Optas LLC Sells 850 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Optas LLC lowered its stake in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 13.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,439 shares of the company’s stock after selling 850 shares during the period. Optas LLC’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $257,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its stake in British American Tobacco by 87.0% during the 1st quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the period. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 610 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 305 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. lifted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 292.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 644 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the period. Pandora Wealth Inc. bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, CX Institutional bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the 1st quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

NYSE BTI opened at $51.34 on Friday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12 month low of $34.17 and a 12 month high of $59.29. The stock has a market cap of $105.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.54, a PEG ratio of 3.58 and a beta of 0.42. The company’s 50 day moving average is $55.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BTI has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Argus upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $51.00.

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.