Diageo (LON:DGE) Sets New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Diageo plc (LON:DGE - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as GBX 1,908 ($24.97) and last traded at GBX 1,952.65 ($25.56), with a volume of 113586484 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,012 ($26.34).

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on DGE shares. UBS Group raised Diageo to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from GBX 2,300 ($30.10) to GBX 2,920 ($38.22) in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a GBX 2,500 ($32.72) target price on shares of Diageo in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of GBX 2,876.67 ($37.65).

Diageo Stock Down 0.3 %

The firm has a market capitalization of £45.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.36. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 2,108.60 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 2,347.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 234.57, a current ratio of 1.94 and a quick ratio of 0.62.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were paid a GBX 20.75 ($0.27) dividend. This is a boost from Diageo's previous dividend of $0.63. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.66%. Diageo's dividend payout ratio is currently 44.25%.

Insider Transactions at Diageo

In related news, insider John Alexander Manzoni bought 315 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 2,079 ($27.21) per share, for a total transaction of £6,548.85 ($8,571.79). Also, insider Nik Jhangiani sold 65,676 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 2,165 ($28.34), for a total value of £1,421,885.40 ($1,861,106.54). In the last three months, insiders acquired 329 shares of company stock valued at $685,650. Company insiders own 0.11% of the company's stock.

About Diageo

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.