Bridgewater Advisors Inc. Takes Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Bridgewater Advisors Inc. 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 disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 6,458 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $277,000.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Capital International Investors grew its position in British American Tobacco by 17.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 38,873,006 shares of the company's stock worth $1,411,179,000 after purchasing an additional 5,673,619 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,594,361 shares of the company's stock worth $566,381,000 after acquiring an additional 47,439 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its position in British American Tobacco by 44.0% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,232,402 shares of the company's stock worth $371,641,000 after acquiring an additional 3,127,046 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 24.4% in the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 6,094,244 shares of the company's stock valued at $221,343,000 after buying an additional 1,196,020 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP increased its position in British American Tobacco by 261.7% during the fourth quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 2,681,379 shares of the company's stock worth $97,388,000 after purchasing an additional 1,940,035 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BTI has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

British American Tobacco stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $51.61. 6,058,097 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,345,027. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.76. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $33.18 and a fifty-two week high of $52.38. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $47.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.56. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.46 billion, a PE ratio of 10.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.75 and a beta of 0.33.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given 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 dividend payout ratio is currently 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.