Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) have received a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the eight brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $129.00.

DEO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th.

Diageo Trading Down 0.4%

Shares of DEO opened at $111.74 on Monday. Diageo has a twelve month low of $96.45 and a twelve month high of $142.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $62.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.31, a PEG ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.59. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $106.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.88.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Investors of record on Friday, October 17th will be paid a $2.5192 dividend. This represents a yield of 370.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. This is a positive change from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 72.55%.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,582 shares of the company’s stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC increased its position in Diageo by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,450 shares of the company’s stock worth $571,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Diageo by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,867 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC increased its position in Diageo by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter. Dorsey & Whitney Trust CO LLC now owns 3,287 shares of the company’s stock worth $331,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust lifted its position in Diageo by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 7,560 shares of the company’s stock worth $792,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Company 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.