Form 4: Altria Director Kathryn B. McQuade Reports Stock Award and Holdings

Director Kathryn B. McQuade reported the acquisition of 7,057 shares of Altria Group, Inc. common stock through a deferred stock award, increasing her total holdings.

Summary

• On May 16, 2024, Kathryn B. McQuade, a director of Altria Group, Inc., reported a transaction involving the company's common stock.
• McQuade acquired 7,057 shares of common stock through a deferred stock award under the 2015 Stock Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.
• The acquisition price was $0 per share, as the shares were awarded as deferred stock.
• Following the transaction, McQuade's direct holdings increased to 87,817 shares of Altria common stock.
• This total includes 84,733 deferred shares held in the Stock Compensation Plan, which includes 6,573 shares acquired through dividend reinvestment since May 18, 2023.
• McQuade also holds 9,046 phantom stock units, representing share equivalents in the Deferred Fee Plan for Non-Employee Directors, including 766 share equivalents acquired through dividend reinvestment since May 18, 2023.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral as it reports a routine transaction. The director increasing their holdings is a mildly positive signal, but it's not a major event.

Positives

• The acquisition of shares by a director can be seen as a positive sign, indicating confidence in the company's future performance.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine disclosure of stock ownership changes by a company director, which is common in publicly traded companies. It provides transparency to investors regarding the holdings of company insiders.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Director stock ownership is a common practice in publicly traded companies like Altria, similar to practices at Philip Morris International (PM) and British American Tobacco (BTI).
• Deferred stock awards and phantom stock units are typical components of executive compensation packages, aligning director interests with shareholder value, as seen in companies like Coca-Cola (KO) and PepsiCo (PEP).

Stakeholder Impact

• The transaction has a minor positive impact on shareholders as it signals director confidence in the company.

Key Dates