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

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the target of a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,270,000 shares, a decline of 21.7% from the December 31st total of 6,730,000 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,760,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.4 days.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

BTI traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $39.64. 2,331,642 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,031,379. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $37.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $36.44. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. British American Tobacco has a 52 week low of $28.25 and a 52 week high of $39.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on BTI. Barclays upgraded British American Tobacco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. UBS Group upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 12th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC increased its holdings in British American Tobacco by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Key Client Fiduciary Advisors LLC now owns 15,047 shares of the company’s stock worth $547,000 after buying an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. ORG Partners LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 35.1% during the fourth 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 period. First City Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in British American Tobacco by 2.8% in the third quarter. First City Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,890 shares of the company’s stock worth $398,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust raised its stake in British American Tobacco by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 3,176 shares of the company’s stock valued at $116,000 after buying an additional 314 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Greenleaf Trust lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 21,211 shares of the company’s stock valued at $776,000 after buying an additional 376 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.