Transcend Capital Advisors LLC Sells 1,347 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Transcend Capital Advisors LLC lessened its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 20.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,251 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,347 shares during the period. Transcend Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $668,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Legacy Capital Group California Inc. now owns 2,736 shares of the company’s stock valued at $348,000 after buying an additional 271 shares during the period. Cromwell Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 8.6% during the fourth quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the company’s stock worth $163,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. First Bank & Trust grew its stake in Diageo by 265.4% in the fourth quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 8,522 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,083,000 after acquiring an additional 6,190 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 10.0% in the fourth quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 2,475 shares of the company’s stock worth $315,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Timber Creek Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Diageo by 26.1% during the fourth quarter. Timber Creek Capital Management LLC now owns 41,588 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,287,000 after purchasing an additional 8,613 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $110.54 on Friday. Diageo plc has a one year low of $105.72 and a one year high of $154.71. The company has a market cap of $61.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $119.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.49. 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 Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is 73.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen raised their price target on 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 report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo 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.