Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by UMB Bank n.a.

UMB Bank n.a. cut its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 38.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 274 shares of the company’s stock after selling 168 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $29,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 10.9% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the company’s stock valued at $739,126,000 after acquiring an additional 571,873 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its position in Diageo by 234.4% in the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the company’s stock valued at $330,627,000 after purchasing an additional 1,822,994 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Diageo by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,540,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $195,883,000 after purchasing an additional 3,876 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in Diageo by 1,181.5% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,406,004 shares of the company’s stock valued at $178,745,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296,285 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Diageo by 9.3% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,220,534 shares of the company’s stock valued at $155,167,000 after purchasing an additional 103,540 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on DEO shares. Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $105.13 on Monday. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $100.72 and a 1-year high of $142.73. The stock has a market cap of $58.49 billion, a PE ratio of 15.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $110.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $113.88.

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.