Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Stonegate Investment Group LLC

Stonegate Investment Group LLC decreased its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 17.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,618 shares of the company’s stock after selling 772 shares during the period. Stonegate Investment Group LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $508,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Diageo by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,158 shares of the company’s stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.3% during the second quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 3.4% during the second quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the company’s stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 1.1% in the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,146 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,143,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC grew its position in Diageo by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 3,181 shares of the company’s stock valued at $401,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup raised Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $139.42 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $77.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.86, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.69. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $133.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $133.93.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a $1.62 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. Diageo’s payout ratio is 71.37%.

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.