Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by First Command Advisory Services Inc.

First Command Advisory Services Inc. lessened its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 17.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 441 shares of the company’s stock after selling 94 shares during the quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $56,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,383 shares of the company’s stock valued at $430,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,864 shares of the company’s stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co grew its position in Diageo by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock worth $236,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the period. Malaga Cove Capital LLC grew its position in Diageo by 3.4% in the third quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 3,001 shares of the company’s stock worth $421,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Cromwell Holdings LLC grew its position in Diageo by 8.6% in the fourth quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the company’s stock worth $163,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on DEO shares. TD Cowen increased 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 upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Down 1.8 %

DEO opened at $108.53 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $105.72 and a 52 week high of $153.36. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.72 and a 200-day simple moving average of $125.11. The firm has a market cap of $60.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given 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 currently 46.42%.

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.