Bridgewater Associates LP Increases Stock Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Bridgewater Associates LP grew its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 261.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,681,379 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,940,035 shares during the quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP owned 0.13% of British American Tobacco worth $97,388,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew 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 worth $26,000 after buying an additional 525 shares in the last quarter. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its position in 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 purchasing an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ORG Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 35.1% in the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,151 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 299 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on BTI. 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 shares of British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, January 27th.

British American Tobacco Stock Up 1.2 %

British American Tobacco stock traded up $0.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $42.33. The stock had a trading volume of 4,744,458 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,671,874. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $40.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.02. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a fifty-two week low of $29.07 and a fifty-two week high of $42.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $87.61 billion, a PE ratio of 8.69 and a beta of 0.38.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.7491 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio is currently 60.57%.

British American Tobacco 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.