Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC Reduces Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC decreased its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 20.6% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 58,594 shares of the company’s stock after selling 15,170 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $7,449,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in Diageo during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. 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 analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $105.25 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $111.55 and a 200 day moving average of $121.90. The company has a market cap of $58.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $104.80 and a 12-month high of $149.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company 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 is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s payout ratio is currently 46.42%.

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.