British American Tobacco (NYSE:BTI) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)’s share price gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $40.25, but opened at $41.50. British American Tobacco shares last traded at $41.42, with a volume of 1,399,744 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on BTI. StockNews.com raised shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report 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.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $86.71 billion, a PE ratio of 8.60 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $40.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.69.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

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 payout ratio is 60.57%.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in British American Tobacco by 294.9% during the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 334.4% during the fourth quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,099 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 846 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

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.