Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Stock Holdings Increased by Clarkston Capital Partners LLC

Clarkston Capital Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 193,049 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 659 shares during the quarter. Clarkston Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $24,542,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 56.9% in the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 5,634 shares of the company’s stock worth $716,000 after purchasing an additional 2,043 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of Diageo by 50.1% during the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,042 shares of the company’s stock worth $387,000 after buying an additional 1,016 shares in the last quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 23.6% in the 4th quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 5,650 shares of the company’s stock worth $718,000 after acquiring an additional 1,079 shares during the period. Cullen Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 19.9% in the fourth quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 720,763 shares of the company’s stock valued at $91,631,000 after acquiring an additional 119,424 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $216,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $104.19 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $57.96 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $110.12 and a 200-day moving average of $120.97. Diageo plc has a one year low of $103.70 and a one year high of $144.28.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on DEO. TD Cowen upped their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Diageo in a research note on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, 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.