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 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.

Expected Price Movements

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.

Volume & Open Interest Trends

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.

Altria Group Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days

Significant Options Trades Detected:

About Altria Group

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.

Where Is Altria Group Standing Right Now?

• Currently trading with a volume of 5,331,150, the MO's price is up by 1.03%, now at $43.56.
• RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.
• Anticipated earnings release is in 29 days.

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 $50.0.

• In a cautious move, an analyst from Stifel downgraded its rating to Buy, setting a price target of $50.

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.