Cerity Partners LLC Reduces Stock Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Cerity Partners LLC lessened its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 25.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 49,498 shares of the company's stock after selling 16,632 shares during the quarter. Cerity Partners LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $1,806,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. FMR LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 44.0% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,232,402 shares of the company's stock worth $371,641,000 after buying an additional 3,127,046 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth $55,620,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in British American Tobacco by 24.4% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 6,094,244 shares of the company's stock valued at $221,343,000 after purchasing an additional 1,196,020 shares in the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 202.8% in the 4th quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 1,369,751 shares of the company's stock worth $49,749,000 after buying an additional 917,334 shares during the period. Finally, ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter valued at $31,480,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 0.6 %

BTI traded up $0.24 on Tuesday, hitting $42.79. The company had a trading volume of 5,884,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,692,285. The stock has a market capitalization of $88.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.79 and a beta of 0.38. 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 stock has a fifty day moving average price of $40.43 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.12. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $29.08 and a 12-month high of $43.12.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced 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 of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's payout ratio is 60.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group raised shares of British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th.

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.