WCM Investment Management LLC Increases Holdings in British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI

WCM Investment Management LLC increased its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 3,899.7% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,362,818 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 2,303,743 shares during the quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $137,658,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wealth High Governance Capital Ltda purchased a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth approximately $6,911,000. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in British American Tobacco by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 557,887 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,588,000 after purchasing an additional 23,141 shares during the period. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in British American Tobacco by 284.8% during the fourth quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,274 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,488,000 after purchasing an additional 19,446 shares during the period. M&T Bank Corp increased its position in British American Tobacco by 74.6% in the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 102,703 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,815,000 after buying an additional 43,886 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 771.1% in the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 739,687 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,881,000 after buying an additional 654,769 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

British American Tobacco Stock Performance

British American Tobacco stock opened at $62.89 on Monday. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 1-year low of $49.88 and a 1-year high of $67.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $61.88 and its 200 day simple moving average is $59.84.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BTI. Wall Street Zen cut British American Tobacco from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, June 13th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Monday, June 8th. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Thursday, May 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of British American Tobacco from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $51.00.

British American Tobacco Profile

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.