British American Tobacco (MEX:BATSN) Beneish M-Score: -2.34 (As of Aug. 04, 2026)

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MEX:BATSN British American Tobacco PLC MEX:BATSN
71 GF Score
Price MXN1,064.77
GF Value MXN722.88
! 6 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is British American Tobacco Beneish M-Score?

British American Tobacco MEX:BATSN 71 Beneish M-Score is -2.34 as of Aug. 04, 2026. GuruFocus rates MEX:BATSN with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of MXN722.88. The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 46 Tobacco Products companies, British American Tobacco ranks better than 50% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -2.34 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

MEX:BATSN' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -9.85   Med: -2.57   Max: -1.15
Current: -2.34

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of British American Tobacco was -1.15. The lowest was -9.85. And the median was -2.57.


British American Tobacco Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

British American Tobacco Beneish M-Score Chart

British American Tobacco Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.49 -2.50 -3.78 -2.64 -2.34

British American Tobacco Semi-Annual Data
Dec16 Jun17 Dec17 Jun18 Dec18 Jun19 Dec19 Jun20 Dec20 Jun21 Dec21 Jun22 Dec22 Jun23 Dec23 Jun24 Dec24 Jun25 Dec25 Jun26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 0.00 -2.64 0.00 -2.34 0.00

MEX:BATSN vs PM, MO, TPB: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Tobacco subindustry, British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


British American Tobacco Beneish M-Score vs Tobacco Products Industry

For the Tobacco Products industry and Consumer Defensive sector, British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score falls into.


MEX:BATSN
71GF Score
British American Tobacco PLC MEX:BATSN
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

British American Tobacco Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of British American Tobacco for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.0655+0.528 * 0.9922+0.404 * 1+0.892 * 0.9051+0.115 * 1.2242
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 0.9941+4.679 * 0.013011-0.327 * 0.9789
=-2.41

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Dec25) TTM:Last Year (Dec24) TTM:
Total Receivables was MXN91,643 Mil.
Revenue was MXN617,304 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN515,440 Mil.
Total Current Assets was MXN305,735 Mil.
Total Assets was MXN2,634,328 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was MXN108,058 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was MXN54,716 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was MXN27,069 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was MXN350,087 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was MXN764,290 Mil.
Net Income was MXN187,144 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN0 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was MXN152,868 Mil.
Total Receivables was MXN95,024 Mil.
Revenue was MXN682,016 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN565,055 Mil.
Total Current Assets was MXN376,879 Mil.
Total Assets was MXN3,134,920 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was MXN115,458 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was MXN80,733 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was MXN30,084 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was MXN494,183 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was MXN860,542 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(91643.469 / 617303.851) / (95023.948 / 682015.666)
=0.148458 / 0.139328
=1.0655

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(565055.002 / 682015.666) / (515440.28 / 617303.851)
=0.828507 / 0.834986
=0.9922

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (305735.34 + 108058.304) / 2634327.916) / (1 - (376879.11 + 115457.788) / 3134920.195)
=0.842922 / 0.842951
=1

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=617303.851 / 682015.666
=0.9051

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(80733.443 / (80733.443 + 115457.788)) / (54716.116 / (54716.116 + 108058.304))
=0.411504 / 0.336147
=1.2242

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(27068.81 / 617303.851) / (30083.886 / 682015.666)
=0.04385 / 0.04411
=0.9941

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((764290.141 + 350086.729) / 2634327.916) / ((860541.513 + 494182.535) / 3134920.195)
=0.423021 / 0.43214
=0.9789

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(187143.581 - 0 - 152867.67) / 2634327.916
=0.013011

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

British American Tobacco has a M-score of -2.41 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -2.34 mean?
British American Tobacco (MEX:BATSN) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.34 as of Aug. 04, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on British American Tobacco and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, British American Tobacco ranks #23 out of 46 companies in the Tobacco Products industry, placing it in the top 50%.
Is British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score too high?
British American Tobacco's current Beneish M-Score is -2.34. Based on the distribution chart, British American Tobacco ranks #23 out of 46 companies in the Tobacco Products industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, British American Tobacco has a GF Score™ of 71/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does British American Tobacco's Beneish M-Score compare to PM and MO?
According to the Tobacco Products industry distribution chart, British American Tobacco ranks #23 out of 46 companies for Beneish M-Score. This puts British American Tobacco in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Tobacco Products company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Tobacco Products industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on British American Tobacco and its competitors. British American Tobacco's current Beneish M-Score is -2.34. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is British American Tobacco stock overvalued right now?
British American Tobacco (MEX:BATSN) has a current Beneish M-Score of -2.34. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN722.88, compared to a current price of MXN1,064.77 — trading 47.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.34. British American Tobacco's overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For British American Tobacco (MEX:BATSN), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.34 as of Aug. 04, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is British American Tobacco (MEX:BATSN) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, British American Tobacco stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of MXN1,064.77 is trading 47.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of MXN722.88.

Key valuation signals for MEX:BATSN:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.34
  • GF Value™: MXN722.88 vs. price of MXN1,064.77 (47.3% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 71/100 with 6 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:BATSN stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


British American Tobacco Business Description

Address Globe House, 4 Temple Place, London, GBR, WC2R 2PG
The third-largest tobacco company by volume, British American Tobacco sold 465 billion cigarettes in 2025. Its leading brands are Dunhill, Kent, Pall Mall, Lucky Strike, and Rothmans in cigarettes. Its ownership of the Camel, Natural American Spirit, and Newport brands are limited to the US. In next-generation products, the company has the Vuse brand in vaping, Glo in heated tobacco, and Velo in modern oral tobacco. The company also owns a 22.9% stake in ITC limited, the largest Indian cigarette company.
71GF Score

Get the complete analysis for MEX:BATSN

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

MXN1,064.77
Price
MXN722.88
GF Value