British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the ten ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and seven have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $51.00.

A number of brokerages have commented on BTI. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, November 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut British American Tobacco from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating and set a $40.00 price objective on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Argus raised shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, September 8th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. raised its position in British American Tobacco by 27.7% during the 1st quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 141,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,833,000 after purchasing an additional 30,600 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. raised its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 28.8% during the first quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 25,726 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,074,000 after acquiring an additional 5,745 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT lifted its stake in British American Tobacco by 46,488.4% in the second quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 173,309 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,203,000 after acquiring an additional 172,937 shares during the period. Todd Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 26.9% in the first quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 741,893 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,692,000 after acquiring an additional 157,251 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in British American Tobacco by 5,610.5% during the 1st quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 4,911 shares of the company’s stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 4,825 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

NYSE BTI opened at $57.03 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $53.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $52.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55. British American Tobacco has a 52 week low of $34.82 and a 52 week high of $59.29.

About British American Tobacco

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.