Virtu Financial LLC Acquires 19,649 Shares of 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 its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 27,883 shares of the company's stock after purchasing 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.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 33,866 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,401,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares in the last quarter. Applied Capital LLC FL increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Applied Capital LLC FL now owns 23,284 shares of the company's stock valued at $963,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares in the last quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC now owns 16,715 shares of the company's stock valued at $691,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Keystone Financial Group grew its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Keystone Financial Group now owns 17,695 shares of the company's stock worth $643,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its stake in shares of 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. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on BTI shares. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Barclays reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, June 13th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $33.00.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

NYSE BTI opened at $58.32 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $120.12 billion, a PE ratio of 11.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.38. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52 week low of $34.17 and a 52 week high of $58.35. 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 firm's 50-day simple moving average is $50.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $44.59.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a dividend 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%.

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.

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