Townsend & Associates Inc Acquires 4,100 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Townsend & Associates Inc raised its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 4.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 98,926 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,100 shares during the quarter. Townsend & Associates Inc’s holdings in Diageo were worth $11,844,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT lifted its position in shares of 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 lifted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co lifted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 3,001 shares of the company’s stock valued at $421,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cromwell Holdings LLC lifted its position 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 buying an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $110.54 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $105.72 and a 52 week high of $154.71. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $119.17 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $125.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The company has a market cap of $61.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is currently 73.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. TD Cowen upped their price target on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus 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.