Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts have an average recommendation of "Hold" on Diageo from 13 analysts (2 sell, 6 hold, 5 buy) with a consensus 1-year price target of $116.50.
• The company announced a $0.80 dividend payable June 4, with record and ex-dividend date reported as April 17 and a stated yield of 207.0%.
• Shares opened at $79.20, trading in a 1-year range of $72.45–$116.69, and the company shows a quick ratio of 0.71, current ratio of 1.60, debt-to-equity of 1.53, with institutional ownership at 8.97%.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of "Hold" from the thirteen analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $116.50.

DEO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 31st. HSBC lowered shares of Diageo from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. BNP Paribas Exane raised shares of Diageo from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Diageo from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Diageo

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Arlington Trust Co LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 3,885.7% during the 3rd quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 279 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Spire Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 123.6% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 322 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 8,000.0% during the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 324 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Texas Capital Bancshares Inc TX acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Stock Up 2.3%

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $79.20 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53. Diageo has a 1-year low of $72.45 and a 1-year high of $116.69. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $84.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $88.97.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 4th. Investors of record on Friday, April 17th will be paid a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 17th. This represents a yield of 207.0%.

Diageo Company Profile

Diageo plc is a global producer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in London, England. The company was created through the 1997 merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc and is publicly traded on multiple exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange NYSE: DEO and the London Stock Exchange. Diageo operates a worldwide business, selling products in a broad range of markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Diageo's core activities cover the production, marketing and sale of a diverse portfolio of spirits, beer and liqueurs.

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