British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Raised to "Buy" at Wall Street Zen

British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a note issued to investors on Friday.

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $51.61. The company's stock had a trading volume of 6,058,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,345,027. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $47.17 and a 200 day moving average of $42.56. British American Tobacco has a twelve month low of $33.18 and a twelve month high of $52.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.46 billion, a PE ratio of 10.60, a P/E/G ratio of 4.75 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its position 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 buying an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 610 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 305 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 78.5% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. lifted its position 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 worth $27,000 after buying an additional 480 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.