IFP Advisors Inc Purchases 11,870 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

IFP Advisors Inc increased its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 243.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 16,755 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 11,870 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Inc's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $693,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 100.0% in the first 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. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 87.0% in the first quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 602 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 78.5% in the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its position in shares of 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 during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

NYSE BTI traded down $0.40 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $51.85. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,451,632 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,791,701. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12 month low of $34.12 and a 12 month high of $52.98. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $48.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $43.15. The company has a market cap of $106.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.83 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.

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 $0.7391 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 27th. This represents a yield of 5.99%. British American Tobacco's payout ratio is 60.57%.

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.