Ameriprise Financial Inc. Grows Stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 108.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 474,111 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 247,018 shares during the quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc.'s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $17,242,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $275,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 33,622 shares of the company's stock worth $1,221,000 after buying an additional 620 shares in the last quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 21.4% in the 4th quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 312,703 shares of the company's stock worth $11,357,000 after buying an additional 55,078 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 11.8% in the 4th quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 174,231 shares of the company's stock worth $6,328,000 after buying an additional 18,410 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 274.0% in the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,541 shares of the company's stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 1,129 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group upgraded British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, British American Tobacco has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of British American Tobacco stock traded up $0.92 during trading on Monday, reaching $43.56. 6,631,571 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,908,417. The company has a market capitalization of $90.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.94 and a beta of 0.32. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $41.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $39.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.58. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52-week low of $30.01 and a 52-week high of $44.78.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.7391 per share. This represents a $2.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.79%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 30th. British American Tobacco's payout ratio is 60.57%.

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.