Ativo Capital Management LLC Acquires New Shares in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Ativo Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 17,028 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $704,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 15.7% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,098 shares of the company's stock worth $87,000 after buying an additional 285 shares during the last quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 3.4% during the first quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,811 shares of the company's stock worth $571,000 after purchasing an additional 451 shares during the period. Rossby Financial LCC purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco during the first quarter valued at about $230,000. Mather Group LLC. increased its position in British American Tobacco by 292.7% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 644 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Essex LLC acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the first quarter worth $292,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BTI has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, June 28th. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Bank of America began coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

NYSE:BTI traded up $0.99 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $48.35. 4,316,140 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,210,856. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a twelve month low of $31.50 and a twelve month 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. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $45.47 and a 200 day moving average of $41.39.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

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

British American Tobacco 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.