Ethic Inc. Makes New $316,000 Investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Ethic Inc. purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 6,723 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $316,000.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 12,021,231 shares of the company’s stock valued at $497,318,000 after buying an additional 2,040,011 shares during the period. GQG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 59.8% in the 1st quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 9,598,465 shares of the company’s stock valued at $397,089,000 after buying an additional 3,590,916 shares during the period. Newport Trust Company LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Newport Trust Company LLC now owns 2,774,460 shares of the company’s stock valued at $114,779,000 after buying an additional 31,205 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,473,942 shares of the company’s stock valued at $102,347,000 after buying an additional 35,926 shares during the period. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,447,083 shares of the company’s stock valued at $59,866,000 after buying an additional 42,531 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

British American Tobacco stock opened at $51.75 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $53.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $50.21. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $34.24 and a fifty-two week high of $59.29.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on BTI. Argus raised British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 price target for the company in a report on Monday, September 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded British American Tobacco from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, British American Tobacco presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Company 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.