Diageo (NYSE:DEO) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) shares hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $100.72 and last traded at $101.61, with a volume of 782466 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $103.97.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. TD Cowen increased 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. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $108.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.01. 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 capitalization of $59.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.67, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company 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 dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.42%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Diageo

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT increased its position in Diageo by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,383 shares of the company’s stock worth $430,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,864 shares of the company’s stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC increased its position in Diageo by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 6,944 shares of the company’s stock worth $883,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,867 shares of the company’s stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co raised its stake in Diageo by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.