Crux Wealth Advisors Takes Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Crux Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 4,307 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $548,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in DEO. CoreFirst Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Eastern Bank increased its holdings in Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen boosted their price objective 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of DEO traded up $1.60 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $109.80. The company had a trading volume of 921,152 shares, compared to its average volume of 924,565. The stock has a market cap of $61.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $107.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $119.13. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $100.72 and a fifty-two week high of $144.27.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

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.