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

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Investors acquired 57,007 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 746% compared to the average daily volume of 6,737 call options.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On British American Tobacco

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BTI. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in British American Tobacco by 294.9% during the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 703 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in British American Tobacco during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its position in British American Tobacco by 334.4% in the 4th quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 1,099 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.16% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

British American Tobacco Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE:BTI opened at $41.14 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $37.65. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $85.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.45 and a beta of 0.50. British American Tobacco has a 1-year low of $28.25 and a 1-year high of $42.74.

British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 28th will be given a $0.7491 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 28th. British American Tobacco’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 60.57%.

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.