GF Fund Management CO. LTD. Acquires Shares of 11,301 British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 11,301 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $468,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% during the 1st quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its position in British American Tobacco by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 610 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 294.9% in the 4th 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. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 78.5% in the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of BTI stock traded up $0.27 on Monday, hitting $48.65. The stock had a trading volume of 5,031,950 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,217,879. The company's 50 day moving average price is $45.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.61. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1 year low of $31.50 and a 1 year high of $49.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.52.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a $0.7391 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 27th. This represents a yield of 5.99%. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is presently 60.78%.

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.