Qtron Investments LLC Sells 4,407 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Key Points

• Qtron Investments LLC sold 4,407 shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c., reducing its stake by 12.9% in the 1st quarter, now owning a total of 29,642 shares valued at approximately $1.23 million.
• Several institutional investors have adjusted their positions in British American Tobacco, with notable increases from GQG Partners LLC, which raised its stake by 59.8% in the first quarter.
• Research analysts' ratings for British American Tobacco vary, with one analyst issuing a sell rating, while others have assigned a mixture of buy and hold ratings, reflecting overall moderate confidence in the company.

Qtron Investments LLC reduced its position in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 12.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 29,642 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,407 shares during the period. Qtron Investments LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $1,226,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,594,361 shares of the company's stock valued at $566,381,000 after purchasing an additional 47,439 shares during the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 59.8% during the first quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 9,598,465 shares of the company's stock valued at $397,089,000 after purchasing an additional 3,590,916 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% in the first quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,473,942 shares of the company's stock valued at $102,347,000 after purchasing an additional 35,926 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in British American Tobacco by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,447,083 shares of the company's stock valued at $59,866,000 after buying an additional 42,531 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in British American Tobacco by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,293,782 shares of the company's stock valued at $46,990,000 after buying an additional 39,035 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 0.5%

BTI opened at $57.14 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $117.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $51.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.09. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $34.17 and a fifty-two week high of $58.46.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Wall Street Zen lowered British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Bank of America began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One investment 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $40.00.

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.

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