Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (ITYBY) Upgraded by Zacks Investment Research to Hold

Source from:  WKRB 12/15/2015

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCMKTS:ITYBY) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat reports.

According to Zacks, "Imperial Tobacco's strategy is based on five key objectives: To focus on tobacco and tobacco-related products, to strengthen home market positions in the UK and Germany, to extend international presence through both organic growth and acquisitions, to pursue opportunities for profitable international development in selected markets, and to continue to increase productivity and control costs through capital investment in new technology. "

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on ITYBY. Citigroup Inc. raised shares of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, November 23rd. Deutsche Bank reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC currently has an average rating of Buy.

Shares of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCMKTS:ITYBY) opened at 103.665 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $49.43 billion and a PE ratio of 19.333. The firm's 50 day moving average is $106.93 and its 200 day moving average is $103.04. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC has a 12 month low of $83.42 and a 12 month high of $110.24.

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (OTCMKTS:ITYBY) is a tobacco company. The Company's portfolio consists of Growth, Specialist and Portfolio Brands. Its growth brands include Davidoff, Gauloises Blondes, JPS, West, Fine, News, USA Gold, Bastos, Lambert & Butler and Parker & Simpson. Its specialist brands consist of a range of cigarette, fine cut tobacco, paper, and cigar and smokeless tobacco brands. Portfolio Brands are a mix of local and regional offerings that fulfil a variety of roles. Imperial Tobacco comprises two distinct businesses: Tobacco and Logistics. The Tobacco business comprises the manufacture, marketing and sale of tobacco and tobacco-related products, including sales to (but not by) the Logistics business. The Logistics business comprises the distribution of tobacco products for tobacco product manufacturers, including Imperial Tobacco, as well as a range of non-tobacco products and services. Enditem