Clarkston Capital Partners LLC Boosts Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Clarkston Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 193,049 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 659 shares during the quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $24,542,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans acquired a new position in Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth $261,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Diageo by 84.8% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 33,754 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,737,000 after purchasing an additional 15,487 shares in the last quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. increased its holdings in Diageo by 87.7% in the third quarter. Hilltop Holdings Inc. now owns 3,234 shares of the company’s stock valued at $454,000 after buying an additional 1,511 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 16.4% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 120,686 shares of the company’s stock valued at $16,947,000 after buying an additional 16,999 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IHT Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 100.7% during the 3rd quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,946 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,114,000 after buying an additional 3,986 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $104.19 on Friday. 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 $57.96 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $103.70 and a 1-year high of $144.28. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $110.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.97.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued 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 (DPR) is presently 46.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DEO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating for the company. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target 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.