Plan Group Financial LLC Buys Shares of 36,500 British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Key Points

• Plan Group Financial LLC invested approximately $1.51 million in British American Tobacco by acquiring 36,500 shares during the first quarter.
• Several institutional investors, including Capital International Investors and FMR LLC, have significantly increased their holdings in British American Tobacco, indicating strong interest from the investment community.
• British American Tobacco recently declared a dividend of $0.7391 per share, with a yield of 599.0%, although the company has also received mixed ratings from analysts, including a downgrade to a "hold" from Wall Street Zen.

Plan Group Financial LLC bought a new stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 36,500 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,510,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BTI. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton increased its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 305 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 78.5% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 292.7% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 644 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 480 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of BTI stock traded up $0.29 on Thursday, hitting $56.69. 4,526,291 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,215,467. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $50.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $44.20. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $116.94 billion, a PE ratio of 11.64, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.38. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a twelve month low of $34.17 and a twelve month high of $56.71.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BTI has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set 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 set a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered 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 assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, British American Tobacco currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average 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.