London, May 16, 2026, 16:22 BST
British American Tobacco p.l.c. ended the week in London with most of its big weekly gain still in place. Shares slipped 1.98% on Friday to 4,864p, but the five-day gain totaled 13.99% according to MarketScreener. The London market closed the shares for the session.
The London Stock Exchange is closed Saturday and only trades on weekdays, opening 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. London time. Trading resumes Monday. This gives traders the full weekend to figure out if BAT’s move was really a breakout or just a crowded defensive play.
BAT had a quick week in trading. Shares gained 2.62% Monday, 5.82% Tuesday, 3.73% Wednesday and 3.22% Thursday. On Friday, BAT fell 1.98%, according to historical price data. The stock started at 4,267p on May 8 and ended at 4,864p on May 15. GBX is pence.
BATS shares fell Friday but stayed above the recent record. Numbers from AJ Bell put the trade high at 5,006p, with a prior close of 4,962p and 5.3 million shares changing hands. The stock’s dividend yield held just below 5%.
The rally followed a week where BAT finally got some relief from legal worries. A U.S. judge tossed the criminal case over alleged North Korea sanctions violations, after the Justice Department said BAT “fully complied” with a 2023 deferred prosecution deal and paid around $630 million. Reuters
Imperial Brands delivered a mixed update. The company said Tuesday a prolonged Iran war could push up costs and weigh on consumer demand, but said it hasn’t seen a material impact so far. CEO Lukas Paravicini said Imperial would keep an eye on the situation and respond as needed. The company, which Reuters said often prices below rivals like BAT and Philip Morris, posted a 16 basis-point fall in core-market share. A basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point.
BAT still points to cash returns and newer products as its main pitch. In December, the company announced a £1.3 billion buyback set for 2026, but also said revenue and adjusted operating profit would grow at the low end of its targets because of U.S. vape competition and regulatory issues. CEO Tadeu Marroco said at the time: “I’m trying to be cautious for 2026.” Reuters
Newer nicotine products are helping, but not enough to take all the pressure off. Reuters said this week BAT’s Velo nicotine pouch has picked up U.S. share from Philip Morris’s Zyn and Altria’s On! and sales of these newer offerings have grown.
Risks are still on the table. Currency pressures, Middle East troubles, soft consumer demand and U.S. rules could all hurt results. BAT Chair Luc Jobin told the April AGM that currency could cut 2026 adjusted diluted EPS by 2% to 3%, and delivery would lean toward the second half.
BATS starts Monday with a cautious outlook. Bulls need a move over 5,006p to keep momentum going this week. If it falls below Friday’s 4,836p low, the recent rally may be running out of steam. Analysts on Stockopedia have a 4,933.33p target, just 1.43% higher than Friday’s close, so after a 14% weekly gain, there’s not much space for disappointment.
