Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky Acquires 48,010 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI - Free Report) by 12.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 433,930 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 48,010 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky's holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $15,761,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BTI. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 17.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 38,873,006 shares of the company's stock worth $1,411,179,000 after purchasing an additional 5,673,619 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,594,361 shares of the company's stock worth $566,381,000 after buying an additional 47,439 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 44.0% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,232,402 shares of the company's stock valued at $371,641,000 after acquiring an additional 3,127,046 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its position in British American Tobacco by 24.4% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 6,094,244 shares of the company's stock worth $221,343,000 after acquiring an additional 1,196,020 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 3,010,687 shares of the company's stock worth $109,348,000 after purchasing an additional 137,231 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of BTI traded down $0.40 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $42.05. The company had a trading volume of 3,384,101 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,686,652. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $40.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.20. The company has a market capitalization of $87.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.63 and a beta of 0.38. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1-year low of $29.08 and a 1-year high of $43.12. 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 Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced 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 of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco's payout ratio is presently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.