British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) was upgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Kepler Capital Markets assumed coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, December 12th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Weiss Ratings raised British American Tobacco from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, November 28th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of BTI stock opened at $57.79 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $59.92 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.57. British American Tobacco has a 52 week low of $37.96 and a 52 week high of $63.22.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. WCM Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the third quarter worth about $1,612,000. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 44.3% in the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 421,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,389,000 after purchasing an additional 129,500 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 427,284 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,680,000 after purchasing an additional 24,114 shares during the period. AdvisorShares Investments LLC grew its stake in British American Tobacco by 252.5% during the 3rd quarter. AdvisorShares Investments LLC now owns 24,846 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,319,000 after buying an additional 17,798 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. increased its position in British American Tobacco by 8.7% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 3,779,137 shares of the company’s stock worth $200,597,000 after buying an additional 303,136 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

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.