CHICAGO,(Reuters) - Cigarette maker Altria Group
Inc increased its quarterly payout to shareholders for
the second time this year, the company said Friday.

Altria, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, raised its
dividend 8.6 percent to 38 cents per share from 35 cents,
bringing its annualized dividend to $1.52 per share.

Altria previously raised its dividend 1 cent to 35 cents in
February.

The tobacco company posted a better-than-expected first
half of fiscal 2010 and raised its full-year earnings forecast
in July.

Altria's shares were down 0.5 percent Friday morning at
$22.50.
(Reporting by Emily Stephenson, editing by Gerald E.
McCormick)