Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCMKTS:IMBBY) Stock Short Interest Climbs 309.2%

Key Points

• Short interest surged 309.2% to 373,556 shares as of October 15, up from 91,296 shares at the end of September. Despite the increase, short interest represents 0.0% of shares outstanding, with a 0.5-day days-to-cover ratio.
• Imperial Tobacco shares rose 0.7% to $38.47, trading between a 12-month low of $32.07 and high of $45.60.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: Jefferies downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold, while the three analysts tracked by MarketBeat collectively give it an average Hold rating.

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCMKTS:IMBBY - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 373,556 shares, a growth of 309.2% from the September 30th total of 91,296 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 685,322 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Imperial Tobacco Group Stock Up 0.7%

OTCMKTS:IMBBY traded up $0.26 on Wednesday, reaching $38.47. The stock had a trading volume of 158,656 shares, compared to its average volume of 219,828. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.88, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The firm's fifty day moving average is $34.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.30. Imperial Tobacco Group has a 12-month low of $32.07 and a 12-month high of $45.60.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Imperial Tobacco Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, October 19th. BTIG Research initiated coverage on Imperial Tobacco Group in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. They set a "neutral" rating on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold".

About Imperial Tobacco Group

Imperial Tobacco Group, now known as Imperial Brands plc, is a British multinational consumer goods company focused primarily on tobacco and nicotine products. Its portfolio includes cigarettes, fine-cut tobacco, cigars, rolling papers and other traditional tobacco products, as well as next-generation alternatives such as vaping products, heated tobacco and oral nicotine products.

The company markets a range of international and regional brands, including JPS, West, Davidoff, Gauloises, Gitanes, Lambert & Butler, Golden Virginia, Rizla and blu.

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