First Trust Advisors LP Has $49.09 Million Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 10.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 386,148 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 37,129 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned approximately 0.07% of Diageo worth $49,091,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Generation Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter worth $592,000. GeoWealth Management LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 6,944 shares of the company's stock worth $883,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the last quarter. Farringdon Capital Ltd. bought a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter worth approximately $249,000. Coleford Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in Diageo during the 4th quarter worth about $9,145,000. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 3.9% during the fourth quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 18,996 shares of the company's stock worth $2,415,000 after purchasing an additional 709 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of several recent research reports. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Down 0.7 %

NYSE DEO traded down $0.78 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $110.42. 126,255 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 928,283. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The business's 50-day moving average is $108.31 and its 200-day moving average is $117.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $100.72 and a twelve month high of $144.27.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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

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.