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

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $43.59 and last traded at $43.74, with a volume of 76492 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $42.86.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on BTI shares. UBS Group upgraded British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 17th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $90.52 billion, a PE ratio of 8.98 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $41.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $38.56.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.7491 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.57%.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% during the 1st quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 305 shares during the period. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its holdings in 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 last quarter. Mather Group LLC. increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 292.7% during 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 last quarter. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.