China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. Acquires New Stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 14,004 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $590,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Rhumbline Advisers grew its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 7.9% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 5,458 shares of the company's stock worth $198,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 40.4% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 7,755 shares of the company's stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 2,231 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 20.8% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 159,363 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,788,000 after purchasing an additional 27,492 shares during the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 6,432 shares of the company's stock worth $234,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter worth $55,620,000. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI traded up $1.19 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $49.12. The company had a trading volume of 8,285,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,237,586. The firm has a market capitalization of $101.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.33. 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 stock's fifty day moving average price is $45.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.74. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $31.50 and a fifty-two week high of $49.77.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.7391 per share. This represents a yield of 5.99%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is presently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BTI has been the subject of several research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday. Bank of America initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $33.00.

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.