British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts give British American Tobacco a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from nine firms (7 buys, 2 sells) with an average 1‑year target price of $51.00.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.8349 (annualized $3.34) yielding 5.7%, with an ex‑dividend date of Dec 29 and payment on Feb 8.
• Shares opened at $58.35—trading above the broker consensus target—with a 52‑week range of $40.12 to $63.22 and a 200‑day moving average of $57.37.

Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $51.00.

BTI has been the subject of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded British American Tobacco from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, April 5th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. First Command Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 1,386.7% during the 4th quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. now owns 446 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 416 shares during the period. Glen Eagle Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI opened at $58.35 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.87. The business has a fifty day moving average of $58.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $57.37. British American Tobacco has a 52-week low of $40.12 and a 52-week high of $63.22.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be issued a dividend of $0.8349 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 29th. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.7%.

About British American Tobacco

British American Tobacco plc (BTI) is a multinational tobacco manufacturer and nicotine products company headquartered in London. Founded in 1902 as a joint venture to commercialize tobacco products outside the United States, the company has grown into one of the world's largest tobacco firms with a long history in manufacturing and global distribution of combustible tobacco products.

BAT's core business remains the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products under a portfolio of well-known consumer brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Kent and Rothmans.

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