Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. Buys 4,825 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Key Points

• Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. significantly increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 5,610.5%, acquiring an additional 4,825 shares in the first quarter, bringing its total to 4,911 shares valued at $203,000.
• Several other institutional investors have also raised their stakes in British American Tobacco, with notable increases from Park Avenue Securities LLC and Financial Management Professionals Inc. in Q1.
• Analysts have mixed ratings on British American Tobacco, with Jefferies and Bank of America setting "buy" ratings, while Wall Street Zen has downgraded their rating to "hold."

Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 5,610.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,911 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 4,825 shares during the period. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc.'s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $203,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% in the 1st quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 610 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 78.5% during the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 292.7% in the first 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. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on BTI. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Bank of America began coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 0.7%

BTI traded down $0.38 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $57.95. The stock had a trading volume of 3,965,479 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,724,927. The stock has a market capitalization of $119.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $50.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $44.68. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52 week low of $34.17 and a 52 week high of $58.46.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were given a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a yield of 599.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.68%.

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.