British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Reaches New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $52.42 and last traded at $52.29, with a volume of 5343500 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $51.80.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Wall Street Zen cut shares of British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Down 0.7%

The company has a market cap of $107.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.87 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $48.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $43.06.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.99%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.78%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BTI. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% in the 1st quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its position 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 valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 78.5% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its position 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 valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

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.