U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 13.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 70,746 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 8,434 shares during the quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $9,929,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 7.0% during the first quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,351,654 shares of the company's stock worth $349,785,000 after purchasing an additional 154,497 shares during the period. Markel Group Inc. lifted its position 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. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 7.1% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,127,576 shares of the company's stock valued at $142,165,000 after purchasing an additional 74,745 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its stake in Diageo by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,106,473 shares of the company's stock valued at $139,504,000 after purchasing an additional 23,435 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 931,740 shares of the company's stock worth $117,474,000 after purchasing an additional 88,159 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Diageo Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of DEO traded down $2.57 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $134.19. 430,354 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 762,659. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $119.48 and a 52 week high of $161.64. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $133.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.59 billion, a PE ratio of 19.47, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.69. 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 Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. Diageo's payout ratio is presently 71.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently commented on DEO shares. Bank of America upgraded shares of Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Diageo from a "neutral" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has a consensus rating of "Hold".

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.