Ultime notizie per Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Azioni

Altria Group

Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its investment in Juul Labs.

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Scopri le tre migliori azioni ad alto rendimento consigliate dagli esperti di Wall Street per investimenti sicuri e redditizi.

3 azioni ad alto rendimento da prendere in considerazione

Altria Group Inc

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VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF

VANECK MORNINGSTAR US SUST WI MO ETF

Mobilicom Limited - American Depositary Shares

Mobilicom Ltd

MobileCoin - United States Dollar

AMND FUTUR MOB ETF

Mobius

MOBI724 GLOB SOLUTNS INC by MOBI724 GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC

Mobi724 Global Solutions Inc

M O B A NETWORK AB by M.O.B.A. Network AB

MOBA Network AB

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Mobiquity Technologies Inc

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MOBIV ACQUISITION CORP CL A

MOBIV ACQUISITION CORP UNIT 1 CL A & 1 RED WT EXP

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Mobiv Acquisition Corp

Mobix Labs Inc

Moss Coin

MODERN CINEMA GROUP INC by Modern Cinema Group, Inc.

Modern Cinema Group Inc

Modine Manufacturing Company Common Stock

Modine Manufacturing Co

Modefi

MODERN TECH CORP by Modern Technology Corp.

Modern Technology Corp

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Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp

R8 CAPITAL INVESTMNTS PLC by R8 Capital Investments PLC

R8 Capital Investments PLC

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MODEL N INC COM

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ModivCare Inc

MELCOR DEV LTD by Melcor Development Ltd.

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Molecular Future

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Moog Inc

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MOGOTES METALS INC by MOGOTES METALS INC

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MOGU Inc. American Depositary Shares (each representing 25 Class A Ordinary Shares)

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Molina Healthcare Inc

MOTOR OIL HELLAS CORINTH by Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A.

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ECMOHO Ltd

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MOON EQUITY HLDGS CORP by MOON EQUITY HLDGS CORP.

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Bettermoo(d) Food Corp

Moose Pond Acquisition Corp, NCV I

Moove Lubricants Holdings

Dotmoovs

MONADELPHOUS GRP UNSP/ADR by Monadelphous Group Ltd

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MOP ENVIRONMENTAL SLTNS by MOP Environmental Solutions, Inc.

MOP Environmental Solutions Inc

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The latest trading session saw Altria (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>) ending at $51.19, denoting a +0.33% adjustment from its last day&#39;s close. The stock&#39;s performance was ahead of the S&amp;P 500&#39;s daily gain of 0.25%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.2%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.56%.
The owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation&#39;s largest cigarette maker&#39;s shares have seen a decrease of 3.21% over the last month, not keeping up with the Consumer Staples sector&#39;s gain of 1.17% and the S&amp;P 500&#39;s gain of 1.65%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Altria in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on October 31, 2024. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.36, up 6.25% from the prior-year quarter. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $5.35 billion, indicating a 1.4% upward movement from the same quarter last year.
In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $5.11 per share and a revenue of $20.38 billion, indicating changes of +3.23% and -0.59%, respectively, from the former year.
It&#39;s also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Altria. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts&#39; positivity towards the company&#39;s business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.1% higher. Currently, Altria is carrying a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
From a valuation perspective, Altria is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.99. This valuation marks no noticeable deviation compared to its industry&#39;s average Forward P/E of 9.99.
We can also see that MO currently has a PEG ratio of 2.95. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company&#39;s projected earnings growth. The Tobacco industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.18 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Tobacco industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 17, putting it in the top 7% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340856/altria-mo-laps-the-stock-market-here-s-why?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_6v1-2340856">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Large Cap

Altria Laps the Stock Market: Here's Why

Altria Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) short percent of float has risen 3.27% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 26.89 million shares sold short, which is 1.58% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.35 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/2024/1727370018_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 2.03%, 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

How Is The Market Feeling About Altria Group?

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer staples sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 11.09%</li>
<li>UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $17 to $12 on July 3. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix maintained a Sector Perform rating and decreased the price target from $22 to $13 on July 2. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Friday, Walgreens Boots Alliance agreed to pay $106.8 million to settle allegations that it submitted false claims to government healthcare programs, violating the False Claims Act and state regulations.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to l<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">atest WBA new</a>s.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">B&amp;G Foods, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BGS#NYSE">BGS</a>)</h3>
Dividend Yield: 8.41%
<ul>
<li>Barclays analyst Brandt Montour maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $10 to $8 on July 19. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $9 to $8 on July 11. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Sept. 9, B&amp;G Foods issued notice of full redemption of remaining 5.25% senior notes due 2025.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">trend in BGS stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Altria Group, Inc. &nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.89%</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain maintained an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $43 to $45 on Sept. 9. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li>Stifel analyst Matthew Smith maintained a Buy rating and raised the price target from $50 to $54 on Aug. 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Aug. 22, Altria increased its quarterly dividend by 4.1% to $1.02 per share.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">breakout in MO shares</a>.</li>
</ul>

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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</div>
</figure>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/09/40877520/if-you-want-steel-you-do-nucor-says-cramer-when-asked-about-gerdau">&#8216;If You Want Steel, You Do Nucor,&#8217; Says Cramer When Asked About Gerdau</a></li>
</ul>

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In On 3 Defensive Stocks With Over 7% Dividend Yields

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish 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 positions 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.
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 37% bullish and 50%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $63,720, and 7, calls, for a total amount of $856,527.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $40.0 to $54.0 for Altria Group over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Altria Group stands at 1980.25, with a total volume reaching 2,437.00. 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 $40.0 to $54.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726495246_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>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$12.65</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$572.0K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.4</td>
<td>$12.5</td>
<td>$12.69</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$111.3K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>283</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$2.23</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$2.16</td>
<td>$54.00</td>
<td>$63.7K</td>
<td>833</td>
<td>295</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$12.95</td>
<td>$10.75</td>
<td>$12.58</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$61.8K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>105</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$12.9</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$12.59</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$30.2K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>171</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its investment in Juul Labs.
<h3>Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,077,221, with MO's price down by 0.0%, positioned at $51.94.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 38 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Altria Group</h3>
Over the past month, 3 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $47.666666666666664.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Barclays keeps a Underweight rating on Altria Group with a target price of $45. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Neutral rating on Altria Group, maintaining a target price of $57. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Sell rating on Altria Group with a target price of $41. </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.

Options

Altria Group Unusual Options Activity

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 positions 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.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 10 options trades for Altria Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 40% bullish and 30%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $33,875, and 9, calls, for a total amount of $1,338,447.
<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 $35.0 to $52.5 for Altria Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. 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 trades within a strike price range from $35.0 to $52.5 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Altria Group Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726255462_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</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>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$310.5K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">136</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$10.3</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$300.1K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">407</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.4</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$270.0K</td>
<td>8.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">696</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$4.5</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$4.35</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$216.6K</td>
<td>4.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">541</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$10.4</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$10.35</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$87.9K</td>
<td>6.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">117</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its 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 volume of 4,372,060, the price of MO is up 0.22% at $52.76. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 41 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group</h3>
A total of 3 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $47.666666666666664.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Sell rating on Altria Group with a target price of $41. </li>
<li>An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Altria Group, which currently sits at a price target of $45. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Neutral rating on Altria Group, maintaining a target price of $57. </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.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in 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 $39 to $41.

UBS Maintains Sell on Altria Group, Raises Price Target to $41

Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain maintains Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $43 to $45.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Altria Group, Raises Price Target to $45

As of Sept. 4, 2024, two stocks in the consumer staples sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Altria Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Aug. 22, Altria increased its quarterly dividend by 4.1% to $1.02 per share. The company's stock gained around 10% over the past month and has a &lt;a href=&#8221;https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MO&#8221;&gt;&lt;em&gt;52-week high of $54.48 &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 79.57&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>MO Price Action: Shares of Altria closed at $54.07 on Tuesday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kellanova (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/K#NYSE">K</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Aug. 14, Mars, Inc. agreed to acquire Kellanova for $83.50 per share, valuing it at $35.9 billion, including assumed net leverage. Steve Cahillane, Chairman, President and CEO of Kellanova,added, "This is a truly historic combination with a compelling cultural and strategic fit. Kellanova has been on a transformation journey to become the world's best snacking company, and this opportunity to join Mars enables us to accelerate the realization of our full potential and our vision." The company's stock gained around 10% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/K">has a 52-week high</a> of $80.97.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 81.98</li>
<li>K Price Action: Shares of Kellanova closed at $80.16 on Tuesday.</li>
</ul>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/09/40700380/dollar-tree-dicks-sporting-goods-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-wednesday">Dollar Tree, Dick&#8217;s Sporting Goods And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Wednesday</a></li>
</ul>

Top 2 Risk Off Stocks That May Crash In September

B of A Securities analyst Lisa Lewandowski maintains Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $52 to $57.

B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on Altria Group, Raises Price Target to $57

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 positions 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.
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, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $85,840, and 7, calls, for a total amount of $1,036,992.
<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 $40.0 to $57.5 for Altria Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Altria Group options trades today is 3401.25 with a total volume of 3,158.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Altria Group's big money trades within a strike price range of $40.0 to $57.5 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724942803_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>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$13.25</td>
<td>$13.35</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$385.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$339.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">301</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$164.9K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">726</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$5.8</td>
<td>$57.50</td>
<td>$85.8K</td>
<td>372</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$13.2</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$59.8K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">601</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, US Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its investment in Juul Labs.
<h3>Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 883,490, the MO's price is up by 0.24%, now at $53.35. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 56 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Altria Group</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $48.5.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Stifel keeps a Buy rating on Altria Group with a target price of $54. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Barclays continues to hold a Underweight rating for Altria Group, targeting a price of $43. </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.

FDA Issues Final Rule Increasing Minimum Age For Tobacco Sales Restrictions; From Sept. 30, Retailers Must Verify Age With Photo ID For Anyone Under 30 And Vending Machine Sales Will Be Limited To 21+ Facilities

Altria and NJOY respectfully disagree with the ALJ's initial determination, and NJOY looks forward to presenting its position to the full ITC, which is expected to issue a final decision by December 23, 2024.
In August 2023, NJOY filed a similar, independent patent infringement complaint against JUUL with the ITC seeking a ban on the importation and sale of JUUL products in the United States. A hearing before the ALJ was held in June 2024, and an initial determination is expected in late September. A positive outcome in this case would not preclude an exclusion order against ACE from taking effect.
We continue to work to bring this issue to resolution. The parties have engaged with a mediator to attempt to negotiate a resolution of these disputes. In addition, NJOY recently filed Substantial Equivalence (SE) Exemption requests with the FDA to allow NJOY to market an already-developed ACE product with minor modifications that we believe avoid three of the four JUUL patent claims at issue in the case.
ACE is the first pod-based e-vapor product and the only pod-based menthol e-vapor product authorized by the FDA as appropriate for the protection of public health. An exclusion order banning the importation of ACE would severely limit FDA-authorized choices for adults and undermine public health.

Altria And NJOY Disagree With ITC Judge's Initial Ruling Favoring JUUL In Patent Dispute, Plan To Appeal Before Full ITC; NJOY Pursues Alternative Resolution And FDA Exemptions To Continue Marketing ACE Product

Altria Group Increases Quarterly Dividend By 4.1% From $0.98 To $1.02 Per Share, Payable On October 10, 2024, To Shareholders Of Record As Of September 16, 2024

XXII

FDA Proposes Rule Requiring Submission Of Tracking Numbers For Imports Of E-Cigarette Products

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 positions 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.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 23 options trades for Altria Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 78% bullish and 8%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $25,016, and 22, calls, for a total amount of $834,461.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $42.5 and $50.0 for Altria Group, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Altria Group's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Altria Group's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $42.5 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1723663838_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>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>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$9.2</td>
<td>$8.9</td>
<td>$9.25</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$138.6K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>150</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.55</td>
<td>$4.6</td>
<td>$47.50</td>
<td>$45.9K</td>
<td>8.9K</td>
<td>103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$39.6K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.65</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$38.5K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>303</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$6.55</td>
<td>$6.6</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$38.2K</td>
<td>12.7K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its 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 volume of 3,414,356, the price of MO is up 0.28% at $51.26. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 71 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Altria Group</h3>
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $48.5.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Barclays has decided to maintain their Underweight rating on Altria Group, which currently sits at a price target of $43. </li>
<li>An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on Altria Group, maintaining a target price of $54. </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

Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain maintains Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $37 to $43.

Barclays Maintains Underweight on Altria Group, Raises Price Target to $43

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments">high dividend payout.</a>
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer staples sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 7.84%</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Lisa Lewandowski maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $47 to $48 on July 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 61%.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Pamela Kaufman reiterated an Equal-Weight rating with a price target of $45 on July 18, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On July 31, Altria Group reported worse-than-expected second-quarter financial results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> latest MO news</a>.</li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="891" height="833" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074449/image-1-24.png" alt="" class="wp-image-484013" style="width:565px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074449/image-1-24.png 891w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074449/image-1-24-300x280.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074449/image-1-24-768x718.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 891px) 100vw, 891px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAG#NYSE">CAG</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.70%</li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group analyst David Palmermaintained a Neutral rating and lowered the price target from $32 to $31 on July 12. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $32 to $31 on July 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On July 11, Conagra Brands reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter sales results and issued FY25 adjusted EPS guidance below estimates.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">trend in CAG stock.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="912" height="833" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074532/image-46.png" alt="" class="wp-image-484017" style="width:598px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074532/image-46.png 912w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074532/image-46-300x274.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074532/image-46-768x701.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 4.61%</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintained an Equal-Weight rating and raised the price target from $34 to $35 on Aug. 1. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Bryan Spillane maintained a Buy rating and cut the price target of $42 to $38 on July 10. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On July 31, Kraft Heinz reported better-than-expected second-quarter adjusted EPS results.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in KHC shares.</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent080824&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="870" height="847" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074631/image-47.png" alt="" class="wp-image-484020" style="width:468px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074631/image-47.png 870w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074631/image-47-300x292.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/08074631/image-47-768x748.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px" /></a></figure>
Read More: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40243140/us-stocks-decline-as-smcis-margin-miss-brings-nvidia-and-other-ai-stocks-under-pressure-investor-se">US Stocks Decline As SMCI&#8217;s Margin Miss Brings Nvidia And Other AI Stocks Under Pressure: Investor Sentiment Remains In &#8216;Extreme Fear&#8217; Zone</a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Give Their Take On 3 Defensive Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields

Altria (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock&#39;s performance in the near term.
Over the past month, shares of this owner of Philip Morris USA, the nation&#39;s largest cigarette maker have returned +6%, compared to the Zacks S&amp;P 500 composite&#39;s -5.9% change. During this period, the Zacks Tobacco industry, which Altria falls in, has gained 10.3%. The key question now is: What could be the stock&#39;s future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company&#39;s business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
<h2>Revisions to Earnings Estimates</h2>
Rather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company&#39;s earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors&#39; interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Altria is expected to post earnings of $1.35 per share, indicating a change of +5.5% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.8% over the last 30 days.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.10 points to a change of +3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -0.2%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $5.30 indicates a change of +4% from what Altria is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.2%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock&#39;s price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Altria is rated Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company&#39;s forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
<h2>12 Month EPS</h2>
<h2>Revenue Growth Forecast</h2>
While earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company&#39;s financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn&#39;t able to grow its revenues. After all, it&#39;s nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it&#39;s important to know a company&#39;s potential revenue growth.
For Altria, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $5.32 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +0.9%. For the current and next fiscal years, $20.34 billion and $20.55 billion estimates indicate -0.8% and +1.1% changes, respectively.
<h2>Last Reported Results and Surprise History</h2>
Altria reported revenues of $5.28 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -3%. EPS of $1.31 for the same period compares with $1.31 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.43 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -2.77%. The EPS surprise was -2.96%.
Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed EPS estimates just once. The company could not beat consensus revenue estimates in any of the last four quarters.
<h2>Valuation</h2>
No investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock&#39;s valuation. Whether a stock&#39;s current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company&#39;s growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
While comparing the current values of a company&#39;s valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S) and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock&#39;s price.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an An is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Altria is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
The facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it&#39;s worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Altria. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2317844/altria-group-inc-mo-is-a-trending-stock-facts-to-know-before-betting-on-it?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|most_searched_stocks-2317844">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Altria Group, Inc. Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish 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 8 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 37% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 50% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 3 are puts, for a total amount of $113,510 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $271,878.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $35.0 to $50.0 for Altria Group over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Altria Group's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Altria Group's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $35.0 to $50.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Altria Group 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722880861_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 style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$5.25</td>
<td>$5.35</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$96.2K</td>
<td>12.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$15.2</td>
<td>$14.65</td>
<td>$15.2</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$60.8K</td>
<td>3.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">42</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$2.95</td>
<td>$2.73</td>
<td>$2.95</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$48.9K</td>
<td>2.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">198</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.24</td>
<td>$2.12</td>
<td>$2.12</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$44.3K</td>
<td>6.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/09/24</td>
<td>$1.28</td>
<td>$1.21</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">313</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its 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>Present Market Standing of Altria Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 7,836,513, with MO's price down by -3.74%, positioned at $49.16.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 80 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group</h3>
In the last month, 2 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $51.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Stifel persists with their Buy rating on Altria Group, maintaining a target price of $54. </li>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities persists with their Neutral rating on Altria Group, maintaining a target price of $48. </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>.

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 positions 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.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 options trades for Altria Group.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 55% bullish and 33%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $38,400, and 8, calls, for a total amount of $476,033.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $42.5 and $52.5 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 2569.5, with a total volume reaching 5,424.00. 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 $42.5 to $52.5, throughout 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/2024/1722611067_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>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>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$2.26</td>
<td>$2.22</td>
<td>$2.27</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$113.5K</td>
<td>9.2K</td>
<td>709</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$2.26</td>
<td>$2.25</td>
<td>$2.26</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$113.0K</td>
<td>9.2K</td>
<td>709</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/23/24</td>
<td>$5.6</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$5.3</td>
<td>$46.00</td>
<td>$74.2K</td>
<td>230</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$9.4</td>
<td>$8.7</td>
<td>$8.81</td>
<td>$42.50</td>
<td>$44.0K</td>
<td>722</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$1.99</td>
<td>$1.93</td>
<td>$1.93</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$39.0K</td>
<td>9.2K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Altria Group</h3>
Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, us Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Horizon Innovations, and Helix Innovations. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria maintains 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 42% annual share in 2023. Beyond its core business, it holds an 8% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, a 42% stake in cannabis manufacturer Cronos, acquired Njoy Holdings in 2023, and operates a joint venture with Japan Tobacco in the heated tobacco category. It also recently disposed of its 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>Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,976,962, the MO's price is up by 0.68%, now at $50.36. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 83 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $51.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Altria Group, which currently sits at a price target of $48. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Stifel continues to hold a Buy rating for Altria Group, targeting a price of $54. </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.

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As economic sentiments fluctuate, high-dividend stocks are the only ones that provide cushion regardless of the situation. To capture the steady market, you might consider investing in Verizon Communications (VZ), AT&T (T), and Altria Group (MO) this month. Keep reading… As we all know, dividend-paying stocks are a popular choice during market volatility, as they offer a stable and steady income stream even when the prices fluctuate. Thus, investors looking for such could consider adding high-dividend yield stocks like Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>), AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>), and Altria Group, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">MO</a>) to their portfolios.
The elevated interest rates and the inflation worries are imminent in the economy. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the PCE price index, excluding food and energy, increased <a href="https://www.bea.gov/data/personal-consumption-expenditures-price-index-excluding-food-and-energy">2.6% year-over-year</a> in the month of July. With inflation falling substantially, the <a href="https://www.euronews.com/business/2024/09/18/federal-reserve-is-set-to-cut-interest-rates-for-the-first-time-in-4-years">Fed is poised to cut interest rates</a> for the first time in four years.
On the other hand, with the U.S. job market weakened and unemployment still being noticeably present, it is concerning for the economy. However, the <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/273909/seasonally-adjusted-monthly-unemployment-rate-in-the-us/">unemployment rate</a> in the month of August was 4.2%, compared to 4.3% in July.
Despite the economic uncertainty, high-dividend yield stocks offer a promising future for investors. They not only provide a steady income but also have the potential for price appreciation. Moreover, these stocks act as a hedge against economic uncertainty, ensuring income regardless of the economy's momentum.
Given this backdrop, let's examine the fundamentals of the above-mentioned stocks in detail:
Verizon Communications Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">VZ</a>)
VZ is a holding company that, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and governmental agencies. It operates through two segments: Verizon Consumer Group and Verizon Business Group.
On September 9, VZ announced that it would acquire Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. for a $20 billion cash deal. This acquisition will considerably expand VZ's fiber footprint and intelligent edge network for digital innovations like AI and IoT across the nation to current as well as new customers. Frontier's 2.2 million fiber subscribers will be joining VZ's connections.
On September 4, buoyed by strong financial performance, the company increased its quarterly <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dividend.asp">dividend</a> by $0.0125 to $0.6775 per share, payable to its shareholders on November 1, 2024.
VZ has raised its annual dividend for 18 consecutive years. It pays an annual dividend of $2.66, which translates to a yield of 6.02% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 5.82%. Moreover, the company's dividend payouts have increased at an impressive CAGR of 2% over the past five years.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended on June 30, 2024, VZ's total operating revenues increased marginally year-over-year, amounting to $32.80 billion. Its operating income rose 8.3% from the year-ago value to $7.82 billion. The company's consolidated adjusted EBITDA came in at $12.30 billion, up 2.8% year-over-year, and its EPS stood at $1.09.
In addition, its retail postpaid phone net additions are 148,000, and retail postpaid net additions are 340,000.
According to VZ's guidance and outlook for its fiscal year 2024, it is projecting adjusted EBITDA to grow between 1% to 3%. Additionally, its adjusted EPS guidance ranges from $4.50 to $4.70. The company also expects total wireless services revenue growth to range between 2% and 3.5%.
Street expects VZ's revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase marginally year-over-year to $35.54 billion. Its EPS for the same period is expected to register a 2.1% growth from the prior year, settling at $1.10. In addition, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
The stock has gained 30.5% over the past year and 18% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $44.08.
VZ's <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a> reflect this robust outlook. The stock has an overall rating of B, which equates to Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
VZ has a B grade for Stability. It is ranked #5 out of 18 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/telecom-domestic/">Telecom - Domestic</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/VZ/">Click here</a> to see the additional ratings for VZ (Growth, Value, Momentum, Sentiment, and Quality).
AT&amp;T Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">T</a>)
T is a holding company that provides telecommunications and technology services internationally. The company operates through two segments: Communications and Latin America. It provides wireless and wireline telecom services to consumers and businesses worldwide.
On September 9, T expanded its high-speed fiber internet to new geographies, reaching more people. This expansion will be continued through joint ventures and other commercial open-access agreements and will aim to expand Gigapower's fiber footprint in new locations.
On August 1, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share to its shareholders. T pays an annual dividend of $1.11 per share, which translates to a yield of 4.98% on the prevailing share price. Also, its four-year average dividend yield is 6.38%.
T's service from operating revenues for the second quarter (ended June 30, 2024) increased marginally year-over-year to $25.01 billion. Its attributable net income came in at $3.55 billion, and its earnings per share stood at $0.49. The company reported a free cash flow of $4.60 billion, indicating a 9.5% growth from the prior year's quarter.
Looking ahead, T anticipates full-year adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal year 2024 to be in the range of 3%, and capital investment and free cash flow are anticipated to be in the range of $21-$22 billion and $17-$18 billion, respectively. The company also projects adjusted EPS to range from $2.15 to $2.25.
Analysts expect T's revenue and EPS for the current year (ending December 2024) to be $122.68 billion and $2.19, respectively. For the fiscal year 2025, both its revenue and EPS are expected to grow by 1.7% and 3.5% from the prior year to $124.71 billion and $2.26, respectively.
T shares have surged 43% over the past year and 31.8% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $21.78.
T's bright prospects are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It also has a B grade for Quality. Within the same Telecom - Domestic industry, it is ranked #2 out of 18 stocks. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/T/">Click here</a> to see T's ratings for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment.
Altria Group, Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">MO</a>)
MO manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products. The company provides cigarettes mainly under the Marlboro brand, large cigars, and pipe tobacco under the Black &amp; Mild brand, moist smokeless tobacco, and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands. The oral tobacco segment products are under the name of on! brand.
On August 22, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share, up 4.1% from the previous rate, payable to its shareholders on October 10.
With 54 years of consecutive dividend growth, MO pays an annual dividend of $4.08, which translates to a yield of 7.89% at the current share price. Its four-year average dividend yield is 8.03%. Also, the company's dividend payouts have increased at a CAGR of 4.4% over the past three years.
On June 21, MO received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization for the marketing of NJOY's menthol e-vapor products. The marketing for the product will aim at smoke-free alternatives to traditional adult smokers.
For the second quarter of 2024, which ended on June 30, MO's oral products segment reported that net revenues increased 4.6% year-over-year to $711 billion.
The company's net earnings for the quarter amounted to $3.80 billion, representing an increase of 79.6% year-over-year, with its EPS growing 85.7% from the prior year's quarter to $2.21.
Building on this quarter's momentum, the company updated its guidance for 2024, MO now anticipates that the full-year adjusted EPS will range between $5.07 and $5.15, representing a growth of 2.5%-4.0% from its base in 2023.
The consensus revenue estimate of $5.35 billion for the fiscal third quarter (ending September 2024) represents a marginal increase year-over-year. The consensus EPS estimate of $1.35 for the current quarter indicates a 5.6% improvement year-over-year.
Over the past year, the stock has surged 21%, closing the last trading session at $50.50.
It's no surprise that MO has an overall rating of B, equating to a Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has an A grade for Quality. Out of 10 stocks in the B-rated <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/tobacco/">Tobacco</a> industry, MO is ranked #5.
Beyond what is stated above, we've also rated MO for Growth, Value, Momentum, Stability, and Sentiment. Get all MO ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/MO/">here</a>.
What To Do Next?
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VZ shares were trading at $44.11 per share on Wednesday afternoon, up $0.03 (+0.07%). Year-to-date, VZ has gained 22.88%, versus a 19.34% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Anushka Dutta</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Anushka-Dutta_Headshot_3.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Anushka is an analyst whose interest in understanding the impact of broader economic changes on financial markets motivated her to pursue a career in investment research.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=anushka-dutta">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/vz-t-mo-3-high-dividend-yield-stocks-to-buy-before-september-ends/>3 High-Dividend Yield Stocks to Buy Before September Ends</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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