Ascent Group LLC Boosts Holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Key Points

• Ascent Group LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 46.9%, acquiring an additional 8,254 shares in the 1st quarter, bringing its total to 25,866 shares valued at approximately $1,070,000.
• Several institutional investors, including Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton and Mather Group LLC, significantly boosted their positions in British American Tobacco, indicating increased interest from the investment community.
• Analysts have mixed opinions on the stock, with a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $51.00, reflecting varying perspectives on the company's performance and future outlook.

Ascent Group LLC grew its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 46.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,866 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,254 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $1,070,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 27.7% during the first quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 141,000 shares of the company's stock worth $5,833,000 after buying an additional 30,600 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 21.8% during the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 82,029 shares of the company's stock worth $2,979,000 after buying an additional 14,655 shares in the last quarter. Consolidated Portfolio Review Corp purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco during the first quarter worth $375,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 28.8% during the first quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 25,726 shares of the company's stock worth $1,074,000 after buying an additional 5,745 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Todd Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 26.9% during the first quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 741,893 shares of the company's stock worth $30,692,000 after buying an additional 157,251 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 1.4%

BTI stock traded down $0.78 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $56.53. 4,810,806 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,209,252. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $116.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.61, a PEG ratio of 3.93 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $54.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.42. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $34.17 and a 12-month high of $59.29.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.