HighTower Advisors LLC Sells 26,742 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

HighTower Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 22.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 93,944 shares of the company's stock after selling 26,742 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $11,943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in Diageo in the third quarter worth about $25,000. Eastern Bank increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth approximately $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $129.00.

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Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO traded up $1.56 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $108.00. 844,931 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 854,246. Diageo plc has a one year low of $105.23 and a one year high of $149.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The business has a 50-day moving average of $113.22 and a 200 day moving average of $123.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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