Sepio Capital LP Sells 940 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Sepio Capital LP trimmed its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 4.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,624 shares of the company’s stock after selling 940 shares during the period. Sepio Capital LP’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,368,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. 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 valued at $430,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,864 shares of the company’s stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC raised its position in Diageo by 8.6% in the 4th quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the company’s stock worth $163,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in Diageo by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $475,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on Diageo in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen upped their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Down 3.5 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $104.19 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $110.12 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $120.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The company has a market capitalization of $57.96 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $103.70 and a 52 week high of $144.28.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.