Colonial Trust Advisors Has $2.15 Million Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

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

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Diageo by 84.8% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 33,754 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,737,000 after acquiring an additional 15,487 shares in the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $95,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings 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 increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 2,089 shares of the company’s stock valued at $293,000 after acquiring an additional 417 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Coldstream Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Diageo by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,769 shares of the company’s stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Trading Up 5.6 %

Shares of DEO opened at $107.36 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $59.72 billion, a PE ratio of 15.67, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $100.72 and a 12 month high of $144.27. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $108.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.01.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment 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. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

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.