British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Downgraded to Hold Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Sunday.

BTI has been the subject of several other research reports. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, November 28th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Kepler Capital Markets started coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, December 12th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of BTI stock opened at $59.93 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $59.37 and a 200 day moving average of $56.41. British American Tobacco has a 1 year low of $37.96 and a 1 year high of $63.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.87.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be paid a $0.8349 dividend. This represents a $3.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 29th.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 35.2% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 27,914 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,155,000 after purchasing an additional 7,270 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 42.5% in the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 8,455 shares of the company’s stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 2,521 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 103.0% during the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 92,696 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,387,000 after buying an additional 47,034 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 15.0% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 206,866 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,791,000 after buying an additional 27,045 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 44.6% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 290,114 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,731,000 after buying an additional 89,525 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

About British American Tobacco

British American Tobacco plc (BTI) is a multinational tobacco manufacturer and nicotine products company headquartered in London. Founded in 1902 as a joint venture to commercialize tobacco products outside the United States, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest tobacco firms with a long history in manufacturing and global distribution of combustible tobacco products.

BAT’s core business remains the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products under a portfolio of well-known consumer brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Kent and Rothmans.