Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Call Options on British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI)

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Investors acquired 534,392 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 10,434% compared to the average volume of 5,073 call options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

BTI has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of British American Tobacco from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Argus raised British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, September 8th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, November 28th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $51.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 1st quarter valued at about $253,000. Ieq Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 12.5% in the first quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 15,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $625,000 after buying an additional 1,683 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 1st quarter valued at $499,000. State of Wyoming purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 1st quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Vident Advisory LLC grew its holdings in British American Tobacco by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 36,805 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,523,000 after acquiring an additional 3,511 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE BTI opened at $56.95 on Tuesday. 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 simple moving average of $55.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $53.91. British American Tobacco has a 1-year low of $34.82 and a 1-year high of $59.29.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

British American Tobacco plc (BTI) is a multinational tobacco manufacturer and nicotine products company headquartered in London. Founded in 1902 as a joint venture to commercialize tobacco products outside the United States, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest tobacco firms with a long history in manufacturing and global distribution of combustible tobacco products.

BAT’s core business remains the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products under a portfolio of well-known consumer brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Kent and Rothmans.