Mariner LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Mariner LLC grew its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 14.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 57,828 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 7,127 shares during the period. Mariner LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $7,351,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company's stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $47,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded up $0.61 on Thursday, hitting $111.56. 319,998 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,177,198. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $100.72 and a 12 month high of $144.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $108.07 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $118.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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 issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo's dividend payout ratio is presently 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.