Gamco Investors INC. ET AL Sells 21,984 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Gamco Investors INC. ET AL reduced its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 7.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 256,573 shares of the company's stock after selling 21,984 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL's holdings in Diageo were worth $32,618,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the third quarter valued at $95,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 71.7% during the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 1,533 shares of the company's stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 640 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the third quarter worth about $5,510,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB lifted its position in Diageo by 550.1% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 10,532 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,478,000 after buying an additional 8,912 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Optimist Retirement Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 23.7% during the 3rd quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 16,681 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,341,000 after acquiring an additional 3,193 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DEO has been the topic of several analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank began coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded 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 given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Up 1.1 %

NYSE:DEO traded up $1.19 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $109.39. 1,291,703 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 926,769. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $100.72 and a twelve month high of $144.27. The firm has a market cap of $60.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.97, a P/E/G 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's fifty day moving average price is $107.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $118.57.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors 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 is Friday, February 28th. Diageo's dividend payout ratio is currently 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.