April 24, 2025
Top 10 Stock British American Tobacco Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: British American Tobacco – Top 10 Stock in FTSE 100 Index
British American Tobacco is listed as a top 10 stock on April 24, 2025 in the market index FTSE 100 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, it is a solid investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is low. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 66 (high 66% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall buy recommendation for British American Tobacco on April 24, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
Country | United Kingdom |
Industry | Tobacco |
Index | FTSE All Shares, FTSE 100, FTSE 350, Dividends Europe, Employee Focus EU, Diversity Europe, Human Rights, Recycling |
Size class | XX-Large |

When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View British American Tobacco Buy
360 METRICS | April 24, 2025 | |||||||
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VALUE | ||||||||
VALUE | 63 |
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GROWTH | ||||||||
GROWTH | 68 |
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SAFETY | ||||||||
SAFETY | 38 |
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SENTIMENT | ||||||||
SENTIMENT | 69 |
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360° VIEW | ||||||||
360° VIEW | 66 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 66 (better than 66% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock British American Tobacco are above average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all but one indicator above average for British American Tobacco. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 63, which means that the share price of British American Tobacco is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 63% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 68, which means that the company experiences above-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth, as well as stock returns. In addition, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 69. But the company’s financing is risky with a Safety rank of 38. This means 62% of comparable companies have a safer financing structure than British American Tobacco. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 66, British American Tobacco is better positioned than 66% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Value Rank of 63), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 68), and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 69), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely, unless information not publicly available. Only the company financing structure is on the riskier side (Safety Rank of 38), but that would also mean better returns for shareholders if things work out well. Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. If they have been growing above average and are still a good value, it may indicate that this will not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of British American Tobacco is as difficult as the low price of the stock, despite good growth and positive professional investor sentiment, suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock is just not sufficiently visible right now, which may indicate good timing. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for British American Tobacco positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 69 (better than 69% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock British American Tobacco is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the metrics below and half above average for British American Tobacco. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 45 (worse than 55% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. Worse, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 37, which means that stock research experts are getting even more pessimistic. Other sentiment indicators are positive: The Professional Investors rank is 79, which means that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 79% of alternative investment opportunities. So, pros tend to favor investing in this company. In addition, Market Pulse has a rank of 67, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 67% of competitors). While stock research analysts are getting ever more critical, many professional investors are committed to British American Tobacco and the professional news channels are on the positive side. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 69 (more positive than 69% compared with investment alternatives), British American Tobacco has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. This is an ambiguous picture: analysts are negative and getting even more critical, while the news in the market is positive. Who should investors believe? This is a difficult question in such a situation. Investors should proceed cautiously and verify not only the financial performance in the Obermatt Value, Growth and Safety Ranks but also independent news coverage of the company. ...read more
Value Strategy: British American Tobacco Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 63 (better than 63% compared with alternatives), British American Tobacco shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for British American Tobacco. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 82 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 82% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning British American Tobacco's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 53, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 98. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 93% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 7). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 63, is a buy recommendation based on British American Tobacco's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that British American Tobacco has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing British American Tobacco shares. ...read more
Growth Strategy: British American Tobacco Growth Momentum good
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 68 (better than 68% compared with alternatives), British American Tobacco shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for British American Tobacco. Capital Growth has a rank of 72, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 26% of its competitors. Investors welcomed this, visible in the Stock Returns rank of 89 (above 89% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has only a rank of 41, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 59% of its competitors, and Profit Growth is also low at a rank of 26. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 68, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. This is an ambiguous picture. Revenue growth and capital growth are strong, but the growth in profit, which seems good, can also be an indication that growth momentum may be negative. The fact that stock returns have been above average doesn't help much, as stock returns are less reliable in showing a company’s future growth potential. Prices may perform well for the simple reason that investors were too pessimistic in the past and are now correcting their opinions and moving the stock price to a more reasonable level. As the growth picture is mixed for British American Tobacco, investors may want to look at value and sentiment indicators for a well-rounded picture of this stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: British American Tobacco Debt Financing Safety below-average
SAFETY METRICS | April 24, 2025 | |||||||
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LEVERAGE | ||||||||
LEVERAGE | 40 |
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REFINANCING | ||||||||
REFINANCING | 22 |
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LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
LIQUIDITY | 51 |
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CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 38 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 38 (better than 38% compared with alternatives), the company British American Tobacco has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of British American Tobacco is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for British American Tobacco. Liquidity is at 51, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 51% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 22, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 78% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 40, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 60% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 38 (worse than 62% compared with alternatives), British American Tobacco has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: British American Tobacco Above-Average Financial Performance
COMBINED PERFORMANCE | April 24, 2025 | |||||||
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VALUE | ||||||||
VALUE | 63 |
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GROWTH | ||||||||
GROWTH | 68 |
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SAFETY | ||||||||
SAFETY | 51 |
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COMBINED | ||||||||
COMBINED | 66 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 66 (better than 66% compared with investment alternatives), British American Tobacco (Tobacco, United Kingdom) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of British American Tobacco are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 63 (better than 63% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 68) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 38), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 66, is a buy recommendation based on British American Tobacco's financial characteristics. As the company British American Tobacco's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 63) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 68), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 38) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. ...read more
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