British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the nine analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $51.00.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on BTI shares. Weiss Ratings raised British American Tobacco from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen lowered British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, April 5th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sigma Planning Corp raised its position in British American Tobacco by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 7,726 shares of the company’s stock valued at $452,000 after purchasing an additional 624 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC raised its position in British American Tobacco by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 9,161 shares of the company’s stock valued at $536,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. AMG National Trust Bank raised its position in British American Tobacco by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. AMG National Trust Bank now owns 45,120 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,638,000 after purchasing an additional 2,026 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 1st quarter valued at about $215,000. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its position in British American Tobacco by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 57,715 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,375,000 after purchasing an additional 6,103 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

BTI opened at $58.35 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $58.88 and its 200 day moving average price is $57.37. British American Tobacco has a 12-month low of $40.12 and a 12-month high of $63.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.57.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be given a $0.8349 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 29th. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.7%.

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.