Virtu Financial LLC Has $1.15 Million Stock Holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Key Points

• Virtu Financial LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 238.6%, acquiring an additional 19,649 shares and bringing its total to 27,883 shares worth approximately $1,154,000.
• Analysts have varied opinions on British American Tobacco (BTI), with four giving it a "buy" rating and one analyst downgrading it from "buy" to "hold," resulting in an overall average rating of "Moderate Buy."
• The company declared a recent dividend of $0.7391 with a high dividend yield of 599.0%, despite its stock currently experiencing fluctuations between a 52-week low of $34.17 and a high of $58.35.

Virtu Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 238.6% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,883 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 19,649 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $1,154,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Scotia Capital Inc. raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 25.3% in the fourth quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 38,653 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,405,000 after purchasing an additional 7,807 shares in the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 61.7% in the fourth quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 32,314 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,174,000 after purchasing an additional 12,334 shares in the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter valued at $465,000. Keystone Financial Group raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Keystone Financial Group now owns 17,695 shares of the company's stock valued at $643,000 after purchasing an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mariner LLC raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 55.5% in the fourth quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 147,944 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,373,000 after purchasing an additional 52,818 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday. Finally, Bank of America assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $40.00.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

British American Tobacco stock traded down $0.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $57.14. 4,005,394 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,269,625. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The business has a fifty day moving average of $51.36 and a 200 day moving average of $45.01. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1-year low of $34.17 and a 1-year high of $58.46. The company has a market capitalization of $117.69 billion, a PE ratio of 11.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.26 and a beta of 0.38.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.7391 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. This represents a dividend yield of 599.0%. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.57%.

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.