Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Altria Group (NYSE:MO).

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, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 14 uncommon options trades for Altria Group.

This isn't normal.

The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 57% bullish and 28%, bearish.

Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 8 are puts, for a total amount of $576,352, and 6 are calls, for a total amount of $356,008.

Projected Price Targets

Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $35.0 to $60.0 for Altria Group over the recent three months.

Analyzing Volume & Open Interest

Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Altria Group's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Altria Group's significant trades, within a strike price range of $35.0 to $60.0, over the past month.

Altria Group Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview

Significant Options Trades Detected:

About 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.

Present Market Standing of Altria Group

• With a trading volume of 6,740,395, the price of MO is down by -0.12%, reaching $49.33.
• Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be overbought.
• Next earnings report is scheduled for 13 days from now.

What Analysts Are Saying About Altria Group

Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $48.0.

• 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.

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 Benzinga Pro.