stock To Buy?</h2>
When deciding whether to buy a stock, there are some key fundamentals investors may want to consider. One of these factors is revenue growth. Buying a stock is essentially a bet that the business will continue to grow and generate profits in the future.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) has reported average annual revenue growth of 3.34% over the past 5 years. .
It's also important to pay attention to valuation when deciding whether to buy a stock. Anheuser-Busch InBev has a forward P/E ratio of 18.94. This means investors are paying $18.94 for each dollar of expected earnings in the future. The average forward P/E ratio of Anheuser-Busch InBev's peers is 17.81.
Other important metrics to look at include a company's profitability, balance sheet, performance relative to a benchmark index and valuation compared to peers. For in-depth analysis tools and important financial data, check out <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga PRO</a>.
BUD has a 52-week high of $67.09 and a 52-week low of $51.66.

Altria Group Shares Resume Trade

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) today announced that it has agreed to sell 35 million shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (ABI) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) (Euronext: ABI) (MEXBOL: ANB) (JSE: ANH) through a global secondary offering (offering) comprised of a public offering of ABI ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares (ADS) in the United States, a public offering of ABI ordinary shares in the United States, a concurrent private placement of ABI ordinary shares in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom and an offering of ABI ordinary shares, including ABI ordinary shares represented by ADSs, in other countries outside the United States, at a price of $61.50 per ADS, corresponding to €56.17 per ABI ordinary share. In addition, ABI will repurchase $200 million of ordinary shares directly from Altria, concurrently with, and conditional on, completion of the offering. The aggregate amount of the offering and repurchase by ABI is approximately $2.4 billion. Altria has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 5.25 million additional ABI shares owned by Altria at the price per ADS paid by the underwriters in the offering, exercisable within the next 30 days.
In connection with the pricing of the offering, we announce a $2.4 billion increase to our existing $1 billion share repurchase program. Our Board of Directors (Board) has authorized the expanded program, which we expect to complete by December 31, 2024. Share repurchases depend on marketplace conditions and other factors, and the program remains subject to the discretion of our Board. As part of the expanded share repurchase program, we expect to enter into an estimated $2.4 billion accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program. We expect cash savings from the elimination of future dividend payments on the repurchased shares.
"These opportunistic capital allocation decisions reflect our ongoing confidence in Altria's future and the significant value offered in our shares today," said Billy Gifford, Altria's Chief Executive Officer. "We have a longstanding history of returning cash to our shareholders, and today's announcement reflects our continued desire to create long-term shareholder value."
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Partial Sale of Our Investment in ABI
<ul>
<li>Our remaining ownership of ABI after the offering and the share repurchase by ABI will be approximately 8.1% (or approximately 7.8% assuming full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares). We estimate that we will own approximately 159 million shares of ABI (or approximately 154 million shares of ABI assuming full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares) following the offering and the share repurchase by ABI.</li>
<li>In conjunction with the offering, we have agreed to a 180-day lockup with the lead underwriter for our remaining ABI shares.</li>
<li>We expect to maintain two seats on ABI's board of directors through ABI's 2025 annual general meeting. Following such meeting, we expect to have one seat on ABI's board of directors, in accordance with our rights as a holder of restricted shares.</li>
<li>Following the offering, we expect to continue to use the equity method of accounting for our investment in ABI.</li>
</ul>
Financial Flexibility and Cash Returns to Shareholders
<ul>
<li>We expect cash savings from the elimination of future dividend payments on the repurchased shares of our common stock. These cash savings may be used for general corporate purposes including investments in our Vision, debt repayment or further cash returns to shareholders.</li>
<li>We remain committed to our progressive dividend goal that targets mid-single digits dividend per share growth annually through 2028. Future dividend payments remain subject to the discretion of our Board.</li>
</ul>
2024 Full-Year Guidance
We expect the combined transactions will be accretive to our 2024 full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS). Therefore, we raise our guidance for 2024 full-year adjusted diluted EPS to be in a range of $5.05 to $5.17, representing a growth rate of 2% to 4.5% from a base of $4.95 in 2023, to reflect our estimate for lower 2024 weighted-average shares outstanding, partially offset by lower equity earnings related to the reduced ownership of our investment in ABI. We expect 2024 adjusted diluted EPS growth to be weighted to the second half of the year. Our guidance includes the impact of two additional shipping days in 2024 and assumes limited impact from enforcement efforts in the illicit e-vapor market on combustible and e-vapor volumes.
While the 2024 full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance accounts for a range of scenarios, the external environment remains dynamic. We will continue to monitor conditions related to (i) the economy, including the cumulative impact of inflation, (ii) adult tobacco consumer dynamics, including purchasing patterns and adoption of smoke-free products, (iii) illicit e-vapor enforcement and (iv) regulatory, litigation and legislative developments.
Our 2024 full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance range includes planned investments in support of our Vision, such as (i) marketplace activities in support of our smoke-free products and (ii) continued smoke-free product research, development and regulatory preparation expenses.
The 2024 full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance range excludes estimated net income of approximately $0.2 billion (or $0.12 per share) that we expect to record in the first quarter of 2024 for the partial sale of our investment in ABI. This estimated net income is subject to certain adjustments, including any exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares, adjustments related to the conversion from international financial reporting standards to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and adjustments required under the equity method of accounting. Additionally, the guidance excludes an estimated per share gain of $1.17 related to the sale of the IQOS Tobacco Heating System commercialization rights that we expect to record in the second quarter of 2024.
Our full-year adjusted diluted EPS guidance range excludes the impact of certain income and expense items that our management believes are not part of underlying operations. These items may include, for example, loss on early extinguishment of debt, restructuring charges, asset impairment charges, acquisition, disposition and integration-related items, equity investment-related special items, certain income tax items, charges associated with tobacco and health and certain other litigation items, and resolutions of certain non-participating manufacturer (NPM) adjustment disputes under the MSA (NPM Adjustment Items).
Our management cannot estimate on a forward-looking basis the impact of certain income and expense items, including those items noted in the preceding paragraph, on our reported diluted EPS because these items, which could be significant, may be unusual or infrequent, are difficult to predict and may be highly variable. As a result, we do not provide a corresponding GAAP measure for, or reconciliation to, our adjusted diluted EPS guidance.

Guidance

Buybacks

Altria Announces A $2.4B Increase To Our Existing $1B Share Repurchase Program In Connection With Pricing Of Offering Of Anheuser-Busch InBev Stock; Raises FY24 EPS Guidance To $5.05-$5.17 Vs $5.05 Est.

Altria Group Shares Halted, News Pending

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) today announced its intent to sell a portion of its investment in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NA (ABI) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BUD#NYSE">BUD</a>) (Euronext: ABI) (MEXBOL: ANB) (JSE: ANH) through a global secondary offering (offering) comprised of a public offering of ABI ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares (ADS) in the United States, a public offering of ABI ordinary shares in the United States, a concurrent private placement of ABI ordinary shares in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom and an offering of ABI ordinary shares, including ABI ordinary shares represented by ADSs, in other countries outside the United States. In addition, ABI has agreed to repurchase $200 million of ordinary shares directly from Altria, concurrently with, and conditional on, completion of the offering.
Altria currently holds approximately 197 million shares of ABI, representing approximately 10% ownership. Altria, as the selling shareholder, is offering 35 million of ABI's ordinary shares. In connection with the offering, Altria expects to grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to 5.25 million additional ABI shares owned by Altria, exercisable within 30 days following the pricing of the offering. In addition, we have agreed to a 180-day lockup with the lead underwriter for our remaining ABI shares.
We expect to use the proceeds for additional share repurchases of our common stock. Future share repurchases remain subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors (Board).
"As good stewards of shareholder capital, we consistently review options to unlock the value of our ABI investment, and we believe this is an opportunistic transaction that realizes a portion of the substantial return on our long-term investment," said Billy Gifford, Altria's Chief Executive Officer. "Over the decades of our ownership, the beer investment has provided significant income and cash returns and supported our strong balance sheet. Our continued investment reflects ongoing confidence in ABI's long-term strategies, premium global brands and experienced management team."
The offering and the partial sale of our investment in ABI have been approved by our Board.

Offerings

Altria Announces Intent To Sell A Portion Of Its Investment In Anheuser-Busch InBev Through A Global Secondary Offering Comprised Of A Public Offering Of ABI Ordinary Shares; In Addition, ABI Has Agreed To Repurchase $200M Of Ordinary Shares Directly From Altria, Concurrently With, And Conditional On, Completion Of The Offering