Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Avantax Advisory Services Inc.

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lowered its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 16.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,884 shares of the company's stock after selling 2,565 shares during the quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.'s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,638,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Essential Planning LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $745,000. Hopwood Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $99,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 19.1% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 17,257 shares of the company's stock worth $2,194,000 after purchasing an additional 2,773 shares in the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 30.1% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,923 shares of the company's stock worth $244,000 after purchasing an additional 445 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,735 shares of the company's stock worth $475,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. 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 equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

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Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $107.09. 781,489 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,108,415. 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's 50 day moving average price is $112.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $122.90. The firm has a market cap of $59.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.63, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $105.22 and a twelve month high of $149.44.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given 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 (DPR) is 46.42%.

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.