British American Tobacco p.l.c. $BTI Holdings Raised by China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.

China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) by 321.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,073 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 45,069 shares during the period. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd.’s holdings in British American Tobacco were worth $2,817,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of British American Tobacco by 16.8% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 186,084 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,698,000 after acquiring an additional 26,721 shares during the period. Boston Partners increased its position in shares of British American Tobacco by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 61,443 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,542,000 after purchasing an additional 3,856 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of British American Tobacco by 4.8% in the first quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 12,686 shares of the company’s stock valued at $525,000 after buying an additional 581 shares during the period. Fox Run Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco in the first quarter valued at $865,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC boosted its stake in British American Tobacco by 42.2% during the first quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 29,150 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,206,000 after buying an additional 8,650 shares in the last quarter. 16.16% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BTI opened at $57.05 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $54.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.06. British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a 12-month low of $34.82 and a 12-month high of $59.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BTI shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “underweight” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of British American Tobacco from a “sector perform” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 2nd. Argus raised British American Tobacco from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, September 8th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of British American Tobacco in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, British American Tobacco presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.00.

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.