British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Short Interest Update

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on BTI. Morgan Stanley lowered shares of British American Tobacco from an “overweight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $33.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Barclays upgraded British American Tobacco to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th.

Institutional Trading of British American Tobacco

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. FMR LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 67.7% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,105,356 shares of the company’s stock worth $259,914,000 after buying an additional 2,868,675 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 7.7% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 2,873,456 shares of the company’s stock worth $105,111,000 after buying an additional 206,117 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 7.9% in the second quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 779,478 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,109,000 after buying an additional 57,016 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in British American Tobacco in the third quarter worth $28,183,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the third quarter worth $27,118,000. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE BTI traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.91. 3,667,364 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,204,041. The company’s 50 day moving average is $36.74 and its 200 day moving average is $35.96. British American Tobacco has a one year low of $28.25 and a one year high of $39.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

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.