Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT Decreases Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT lowered its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 5.0% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 4,035 shares of the company’s stock after selling 213 shares during the period. Bradley Foster & Sargent Inc. CT’s holdings in Diageo were worth $513,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DEO. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. now owns 2,736 shares of the company’s stock worth $348,000 after buying an additional 271 shares during the last quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the company’s stock valued at $163,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. First Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 265.4% in the fourth quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 8,522 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,083,000 after acquiring an additional 6,190 shares in the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 10.0% in the fourth quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 2,475 shares of the company’s stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Timber Creek Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 26.1% in the fourth quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC now owns 41,588 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,287,000 after acquiring an additional 8,613 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $110.54 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $119.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $125.49. The stock has a market cap of $61.49 billion, a PE ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. Diageo plc has a one year low of $105.72 and a one year high of $154.71.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 73.28%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the company. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

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.