Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Acquired by Bank of Montreal Can

Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 1,034.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 799,652 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 729,166 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.14% of Diageo worth $104,443,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado increased its holdings in Diageo by 4,665.2% in the fourth quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 482,713 shares of the company's stock valued at $70,312,000 after buying an additional 472,583 shares during the last quarter. Beacon Financial Group acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth about $296,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Diageo by 56.7% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company's stock worth $98,681,000 after purchasing an additional 245,255 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo by 16.4% in the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,069,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Diageo by 461.4% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,506,000 after purchasing an additional 58,048 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Down 2.3 %

DEO stock traded down $3.10 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $133.21. The company had a trading volume of 550,336 shares, compared to its average volume of 780,941. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $129.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $135.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on DEO shares. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Diageo from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating in a 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, Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold".

Diageo 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.