Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Holdings Increased by Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 4,222 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 460 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $615,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Planned Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. MCF Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the second quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Down 1.0 %

NYSE DEO opened at $136.07 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $147.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $146.61. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $135.63 and a 12-month high of $190.02.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on DEO shares. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Argus downgraded shares of Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3,778.00.

Diageo Profile

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.