Diageo (NYSE:DEO) Hits New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) reached a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $105.23 and last traded at $106.29, with a volume of 1642224 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $108.13.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DEO has been the subject of several research reports. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Diageo has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $59.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $112.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $122.90.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s payout ratio is 46.42%.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT boosted its holdings in Diageo by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,383 shares of the company’s stock worth $430,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,864 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 6,944 shares of the company’s stock worth $883,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo by 5.4% during the fourth quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,867 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co boosted its holdings in Diageo by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock worth $236,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.