International Assets Investment Management LLC Invests $15.39 Million in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 105,661 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,391,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Clearbridge Investments LLC grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,384,109 shares of the company’s stock worth $355,661,000 after acquiring an additional 10,269 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in Diageo by 2.4% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,187,543 shares of the company’s stock valued at $177,156,000 after buying an additional 27,851 shares during the period. HS Management Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 16.3% during the 4th quarter. HS Management Partners LLC now owns 706,205 shares of the company’s stock valued at $102,866,000 after buying an additional 98,819 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 26.6% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 659,034 shares of the company’s stock valued at $98,315,000 after buying an additional 138,406 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Westfield Capital Management Co. LP increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP now owns 495,284 shares of the company’s stock worth $73,886,000 after acquiring an additional 8,726 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, BNP Paribas lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,797.50.

Diageo Trading Up 0.6 %

DEO opened at $137.44 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $145.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $145.62. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $135.63 and a 1 year high of $188.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a yield of 2.7%.

Diageo Company 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.