British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) Shares Sold by Sterling Capital Management LLC

Sterling Capital Management LLC decreased its holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 23.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 14,665 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,555 shares during the quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $533,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BTI. FMR LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco by 44.0% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,232,402 shares of the company’s stock valued at $371,641,000 after buying an additional 3,127,046 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 24.4% during the fourth quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 6,094,244 shares of the company’s stock valued at $221,343,000 after acquiring an additional 1,196,020 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 3,010,687 shares of the company’s stock worth $109,348,000 after purchasing an additional 137,231 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 2,565.4% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,079,322 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,521,000 after purchasing an additional 2,001,311 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter valued at $55,620,000. 16.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BTI opened at $42.33 on Friday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 52-week low of $28.62 and a 52-week high of $42.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.69 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $40.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.97.

British American Tobacco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.7491 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco’s dividend payout ratio is presently 60.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BTI. StockNews.com upgraded British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. UBS Group upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

British American Tobacco 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.