Colonial Trust Advisors Sells 6,609 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Colonial Trust Advisors lessened its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 28.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 16,870 shares of the company’s stock after selling 6,609 shares during the quarter. Colonial Trust Advisors’ holdings in Diageo were worth $2,145,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 84.8% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 33,754 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,737,000 after purchasing an additional 15,487 shares in the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at $95,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Diageo by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,546 shares of the company’s stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC raised its position in Diageo by 24.9% during the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,089 shares of the company’s stock worth $293,000 after purchasing an additional 417 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Diageo by 10.3% during the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,769 shares of the company’s stock worth $525,000 after acquiring an additional 353 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

DEO stock opened at $107.36 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $108.30 and a 200-day moving average of $120.01. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $100.72 and a 12-month high of $144.27. The company has a market cap 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 disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s payout ratio is currently 46.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently commented on DEO. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of 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 stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average 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.