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

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $51.00.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of British American Tobacco from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 2nd. Kepler Capital Markets started coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, December 12th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, December 10th.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of BTI stock opened at $56.57 on Wednesday. British American Tobacco has a 12 month low of $34.82 and a 12 month high of $59.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The business’s 50 day moving average is $55.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.96.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BTI. Capital International Investors boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 64,057,419 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,399,352,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891,042 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 22,068,891 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,171,399,000 after acquiring an additional 559,189 shares in the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 20.7% in the 2nd quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 14,503,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482,737 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 12,870.7% during the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,470,709 shares of the company’s stock worth $502,687,000 after buying an additional 9,397,693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,934,792 shares of the company’s stock worth $368,099,000 after acquiring an additional 1,578,860 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

About British American Tobacco

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.