Sepio Capital LP Sells 252 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Sepio Capital LP reduced its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 1.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,407 shares of the company’s stock after selling 252 shares during the period. Sepio Capital LP’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,573,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its stake in Diageo by 4,665.2% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 482,713 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,312,000 after acquiring an additional 472,583 shares during the period. Beacon Financial Group bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $296,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 56.7% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company’s stock valued at $98,681,000 after buying an additional 245,255 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo by 16.4% in the 1st quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Diageo by 461.4% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,506,000 after buying an additional 58,048 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on DEO shares. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE:DEO opened at $140.78 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $130.05 and a 200 day moving average of $135.07. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $119.48 and a 52-week high of $161.64.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th.

Diageo 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.