Dillon & Associates Inc. Trims Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Dillon & Associates Inc. decreased its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 8.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,407 shares of the company’s stock after selling 210 shares during the period. Dillon & Associates Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $306,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Eastern Bank increased its stake in Diageo by 107.8% in the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

Diageo stock opened at $107.09 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $112.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $122.64. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $105.23 and a 1-year high of $149.44. 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 market cap 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.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on DEO. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Company Profile

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.