British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI Stake Boosted by Royal Bank of Canada

Key Points

• The Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. by 11%, owning 1,437,985 shares valued at approximately $59.5 million as of the last SEC filing.
• Other hedge funds also boosted their positions, with Ameriprise Financial increasing its holdings by 108.8% during Q4, highlighting a growing interest in the stock.
• Analysts have mixed views on BTI, with ratings ranging from a "buy" by Jefferies to an "underperform" from Royal Bank of Canada, resulting in an average rating of "Hold."

Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 11.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,437,985 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 141,985 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada owned approximately 0.07% of British American Tobacco worth $59,489,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in British American Tobacco by 108.8% in the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 474,111 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,242,000 after purchasing an additional 247,018 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 21.8% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 82,029 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,979,000 after buying an additional 14,655 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 90.1% during the 4th quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,973 shares of the company's stock worth $253,000 after acquiring an additional 3,304 shares in the last quarter. Centiva Capital LP boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 45.8% in the 4th quarter. Centiva Capital LP now owns 9,913 shares of the company's stock worth $360,000 after acquiring an additional 3,115 shares during the period. Finally, Greenline Partners LLC acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $59,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of British American Tobacco stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $56.31. The company had a trading volume of 2,770,847 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,252,322. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.87. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $34.17 and a fifty-two week high of $59.29. The firm's fifty day moving average is $54.48 and its 200-day moving average is $47.11. The company has a market cap of $115.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.40.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating and set a $40.00 target price on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, August 15th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Argus raised British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $62.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded British American Tobacco from a "sector perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $51.00.

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.