American Century Companies Inc. Raises Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 102,965 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,686 shares during the quarter. American Century Companies Inc.'s holdings in Diageo were worth $13,090,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Eastern Bank grew its holdings in Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 116.9% during the 4th quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 384 shares of the company's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DEO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. TD Cowen upped their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

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Diageo Price Performance

DEO traded down $3.82 during trading on Friday, reaching $104.19. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,580,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 911,621. The company has a market cap of $57.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.21, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $110.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $120.89. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $103.70 and a 1 year high of $144.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Diageo Company 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.