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

Key Points

• British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from five brokerage firms, with one analyst recommending a sell and four recommending a buy.
• The average 12-month price target for the stock is $33.00, as reported by market analysts.
• The company recently announced a dividend of $0.7391 per share, with a high dividend yield of 599.0% and a payout ratio of 60.78%.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the five research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $33.00.

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BTI. Bank of America assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of BTI stock traded up $0.26 during trading on Friday, hitting $55.81. 5,822,307 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,322,257. British American Tobacco has a 52-week low of $34.17 and a 52-week high of $56.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $115.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.38. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $49.34 and its 200-day moving average price is $43.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.7391 per share. This represents a yield of 599.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is currently 64.68%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its holdings 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 valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in 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 purchasing an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 78.5% during the first 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 period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its position in British American Tobacco by 292.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 644 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 480 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.