Analysts Set British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Price Target at $51.00

Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the ten analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and eight have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $51.00.

BTI has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Kepler Capital Markets began coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, December 12th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, November 28th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Capital International Investors raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 64,389,481 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,645,500,000 after buying an additional 332,062 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 22,333,402 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,264,512,000 after purchasing an additional 264,511 shares during the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 20.7% in the 2nd quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 14,503,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482,737 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its position in British American Tobacco by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,518,567 shares of the company’s stock worth $538,935,000 after purchasing an additional 47,858 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,934,792 shares of the company’s stock valued at $368,099,000 after purchasing an additional 1,578,860 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 1.7%

NYSE BTI opened at $62.06 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $58.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $56.11. British American Tobacco has a one year low of $37.31 and a one year high of $63.03. 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 company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be issued a $0.8349 dividend. This represents a $3.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 29th.

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.