Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Envestnet Asset Management Inc.

Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lowered its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 2.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 1,398,560 shares of the company's stock after selling 35,954 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. owned 0.25% of Diageo worth $177,799,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Canoe Financial LP grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 88,407.3% in the 4th quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company's stock worth $1,031,465,000 after acquiring an additional 8,104,301 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Diageo by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,220,534 shares of the company's stock worth $155,167,000 after purchasing an additional 103,540 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its holdings in Diageo by 14.2% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,132,046 shares of the company's stock valued at $143,917,000 after purchasing an additional 140,587 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its position in shares of Diageo by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,114,467 shares of the company's stock valued at $141,682,000 after buying an additional 58,206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $123,892,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Remove Ads

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on DEO. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. One 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

DEO stock traded up $2.48 during trading on Friday, hitting $109.52. The stock had a trading volume of 998,186 shares, compared to its average volume of 929,907. The stock has a market cap of $60.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.99, 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 company's 50 day moving average price is $107.97 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $119.65. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $100.72 and a 1-year high of $144.27.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given 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 is presently 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.