About British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS)
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a Tobacco company operating in the Consumer Defensive sector. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. BATS has been publicly traded since 1995, giving it 31+ years of trading history.
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) has been publicly traded since 1995, making it a 31-year-old public company. It operates in the Tobacco industry within the Consumer Defensive sector. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and employs approximately 47,797 people. With a market capitalization of £98 billion, BATS is a large established company.
BATS trades on the London Stock Exchange and is classified as a large-cap-cap stock with a market capitalization of approximately £98 billion. The company employs approximately 47,797 people worldwide.
Key Statistics
- Current Price
- £4,519.00
- Market Cap
- £97.97B
- 52-Week High
- £4,876.92
- 52-Week Low
- £2,916.00
- Sector
- Consumer Defensive
- Industry
- Tobacco
BATS Investment Performance
BATS has gained 7.2% year-to-date in 2026. Over the past 5 years, a £1,000 investment in BATS would have grown to £1,649, representing a 64.9% total return. Since its IPO in 1995, a £1,000 investment would now be worth £13,649.
£1,000 Invested in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS)
How much would £1,000 invested in BATS be worth today?
What would £1,000 invested in BATS 1 year ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) in 2025 would be worth £1,413 as of March 2026, representing a +41.3% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BATS 3 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) in 2023 would be worth £1,536 as of March 2026, representing a +53.6% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BATS 5 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) in 2021 would be worth £1,649 as of March 2026, representing a +64.9% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BATS 10 years ago be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) in 2016 would be worth £1,125 as of March 2026, representing a +12.5% total return.
What would £1,000 invested in BATS at IPO be worth today?
A £1,000 investment in British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) at IPO would be worth £13,649 as of March 2026, representing a +1264.9% total return.
Monthly Returns Heatmap
Over the past 31+ years (374 months), British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) has averaged a monthly return of +0.91% with a median return of +1.17%. The stock had 223 positive months (60%) and 150 negative months (40%). The best month in BATS's history was March 2000 with a +32.6% return, while the worst was October 1999 at -22.6%. Historically, February tends to be the strongest month (averaging +2.2%), and August the weakest (-0.5%).
BATS's longest winning streak was 6 consecutive months of gains, while its longest losing streak was 6 consecutive months of losses. The best full year was 2000 with a cumulative return of +47.8%, and the worst was 2018 at -64.8%.
Annual Returns
Over 31 years of trading history, British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BATS) has delivered an average annual return of +10.58% with a median return of +12.08%. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is +7.69%. The stock posted gains in 25 years (81%) and losses in 6 years (19%).
BATS's best year was 2025 with a +46.42% gain, while the worst was 2018 at -50.15%. The longest streak of consecutive positive years was 9, and the longest losing streak was 1 years. BATS achieved double-digit gains (10%+) in 16 years. It suffered double-digit losses in 4 years.
| Year | Return | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | +7.24% | £4,214.00 | £4,519.00 |
| 2025 | +46.42% | £2,878.11 | £4,214.00 |
| 2024 | +25.57% | £2,291.96 | £2,878.11 |
| 2023 | -29.99% | £3,273.54 | £2,291.96 |
| 2022 | +20.13% | £2,725.10 | £3,273.54 |
| 2021 | +1.02% | £2,697.60 | £2,725.10 |
| 2020 | -16.14% | £3,216.68 | £2,697.60 |
| 2019 | +29.35% | £2,486.87 | £3,216.68 |
| 2018 | -50.15% | £4,988.72 | £2,486.87 |
| 2017 | +8.63% | £4,592.56 | £4,988.72 |
| 2016 | +22.60% | £3,746.04 | £4,592.56 |
| 2015 | +7.79% | £3,475.45 | £3,746.04 |
| 2014 | +8.14% | £3,213.92 | £3,475.45 |
| 2013 | +3.79% | £3,096.59 | £3,213.92 |
| 2012 | +2.18% | £3,030.39 | £3,096.59 |
| 2011 | +24.09% | £2,442.13 | £3,030.39 |
| 2010 | +22.22% | £1,998.09 | £2,442.13 |
| 2009 | +12.08% | £1,782.70 | £1,998.09 |
| 2008 | -8.36% | £1,945.41 | £1,782.70 |
| 2007 | +37.56% | £1,414.22 | £1,945.41 |
| 2006 | +9.96% | £1,286.12 | £1,414.22 |
| 2005 | +44.91% | £887.54 | £1,286.12 |
| 2004 | +16.61% | £761.10 | £887.54 |
| 2003 | +24.16% | £612.98 | £761.10 |
| 2002 | +6.58% | £575.15 | £612.98 |
| 2001 | +14.33% | £503.06 | £575.15 |
| 2000 | +45.05% | £346.81 | £503.06 |
| 1999 | -44.05% | £619.80 | £346.81 |
| 1998 | +25.53% | £493.73 | £619.80 |
| 1997 | +20.65% | £409.21 | £493.73 |
| 1996 | -9.92% | £454.29 | £409.21 |
BATS Investment Analysis: Valuation, Risk & Dividends
Key factors to consider when evaluating British American Tobacco p.l.c. as an investment
Valuation
BATS currently trades at a trailing P/E ratio of 12.9, which is considered low relative to the broader market. The forward P/E of 11.7 suggests analysts expect earnings to be lower in the coming year. The price-to-book ratio stands at 213.4. The price-to-sales ratio is 3.8.
Dividends
British American Tobacco p.l.c. pays a dividend to shareholders with a current yield of 5.42%. This translates to £2.45 per share annually. The payout ratio of 69% indicates moderate dividend coverage.
Risk & Volatility
BATS has a beta of 0.07, indicating it is less volatile than the overall market. The stock's 52-week range is £2916.00 to £4876.92, and it currently trades near its 52-week high.
Analyst Ratings
Based on 13 analyst opinions, BATS has a consensus "none" rating. The average price target of £4584.61 suggests 1.5% upside from current levels.
Frequently Asked Questions: BATS
What sector is BATS in? ▼
BATS operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically in the Tobacco industry.
How has BATS performed historically? ▼
Over 31 years of trading history, BATS has posted gains in 25 years (81% of the time). The best year was 2025 with a +46.4% return. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
How can I invest in BATS? ▼
You can invest in BATS through any brokerage account that offers access to the London Stock Exchange. Popular options include commission-free brokers like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Robinhood (US), or international brokers like Interactive Brokers. You can buy individual shares or invest through ETFs that hold BATS.
Does BATS pay dividends? ▼
British American Tobacco p.l.c. pays a dividend to shareholders with a current yield of 5.42%. This translates to £2.45 per share annually. The payout ratio of 69% indicates moderate dividend coverage.
What does British American Tobacco p.l.c. do? ▼
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a Tobacco company operating in the Consumer Defensive sector. The company is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.
What sector is BATS in? ▼
BATS operates in the Consumer Defensive sector, specifically in the Tobacco industry.
When did BATS go public? ▼
British American Tobacco p.l.c. went public in 1995, making it a 31-year-old public company as of 2026.
How much would £1,000 invested in BATS 5 years ago be worth today? ▼
A £1,000 investment in BATS five years ago would be worth approximately £1,649 today, representing a 64.9% return.
Does BATS pay dividends? ▼
Yes, British American Tobacco p.l.c. pays a dividend with a current yield of 5.42%, which is £2.45 per share annually.
What is BATS's market cap? ▼
British American Tobacco p.l.c. has a market capitalization of £98 billion, classifying it as a large-cap company.
What is BATS's P/E ratio? ▼
BATS has a trailing P/E ratio of 12.9 and a forward P/E of 11.7, which measures how much investors are paying per dollar of earnings.
Is BATS a buy, hold, or sell? ▼
Based on 13 opinions, BATS has a consensus "none" rating. The average price target is £4584.61.
Last updated: 3/14/2026