Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Acquires 171,831 Shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 43.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 565,723 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 171,831 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $32,031,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. City State Bank grew its position in British American Tobacco by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. City State Bank now owns 2,105 shares of the company’s stock valued at $112,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. grew its position in British American Tobacco by 48.6% in the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 633 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the last quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in British American Tobacco by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Signature Estate & Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,524 shares of the company’s stock valued at $612,000 after acquiring an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Ariadne Wealth Management LP grew its position in British American Tobacco by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ariadne Wealth Management LP now owns 6,530 shares of the company’s stock valued at $356,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MBA Advisors LLC grew its position in British American Tobacco by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. MBA Advisors LLC now owns 6,319 shares of the company’s stock valued at $335,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BTI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Weiss Ratings raised British American Tobacco from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, April 5th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

BTI opened at $56.70 on Thursday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $40.12 and a 12-month high of $63.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.57. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $59.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $56.92.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 29th will be given a dividend of $0.8349 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 29th. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.9%.

About British American Tobacco

British American Tobacco plc (BTI) is a multinational tobacco manufacturer and nicotine products company headquartered in London. Founded in 1902 as a joint venture to commercialize tobacco products outside the United States, the company has grown into one of the world’s largest tobacco firms with a long history in manufacturing and global distribution of combustible tobacco products.

BAT’s core business remains the manufacture and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products under a portfolio of well-known consumer brands, including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Kent and Rothmans.