British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Shares Gap Down – Should You Sell?

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)’s stock price gapped down before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $42.74, but opened at $38.68. British American Tobacco shares last traded at $38.53, with a volume of 3,688,054 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BTI shares. UBS Group raised British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Barclays upgraded shares of British American Tobacco to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.88. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $37.78 and its 200-day moving average is $36.91.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 294.9% during the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 525 shares during the period. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 334.4% during the 4th quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,099 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 846 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 35.1% in the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 299 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.