Avity Investment Management Inc. Purchases 3,250 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Avity Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 100.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,500 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,250 shares during the period. Avity Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $912,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,351,654 shares of the company’s stock worth $349,785,000 after buying an additional 154,497 shares in the last quarter. Markel Group Inc. grew its stake in Diageo by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 1,366,708 shares of the company’s stock worth $172,315,000 after buying an additional 6,300 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Diageo by 7.1% in the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,127,576 shares of the company’s stock worth $142,165,000 after buying an additional 74,745 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Diageo by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,106,473 shares of the company’s stock worth $139,504,000 after buying an additional 23,435 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 931,740 shares of the company’s stock worth $117,474,000 after buying an additional 88,159 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DEO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded up $0.56 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $134.69. 372,938 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 767,625. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. Diageo plc has a one year low of $119.48 and a one year high of $161.64. The business’s 50 day moving average is $131.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.34.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%.

Diageo 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.