British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Key Points

• British American Tobacco has received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from analysts, with one sell rating and four buy ratings.
• The average 12-month price target for British American Tobacco stock is $40.00, indicating potential upside from current trading levels.
• The company recently declared a dividend of $0.7391 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 599.0% and a payout ratio of 64.68%.

Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) have earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the five research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $40.00.

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Bank of America began coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley restated an "underweight" rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI opened at $56.76 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.87. British American Tobacco has a 52 week low of $34.17 and a 52 week high of $59.29. The firm has a market cap of $116.91 billion, a PE ratio of 11.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.38. The firm's fifty day moving average is $52.86 and its 200-day moving average is $45.99.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% during the first quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 100.0% during the first 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. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its stake 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 purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased 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 valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. 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.

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