British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Short Interest Up 28.8% in October

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 6,440,000 shares, an increase of 28.8% from the October 15th total of 5,000,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,400,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 0.3% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on BTI shares. Morgan Stanley cut shares of British American Tobacco from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $33.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Barclays upgraded shares of British American Tobacco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 3.4% during the third quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 12,890 shares of the company’s stock worth $472,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 49.6% in the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 11,457 shares of the company’s stock valued at $419,000 after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 56.9% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 180,103 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,582,000 after buying an additional 65,351 shares during the last quarter. Garden State Investment Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the third quarter valued at about $286,000. Finally, Centiva Capital LP purchased a new position in British American Tobacco during the third quarter worth about $249,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 21.44% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 2.2 %

British American Tobacco stock traded up $0.77 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $36.26. The company had a trading volume of 3,444,366 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,774,350. British American Tobacco has a fifty-two week low of $28.25 and a fifty-two week high of $39.54. 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 business has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.20 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.06.

About British American Tobacco

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.