Merit Financial Group LLC Makes New Investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 11,494 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $476,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 294.9% during the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the period. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 334.4% during the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,099 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 846 shares during the period. Finally, Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 43.1% during the fourth quarter. Duncker Streett & Co. Inc. now owns 1,242 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 374 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 0.3%

NYSE:BTI traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $48.75. 5,795,799 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,137,450. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a twelve month low of $30.53 and a twelve month high of $49.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $43.74 and a 200 day moving average of $40.45. The stock has a market cap of $100.76 billion, a PE ratio of 10.01 and a beta of 0.31.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on BTI shares. Bank of America started coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Wall Street Zen raised British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $33.00.

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.