First National Trust Co Decreases Stock Holdings in Diageo plc $DEO

First National Trust Co lessened its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 5.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,146 shares of the company’s stock after selling 198 shares during the period. First National Trust Co’s holdings in Diageo were worth $317,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the first quarter worth about $30,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at about $30,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 84.0% during the 2nd quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 26th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $119.00.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $91.66 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Diageo plc has a one year low of $91.42 and a one year high of $132.34. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.83 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.21.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be issued a $2.5192 dividend. This is a positive change from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 516.0%.

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.