Merit Financial Group LLC Acquires New Shares in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor bought 8,960 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $262,000.

Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Intrust Bank NA increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 11,347 shares of the company’s stock worth $332,000 after acquiring an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 1.6% in the third quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 23,906 shares of the company’s stock valued at $759,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. Kennon Green & Company LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 0.3% during the third quarter. Kennon Green & Company LLC now owns 173,375 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,446,000 after purchasing an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 54,033 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,697,000 after buying an additional 477 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 27,696 shares of the company’s stock valued at $811,000 after buying an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 21.44% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com cut British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of British American Tobacco stock opened at $30.36 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $29.78 and a 200-day moving average of $30.09. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52-week low of $28.25 and a 52-week high of $35.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.7431 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $2.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.79%.

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.