Short Interest in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Decreases By 21.7%

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,270,000 shares, a decline of 21.7% from the December 31st total of 6,730,000 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 3,760,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.4 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on BTI. StockNews.com lowered shares of British American Tobacco from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. UBS Group upgraded British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Barclays raised British American Tobacco to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. ORG Partners LLC increased its position in British American Tobacco by 35.1% during 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. Kieckhefer Group LLC purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 153.7% in the third quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 1,243 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 753 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Continuum Advisory LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 122.8% in the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,357 shares of the company's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 748 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company's stock.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

NYSE BTI traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $39.76. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,056,980 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,225,874. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company's 50-day moving average is $37.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $36.49. British American Tobacco has a 1-year low of $28.25 and a 1-year high of $39.85.

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.