March 14, 2024
Top 10 Stock Altria Group Hold Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: Altria Group – Top 10 Stock in S&P 500 Consumer Staples Index
Altria Group is listed as a top 10 stock on March 14, 2024 in the market index S&P US Consumer because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only the Obermatt Value Rank exhibits above-average performance, which means that the stock is seen as critical by the professional community and other financial facts are below average, conveying mixed investment signals. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 34 (34% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for Altria Group on March 14, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Tobacco |
| Index | Dividends USA, Employee Focus US, Diversity USA, Human Rights, Recycling, S&P US Consumer, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View Altria Group Hold
| 360 METRICS | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 90 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 31 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 15 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 44 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 34 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 34 (better than 34% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Altria Group are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Altria Group. Only the consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 90, which means that the share price of Altria Group is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 90% of alternative stocks in the same industry. All other consolidated ranks are below average. The consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 31, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 15, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 85% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, professionals are more pessimistic about the stock than for 56% of alternative investment opportunities, reflected in the consolidated Sentiment Rank of 44. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 34, Altria Group is worse than 66% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits above-average performance, namely the Value Rank at a level of 90. All other ranks are below average, so proceed with caution. The company has below-average growth expectations (Growth Rank of 31), a riskier financing structure than the competition (Safety Rank of 15), and the market sentiment in the professional investor community ranking at (Sentiment Rank of 44) is negative. This combination is sensitive to a crisis, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. It’s no wonder that the investor community indicators are skeptical (low sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Altria Group is as challenging as the low price of the stock suggests. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you might need to worry about the future of Altria Group. Only invest if you have solid reasons to believe that the low growth is temporary and the current market sentiment is an overreaction, possibly due to reputational issues in the past. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Altria Group only reserved
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 44 (better than 44% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Altria Group is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for Altria Group. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 26 (worse than 74% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 45, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 59, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 59% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 61, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 61% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to Altria Group and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 44 (less encouraging than 56% compared with investment alternatives), Altria Group has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical, while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more
Value Strategy: Altria Group Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 90 (better than 90% compared with alternatives) for 2024, Altria Group shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for Altria Group. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 100 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 100% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Altria Group's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 100, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 100. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 85% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 15). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 90, is a buy recommendation based on Altria Group's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that Altria Group has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing Altria Group shares. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Altria Group Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 31 (better than 31% compared with alternatives), Altria Group shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Altria Group. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 76, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 29% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 10 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 90% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 29 and Stock Returns with a rank of 45 are also low (below 55% of alternative investments). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 31, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for Altria Group is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Altria Group Debt Financing Safety risky
| SAFETY METRICS | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 9 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 8 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 80 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 15 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 15 (better than 15% compared with alternatives), the company Altria Group has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Altria Group is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Altria Group. Liquidity is at 80, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 80% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 8, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 92% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 9, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 91% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 15 (worse than 85% compared with alternatives), Altria Group has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: Altria Group Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | March 14, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 90 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 31 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 80 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 36 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 36 (worse than 64% compared with investment alternatives), Altria Group (Tobacco, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Altria Group are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 90 (better than 90% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 31), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 15), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 36, is a hold recommendation based on Altria Group's financial characteristics. As the company Altria Group's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 90) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 31) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 15), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 90% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
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