Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Short Interest Update

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 638,200 shares, a decline of 15.9% from the February 28th total of 759,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,080,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.6 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO stock traded down $3.82 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $104.19. The company had a trading volume of 3,580,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 911,621. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $110.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.97. Diageo has a 12 month low of $103.70 and a 12 month high of $144.28. The firm has a market cap of $57.96 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo's dividend payout ratio is presently 46.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently issued reports on DEO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. TD Cowen boosted their target price 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. Finally, Berenberg Bank began coverage on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Diageo presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Diageo

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Canoe Financial LP raised its stake in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth 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. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 234.4% in the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the company's stock worth $330,627,000 after purchasing an additional 1,822,994 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 1,181.5% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,406,004 shares of the company's stock valued at $178,745,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296,285 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $123,892,000. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the company's stock valued at $739,126,000 after acquiring an additional 571,873 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.