20,000 Shares in Diageo plc $DEO Purchased by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.

Key Points

• Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. has acquired a new stake in Diageo plc, purchasing 20,000 shares valued at approximately $2,096,000.
• Diageo's recent semi-annual dividend will increase to $2.5192 per share, with an ex-dividend date set for October 17th, reflecting a significant boost from the previous dividend.
• The stock has an average price target of $129.00, with ratings ranging from Buy to Sell, indicating a mixed outlook from analysts.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 20,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,096,000.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Diageo by 11.3% in the 1st quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 3,271 shares of the company's stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the first quarter worth approximately $340,000. Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 91.4% during the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 735 shares of the company's stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 351 shares during the last quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the first quarter valued at approximately $173,000. Finally, Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. increased its position in shares of Diageo by 14.9% during the first quarter. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. now owns 4,002 shares of the company's stock valued at $419,000 after purchasing an additional 518 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on DEO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Up 0.3%

NYSE:DEO traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $111.44. The company had a trading volume of 260,379 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,117,355. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $96.45 and a fifty-two week high of $142.73. The business's fifty day moving average is $105.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $62.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.26, a P/E/G ratio of 4.05 and a beta of 0.53.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be paid a $2.5192 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. This is a positive change from Diageo's previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62. This represents a yield of 370.0%. Diageo's payout ratio is currently 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.