Scotia Capital Inc. Trims Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Scotia Capital Inc. lessened its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 300,622 shares of the company’s stock after selling 53,922 shares during the period. Scotia Capital Inc. owned approximately 0.05% of Diageo worth $38,219,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of DEO. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT raised its holdings in Diageo by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,383 shares of the company’s stock valued at $430,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC grew its position in Diageo by 5.0% during the 4th 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 grew its position in Diageo by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $236,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 8.6% during the 4th quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 1,286 shares of the company’s stock valued at $163,000 after acquiring an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,735 shares of the company’s stock valued at $475,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DEO has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

NYSE DEO opened at $107.36 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $108.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $120.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $59.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. 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 plc has a 1-year low of $100.72 and a 1-year high of $144.27.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.42%.

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.