QRG Capital Management Inc. Grows Position in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 13.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 202,261 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 24,727 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $11,826,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 12,870.7% in the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 9,470,709 shares of the company’s stock valued at $502,687,000 after acquiring an additional 9,397,693 shares during the period. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 20.7% during the 2nd quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 14,503,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $686,473,000 after purchasing an additional 2,482,737 shares during the period. Capital International Investors grew its position in British American Tobacco by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 64,057,419 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,399,352,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891,042 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in British American Tobacco by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,934,792 shares of the company’s stock worth $368,099,000 after purchasing an additional 1,578,860 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 85.1% in the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 2,757,559 shares of the company’s stock valued at $130,515,000 after purchasing an additional 1,267,425 shares during the period. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of British American Tobacco stock opened at $61.83 on Friday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a one year low of $47.54 and a one year high of $67.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $61.39 and a two-hundred day moving average of $59.56.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BTI. Citigroup reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Weiss Ratings raised British American Tobacco from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, June 13th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $51.00.

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.