How to Buy British American Tobacco Shares UK

This latest edition will provide a suggestive guide on how to buy British American Tobacco shares in the UK. There are quite a few different steps that you might need to take in order to buy shares in British American Tobacco, so you might find some useful information about finding a good trading platform, conducting research into the company, and other useful tips.

Also consider: Best stocks and shares to buy now

This is only a suggestive guide and does not constitute or amount to investment advice. Please bear in mind that buying, investing, and trading shares/stocks, including British American Tobacco shares, is highly risky, and nothing is guaranteed.

British American Tobacco (BATS) Live share price

6 Simple Steps on How to Buy British American Tobacco Shares UK

Here is a very simple example of the steps you might need to take to start buying shares in a company like British American Tobacco. This is only an example and a suggestive guide and is not a comprehensive guide.

Step One: Choosing the Right Trading Platform

One of the most common steps to take is to choose a suitable trading platform. Now that there are so many different platforms and online brokers to choose from, it can be tricky to know which platform is best.

That is why it can be beneficial to set aside some time and browse all of the options available to you. Everyone is going to have different expectations and demands from a service, and each platform and brokerage is likely to offer very different experiences.

A platform or brokerage is where you are going to be doing most of your trading and buying of shares, so it does count to land on a platform or brokerage that suits your individual needs. It can be useful to check out the latest and most up-to-date reviews from other users to get an idea of what their services are like.

Another tip is to find a platform or brokerage that is not only reputable but is also properly authorised and regulated by an official financial authority, such as the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

Step Two: Registering for a New Trading Account

Another common step to take is to register for a new trading/investment account if you do not yet have one set up. In order to register and open a new account, you will need to find yourself a good account provider.

Just like with platforms, account providers are now numerous, and there are plenty to choose from. This is also another instance where checks need to be done to make sure the provider is properly regulated and authorised by an official financial authority.

Setting up a new account is relatively straightforward. Different account providers may ask for different things to set up an account, but the most common steps needed are to provide some basic personal details. This can include a full name, address, National Insurance Number, and bank details.

Also, due to the sensitive nature of trading/investment accounts, a new account may only be activated once the trader’s identity has been verified. Normally this can be done via supplying the provider with a form of official identification, such as a passport or driver’s license. The provider should clarify this for each new customer.

Step Three: Funding your Share Purchases

Another step is to consider how you are going to fund your share purchases. It can be useful to work out how much you can afford to spend on buying British American Tobacco stock and whether your other financial commitments that are more important will limit or prohibit your options.

When it comes to funding your share purchases, you will need to deposit funds. This can normally be done through several payment methods, which can usually include debit and credit card payments and direct bank transfers. Some providers may also offer alternative payment options, such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill.

Be aware that some providers and platforms may charge deposit fees and withdrawal fees whenever a transaction is made. They may also attribute a minimum deposit amount. Be sure to check with the service provider directly to avoid any nasty surprises.

Step Four: Search for the British American Tobacco Stock Market Code on your Trading Platform

Once you have a platform and an account sorted, you should consider searching for British American Tobacco on the stock market by using the company’s unique ticker code. You could just search for the company directly via the search bar on your platform, but things are made even easier with the ticker code.

According to the London Stock Exchange, the ticker code for British American Tobacco is ‘BATS’. Searching for BATS using the ticker code can be useful to find out information about the company very quickly. The information could include the current market information, the current share price, and options to buy and sell shares.

Step Five: Do Your Research into British American Tobacco Stock

This next step is considered to be one of the most important steps. Doing your own research into a company before buying shares in that company can be very beneficial and helpful.

Although researching might be time-consuming and somewhat tedious, it can make all the difference and help you make a more informed decision. A top thing to bear in mind before you buy shares and when doing research is to think about whether now is the best time to buy shares in the company. This is also a personal question as the answer may differ between traders/investors.

Ultimately, it can be useful to do research up to and even beyond a point where you can answer this question and be comfortable in your decision. There are a number of different factors you should consider.

Shares are always subject to change and will fluctuate at any time. This can even occur during a single trading day. According to the London Stock Exchange, the normal trading day hours are between 08:00 and 16:30 GMT.

There are quite a lot of different pieces of information that could be helpful in making a decision. This can range from the company’s past performance, their ongoing or previous business model, the ex-dividend date, the market capitalisation, past and current stock value, the company number and VAT number, the number of shares the company has, dividend information, and projected profits. This is only a sample of what a trader might look into.

It is also worth comparing British American Tobacco with other companies that operate in the same industry. Some may find it helpful to look at forecasts from other traders and professionals, however, forecasts are only ever speculative and are not guarantees.

If things get confusing or not making sense, then it could be worth seeking personal advice from a professional or financial consultant. For a set fee, they can give you an idea as to whether it is worth it to buy, invest or trade shares in British American Tobacco.

Step Six: Are You Ready to Buy British American Tobacco Shares?

If you have considered the previous steps, then it might be time to start thinking about whether you are ready to buy shares in British American Tobacco.

One final factor that you should take into account is to figure out what your financial aims and investment objectives are. It can be useful to make a note of these objectives and place them alongside your personal finances/affordability. Remember, buying, trading and investing will put your capital at risk, and there are no guarantees.

A Brief Overview of British American Tobacco plc

First established in 1902, British American Tobacco plc, also known as BAT, operates in the tobacco manufacturing industry. It is a British company that produces and sells tobacco, cigarettes, and other products that contain nicotine.

It is reported that British American Tobacco is recognised as the world’s largest tobacco company as of 2019, based on the total net sales. At the moment, it is also reported that BAT operates in 180 counties. They have a number of cigarette brands.

The company headquarters is based in London, but it operates on a worldwide basis. The current Chairman is Luc Jobin. The current CEO is Jack Bowles.

British American Tobacco is primarily listed on the London Stock Exchange. The London Stock Exchange ticker code is ‘BATS’. It is also a component of the FTSE 100 Index. BAT also has a number of secondary listings on the New York Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Things to Consider Before Buying British American Tobacco Shares

There can be quite a lot of factors to consider before jumping straight into buying shares in a company. Here are some things you might want to think about before you start the process of buying shares in British American Tobacco.

Researching British American Tobacco

Researching can be one of the most important and beneficial things to do before buying shares/stock in a company like British American Tobacco. Although it can be very hard to tell whether trading, buying and investing in a company is going to lead to positive or negative outcomes, doing a lot of research beforehand can be useful.

There are a number of different things to think about when carrying out research, but it can be useful to compile enough information until you feel comfortable to make a decision. A good thing that you might want to bear in mind is the question of whether now is the best or even a good time to buy shares in British American Tobacco.

Seeking out personal advice from a professional can also prove helpful in this situation. They may be able to give you some valuable advice on the current state of the market and whether this could be a good move for you personally.

Consider your Existing Investment Portfolio

Another factor to take into consideration before buying shares is to think carefully about how such a purchase or investment could impact your existing investments. If you have a portfolio, then it can be useful to plan out how buying, trading or investing in new stocks could affect your portfolio, both in the short term and long term.

Obviously, it is difficult to know whether an investment is going to work out favourably for you, and it is equally difficult to know whether it will have positive or negative impacts on your portfolio. Some investors may seek out independent advice from a professional consultant if they need clarification about things. They may be able to provide some advice and a different perspective on a new investment opportunity. Looking for personal advice is likely going to cost additional fees.

And, if you do not yet have a portfolio of investments, then you should think carefully about whether you are ready to take on the responsibility of having one. Maintaining a portfolio does take time, dedication and commitment, and portfolios can sometimes get confusing.

Think About your Investment Objectives and Personal Finances

Another important factor sometimes overlooked is thinking about your individual investment objectives and your personal finances. It can be useful to make a note of what you are hoping to get out of a new investment and what your overall plan is.

It may also prove important to work out what you can afford to invest. Investments are typically seen as a luxury, and it can be very dangerous, and there could be risks to your existing, more important financial commitments. Buying, trading and investing in stocks/shares will put your capital at risk, and there are no guarantees.

Try to take some time to work out your personal finances and be as realistic and honest with yourself on what you can feasibly afford to do. Compare this with your investment objectives, and it can help to work out if you can or should buy, trade or invest in a company’s stock.

Does British American Tobacco plc Make Dividend Payments?

Yes, British American Tobacco does pay dividends to shareholders who own dividend-paying shares. Not all shares and ownerships are the same, and some may pay dividends, whereas others may not.

Dividends are payments made to shareholders by the company when the board of directors decides to release their profits. Dividend payments are typically paid out to shareholders on a quarterly basis, although this may vary.

Dividend payments are usually made to shareholders in cash. Although some companies might offer shareholders the chance to reinvest their dividends back into the company. However, only some companies have this as an option, so it is best to check with them directly.

Dividend Yield

The dividend yield is a helpful tool that helps to show prospective investors and current share owners how much a company could pay out in dividends. The yield is a good way of showing whether buying dividend-paying shares might be a good option.

Calculating the dividend yield is quite simple. It is done relative to the current share price. The total amount of annual dividends per share is divided by the price per share.

FAQs About Buying British American Tobacco Shares

Please note

The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.

Useful resources

• NASDAQ
• London Stock Exchange
• Financial Conduct Authority
• British American Tobacco on Wikipedia