Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Bought by Guggenheim Capital LLC

Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 14.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,465 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,166 shares during the quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,715,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Diageo by 98,968.5% during the fourth quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,023,969 shares of the company’s stock worth $360,651,000 after acquiring an additional 2,021,926 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 13.2% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,725,502 shares of the company’s stock valued at $663,848,000 after buying an additional 433,105 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 22.1% during the 4th quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,519,860 shares of the company’s stock valued at $270,824,000 after purchasing an additional 275,377 shares in the last quarter. CI Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,520,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 262.3% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 222,692 shares of the company’s stock valued at $39,681,000 after purchasing an additional 161,228 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Diageo in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Diageo from GBX 4,500 ($56.73) to GBX 4,000 ($50.42) in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on Diageo from GBX 3,850 ($48.53) to GBX 3,800 ($47.90) in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Diageo from GBX 4,720 ($59.50) to GBX 4,440 ($55.97) in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $3,893.33.

Diageo Stock Down 2.9 %

Shares of DEO stock opened at $165.62 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $160.09 and a 1 year high of $191.93. The business’s fifty day moving average is $172.06 and its 200-day moving average is $175.70. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 25th will be given a dividend of $2.5089 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 24th. This is a boost from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.43. This represents a dividend yield of 2.4%.

About Diageo

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.