HighTower Advisors LLC Decreases Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

HighTower Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 22.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 93,944 shares of the company’s stock after selling 26,742 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $11,943,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 15,942 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,027,000 after purchasing an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $276,000. Global View Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $340,000. King Luther Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $206,000. Finally, Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Ranch Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 3,862 shares of the company’s stock valued at $491,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $107.55 on Monday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $114.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $123.45. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $105.72 and a 12 month high of $149.44. 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 $59.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on DEO shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

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.