Diageo (NYSE:DEO) Hits New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)’s share price reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $112.75 and last traded at $112.58, with a volume of 90209 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $115.95.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently commented on DEO shares. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Down 2.8 %

The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $122.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $127.13.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CORDA Investment Management LLC. increased its stake in Diageo by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. CORDA Investment Management LLC. now owns 232,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,588,000 after purchasing an additional 658 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Diageo by 14.4% during the fourth quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,830 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,377,000 after buying an additional 1,364 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in Diageo by 3,073.4% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 209,510 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,635,000 after purchasing an additional 202,908 shares during the period. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in Diageo by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 156,645 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,914,000 after acquiring an additional 1,809 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

About Diageo

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. The company offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavored malt beverages. It also provides Chinese, Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as flavored malt beverages, ready to drink, and non-alcoholic products.