Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Increases Stock Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 4.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,686 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 581 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $525,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,293,782 shares of the company’s stock worth $46,990,000 after buying an additional 39,035 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 66,788 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,408,000 after acquiring an additional 853 shares during the period. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in British American Tobacco by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,191 shares of the company’s stock worth $334,000 after purchasing an additional 329 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 14.1% in the 4th quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 14,710 shares of the company’s stock valued at $534,000 after purchasing an additional 1,820 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 33.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,438,016 shares of the company’s stock valued at $88,549,000 after purchasing an additional 612,907 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

BTI opened at $59.0150 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.12, a PEG ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $34.17 and a 12-month high of $59.15. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $51.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.40.

British American Tobacco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a $0.7391 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 599.0%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. British American Tobacco’s payout ratio is presently 64.68%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Friday, August 15th. Bank of America started coverage on British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $40.00.

British American Tobacco Company Profile

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.