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

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the nine ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com 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 target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $51.00.

A number of research firms have recently commented on BTI. Weiss Ratings upgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, April 5th.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 64,389,481 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,645,500,000 after buying an additional 332,062 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in 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 in the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd increased its holdings 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 valued at $686,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482,737 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,518,567 shares of the company’s stock valued at $538,935,000 after purchasing an additional 47,858 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 29.5% in 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 institutional investors and hedge funds.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of British American Tobacco stock opened at $58.28 on Tuesday. British American Tobacco has a fifty-two week low of $40.12 and a fifty-two week high of $63.22. The business’s fifty day moving average is $58.70 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.53. 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 Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.8349 per share. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date 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.