British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Reaches New 1-Year High - Here's Why

Key Points

• British American Tobacco reached a new 52-week high with its stock price trading at $55.95, reflecting positive market activity.
• Analysts have generally shown optimism with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy", although Wall Street Zen has downgraded the stock from "buy" to "hold".
• The company announced a dividend of $0.7391 which yields an impressive 599.0%, although it has a dividend payout ratio of 60.78%.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $55.95 and last traded at $55.54, with a volume of 6574502 shares. The stock had previously closed at $54.35.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 1.0%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The stock has a market cap of $117.92 billion, a PE ratio of 11.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.38. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $50.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $44.34.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 599.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 64.68%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 8.3% in the second quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,849 shares of the company's stock valued at $561,000 after buying an additional 904 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 17.1% in the second quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 81,598 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,862,000 after buying an additional 11,934 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 44.6% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 290,114 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,731,000 after buying an additional 89,525 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 15.0% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 206,866 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,791,000 after buying an additional 27,045 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wrapmanager Inc. acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco in the second quarter valued at $203,000. 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.