HighPoint Advisor Group LLC Increases Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

HighPoint Advisor Group LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 16.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,901 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 564 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $496,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Canoe Financial LP boosted its stake in Diageo by 88,407.3% in the 4th quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,031,465,000 after purchasing an additional 8,104,301 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,220,534 shares of the company’s stock worth $155,167,000 after acquiring an additional 103,540 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Diageo by 14.2% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,132,046 shares of the company’s stock valued at $143,917,000 after acquiring an additional 140,587 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its holdings in Diageo by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,114,467 shares of the company’s stock valued at $141,682,000 after acquiring an additional 58,206 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $123,892,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of DEO opened at $106.64 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The business has a fifty day moving average of $110.75 and a 200 day moving average of $121.35. The company has a market cap of $59.32 billion, a PE ratio of 15.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $103.70 and a 52-week high of $148.38.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on DEO shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price 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.