British American Tobacco Target of Unusually Large Options Trading (NYSE:BTI)

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Traders acquired 57,007 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 746% compared to the average volume of 6,737 call options.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI traded up $0.32 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $41.14. The company had a trading volume of 3,748,033 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,480,491. The company has a market cap of $85.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.45 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The company has a fifty day moving average of $39.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.62. British American Tobacco has a 12-month low of $28.25 and a 12-month high of $42.74.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be paid a $0.7491 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com raised British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group upgraded British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.0% in the fourth quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 8,904 shares of the company’s stock worth $323,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Keystone Financial Group boosted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Keystone Financial Group now owns 17,695 shares of the company’s stock worth $643,000 after acquiring an additional 267 shares during the period. Stokes Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Stokes Family Office LLC now owns 14,697 shares of the company’s stock worth $534,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 15,047 shares of the company’s stock valued at $547,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 35.1% in the fourth quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 299 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.