British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,190,000 shares, an increase of 33.9% from the January 31st total of 5,370,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,220,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Approximately 0.3% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on BTI shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group raised British American Tobacco from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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

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British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of BTI traded up $0.70 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $40.86. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,488,764 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,659,421. The stock's 50-day moving average is $38.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $84.74 billion, a PE ratio of 8.39 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.76. British American Tobacco has a one year low of $28.25 and a one year high of $42.74.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be issued a $0.7491 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.57%.

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.