Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Raises Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 26.4% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 111,922 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 23,359 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $4,630,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of BTI. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 294.9% in the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 525 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 78.5% during the first quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. Finally, CX Institutional purchased a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Trading Down 0.7%

BTI traded down $0.32 on Friday, reaching $47.02. 1,780,029 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,138,323. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a twelve month low of $30.81 and a twelve month high of $49.58. The company's 50 day moving average is $45.10 and its 200-day moving average is $41.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.76. The company has a market cap of $97.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.66, a PEG ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 0.31.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco's payout ratio is currently 65.09%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on BTI shares. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $33.00.

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.