Diageo (LON:DGE) Hits New 52-Week Low - What's Next?

Diageo plc (LON:DGE - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as GBX 2,031 ($26.29) and last traded at GBX 2,032.73 ($26.31), with a volume of 30990139 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,051.50 ($26.55).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DGE has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded Diageo to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from GBX 2,300 ($29.77) to GBX 2,920 ($37.79) in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo to a "buy" rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($36.24) price target for the company in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a GBX 2,500 ($32.36) price objective on shares of Diageo in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of GBX 2,876.67 ($37.23).

Diageo Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of £45.32 billion, a PE ratio of 11.44, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 2,203.73 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,384.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 234.57.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a GBX 20.75 ($0.27) dividend. This represents a yield of 3.66%. This is an increase from Diageo's previous dividend of $0.63. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 20th. Diageo's dividend payout ratio is presently 44.25%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Diageo news, insider Nik Jhangiani sold 65,676 shares of Diageo stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,165 ($28.02), for a total value of £1,421,885.40 ($1,840,390.11). Insiders have bought a total of 19 shares of company stock valued at $43,455 in the last 90 days. 0.11% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Diageo Company Profile

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.