Phraction Management LLC Sells 6,024 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Phraction Management LLC lessened its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 38.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 9,623 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,024 shares during the period. Phraction Management LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $1,223,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Canoe Financial LP raised its stake in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the 4th quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,031,465,000 after buying an additional 8,104,301 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its position in Diageo by 105.7% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 949,411 shares of the company's stock worth $133,240,000 after purchasing an additional 487,904 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 9.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company's stock valued at $735,671,000 after purchasing an additional 437,646 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Diageo by 52.3% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 853,640 shares of the company's stock valued at $119,800,000 after buying an additional 293,017 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Confluence Investment Management LLC raised 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 worth $170,623,000 after purchasing an additional 284,046 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE DEO traded down $1.93 on Monday, hitting $107.45. 864,158 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,096,495. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $105.72 and a 52-week high of $154.71. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $121.08 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $126.00.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on DEO shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

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.