Invesco Ltd. Decreases Stock Holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Key Points

• Invesco Ltd. has reduced its stock holdings in British American Tobacco by 5.8%, leaving it with 851,220 shares worth approximately $35.2 million after selling 52,081 shares in the first quarter.
• Notable institutional investors, such as United Capital Financial Advisors and Tower Research Capital, have recently increased their stakes in British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter, indicating continued institutional interest in the stock.
• British American Tobacco's stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus target price of $40.00, despite a recent downgrade from some analysts, including Wall Street Zen.

Invesco Ltd. reduced its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 5.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 851,220 shares of the company's stock after selling 52,081 shares during the quarter. Invesco Ltd.'s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $35,215,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BTI. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in British American Tobacco by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 16,254 shares of the company's stock worth $590,000 after buying an additional 878 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 11,791 shares of the company's stock valued at $428,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,293,782 shares of the company's stock valued at $46,990,000 after purchasing an additional 39,035 shares during the period. Capital World Investors boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 66,788 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,408,000 after purchasing an additional 853 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 162.0% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 95,009 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,451,000 after purchasing an additional 58,750 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley restated an "underweight" rating and issued a $40.00 target price on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, British American Tobacco has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $40.00.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 1.1%

BTI opened at $57.76 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $118.97 billion, a PE ratio of 11.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.38. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $51.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $45.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $34.17 and a 12-month high of $58.46.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $0.7391 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 599.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is 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.

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