Levin Capital Strategies L.P. Sells 1,721 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Levin Capital Strategies L.P. lowered its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 84,143 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,721 shares during the period. Levin Capital Strategies L.P.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $10,697,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Diageo in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Eastern Bank boosted 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 buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

DEO opened at $108.83 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $117.39 and a 200-day moving average price of $124.98. 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 market cap of $60.54 billion, a PE ratio of 15.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $105.72 and a 1 year high of $151.76.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on DEO. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $129.00.

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.