British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Shares Sold by MML Investors Services LLC

MML Investors Services LLC lessened its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 27.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 84,394 shares of the company's stock after selling 32,049 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $3,065,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of BTI. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 294.9% in the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. grew its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 334.4% during the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,099 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 35.1% during the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 299 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:BTI traded down $0.23 during trading on Thursday, reaching $43.33. 2,980,973 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,672,186. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $29.36 and a 12-month high of $43.86. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $40.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firm has a market cap of $89.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.90 and a beta of 0.38.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $0.7491 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.57%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BTI has been the topic of several analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $33.00.

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.