Short Interest in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Increases By 6.6%

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 7,750,000 shares, a growth of 6.6% from the September 15th total of 7,270,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,310,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are sold short.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE BTI traded up $0.39 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $35.80. 2,765,789 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,837,662. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $36.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $33.25. British American Tobacco has a 12-month low of $28.25 and a 12-month high of $39.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.88.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered British American Tobacco from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $33.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. StockNews.com lowered British American Tobacco from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Sunday, August 11th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Good Life Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 3rd quarter valued at about $336,000. Creative Planning grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 32.9% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 143,916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,264,000 after acquiring an additional 35,661 shares during the period. Grove Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 3,176 shares of the company’s stock valued at $116,000 after acquiring an additional 314 shares during the period. City State Bank grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 26.6% during the 3rd quarter. City State Bank now owns 1,905 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. Finally, Ritholtz Wealth Management grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 27.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 155,821 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,700,000 after acquiring an additional 33,156 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 21.44% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It also offers vapour, heated, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands.