Diageo plc $DEO Shares Purchased by Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC

Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 8.1% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,588 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 195 shares during the quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $202,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Diageo by 1.8% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 38,788 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,065,000 after acquiring an additional 703 shares during the last quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo by 5.3% during the first quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 39,419 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,131,000 after acquiring an additional 1,992 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Diageo by 26.9% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 2,697 shares of the company’s stock worth $283,000 after acquiring an additional 572 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo by 273.7% during the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,688 shares of the company’s stock worth $386,000 after acquiring an additional 2,701 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO stock opened at $97.76 on Thursday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $93.42 and a fifty-two week high of $135.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. The company has a market capitalization of $54.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $102.59 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.57.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be issued a $2.5192 dividend. This represents a yield of 516.0%. 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 currently 72.41%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $119.00.

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.