Short Interest in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Expands By 33.2%

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,100,000 shares, an increase of 33.2% from the February 28th total of 7,580,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,380,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.3 days. Currently, 0.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BTI. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake 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 during the period. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its position in British American Tobacco by 334.4% in 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 during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of British American Tobacco stock traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $41.12. The company had a trading volume of 3,910,100 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,577,545. The company’s 50-day moving average is $40.05 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.67. British American Tobacco has a twelve month low of $28.25 and a twelve month high of $42.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The company has a market cap of $85.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.44 and a beta of 0.50.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced 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 is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com raised British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group raised shares of British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th.

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.