Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Receives Average Rating of "Reduce" from Analysts

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Reduce" from the eight analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company.

DEO has been the subject of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th.

Diageo Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of DEO traded up $0.38 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $123.95. 535,717 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 752,259. Diageo has a 52 week low of $119.48 and a 52 week high of $161.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $133.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $132.81.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of DEO. Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its stake in Diageo by 7.0% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,351,654 shares of the company's stock valued at $349,785,000 after buying an additional 154,497 shares in the last quarter. Markel Group Inc. raised its stake in Diageo by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 1,366,708 shares of the company's stock valued at $172,315,000 after purchasing an additional 6,300 shares during the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 30.5% in the 3rd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,215,786 shares of the company's stock valued at $170,623,000 after purchasing an additional 284,046 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Diageo by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,127,576 shares of the company's stock worth $142,165,000 after purchasing an additional 74,745 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.2% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,106,473 shares of the company's stock worth $139,504,000 after buying an additional 23,435 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

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.