Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Stock Position Trimmed by Fiduciary Group LLC

Fiduciary Group LLC cut its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,720 shares of the company’s stock after selling 170 shares during the quarter. Fiduciary Group LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $346,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Eastern Bank raised its position in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $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 worth about $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have commented on DEO. TD Cowen boosted their price target 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. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $108.00 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $112.88 and its 200-day moving average is $122.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $105.23 and a 12-month high of $149.44.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

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.