British American Tobacco's (BTI) Hold (C+) Rating Reiterated at Weiss Ratings

Key Points

• British American Tobacco's stock was reaffirmed with a "hold (C+)" rating by Weiss Ratings, amid a mix of ratings from other analysts including recent downgrades by Wall Street Zen and Royal Bank of Canada.
• The company's stock price decreased by 0.8%, trading at $51.59, while averaging 5,487,036 shares traded daily.
• Institutional investors hold approximately 16.16% of British American Tobacco's stock, with some, like Salem Investment Counselors, significantly increasing their stakes in recent quarters.

British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report)'s stock had its "hold (c+)" rating restated by analysts at Weiss Ratings in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Weiss Ratings reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered British American Tobacco from a "sector perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Down 0.8%

NYSE BTI traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $51.59. 3,174,441 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,487,036. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $106.15 billion, a PE ratio of 10.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.42. British American Tobacco has a 52 week low of $34.17 and a 52 week high of $59.29. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $55.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.94.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 633 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 2.5% in the second quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,656 shares of the company's stock valued at $410,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares in the last quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 1.2% in the second quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 19,598 shares of the company's stock valued at $915,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 2.1% in the second quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP now owns 10,839 shares of the company's stock valued at $513,000 after buying an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 0.7% in the first quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 33,866 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,401,000 after buying an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.

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