British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Hits New 12-Month High - What's Next?

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $49.58 and last traded at $49.42, with a volume of 744255 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $48.80.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 17th. Finally, Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 0.4%

The company's fifty day simple moving average is $43.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $40.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.31 billion, a PE ratio of 10.06 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of BTI. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 1.6% during the fourth quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 493,451 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,922,000 after acquiring an additional 7,875 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 24.4% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 6,094,244 shares of the company's stock valued at $221,343,000 after buying an additional 1,196,020 shares during the period. Cove Street Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth $1,050,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 196,073 shares of the company's stock worth $7,121,000 after purchasing an additional 17,478 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 21.8% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 82,029 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,979,000 after acquiring an additional 14,655 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

About British American Tobacco

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.