Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the eight ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $129.00.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th.

Diageo Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of DEO opened at $112.81 on Monday. 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 50 day simple moving average of $115.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $124.32. Diageo has a 1-year low of $105.72 and a 1-year high of $151.76. The stock has a market cap of $62.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.42%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Diageo

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DEO. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

About Diageo

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.