Investors Buy Large Volume of British American Tobacco Call Options (NYSE:BTI)

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors bought 9,892 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 50% compared to the typical daily volume of 6,607 call options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 17th. Bank of America initiated coverage on British American Tobacco in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, British American Tobacco currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $33.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 17.1% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 38,873,006 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,411,179,000 after acquiring an additional 5,673,619 shares during the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC raised its position in British American Tobacco by 59.8% during the first quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 9,598,465 shares of the company’s stock valued at $397,089,000 after purchasing an additional 3,590,916 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 44.0% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,232,402 shares of the company’s stock valued at $371,641,000 after purchasing an additional 3,127,046 shares during the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 12,021,231 shares of the company’s stock worth $497,318,000 after purchasing an additional 2,040,011 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 2,565.4% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,079,322 shares of the company’s stock valued at $75,521,000 after purchasing an additional 2,001,311 shares during the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of BTI stock traded up $0.97 on Wednesday, reaching $48.47. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 4,206,515 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,080,806. The company has a market capitalization of $100.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.94 and a beta of 0.31. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $43.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $40.23. The company has a current ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. British American Tobacco has a 1 year low of $30.29 and a 1 year high of $48.48.

About British American Tobacco

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.