Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Sells 12,206 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV lessened its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 8.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 125,215 shares of the company's stock after selling 12,206 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $4,548,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in 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 purchasing an additional 525 shares in the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth about $34,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased 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 increased its holdings 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 worth $42,000 after buying an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of British American Tobacco stock traded down $1.66 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $41.64. The company had a trading volume of 8,279,460 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,784,540. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market capitalization of $86.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.55 and a beta of 0.32. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $41.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $38.87. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1-year low of $30.01 and a 1-year high of $44.78.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a $0.7491 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is currently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BTI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, British American Tobacco presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

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.