Aigen Investment Management LP Invests $2.03 Million in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Key Points

• Aigen Investment Management LP has acquired 19,360 shares of Diageo plc, valued at approximately $2,029,000, marking a new position in the company during the first quarter.
• Institutional investors now own 8.97% of Diageo's stock, with several firms, including Venturi Wealth Management and GeoWealth Management, increasing their stakes in recent quarters.
• Diageo has received mixed ratings from analysts, with a current consensus rating of "Hold" and a price target of $129.00, following recent upgrades and downgrades from leading investment firms.

Aigen Investment Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 19,360 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,029,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 234.4% in the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the company's stock valued at $330,627,000 after acquiring an additional 1,822,994 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Diageo by 39.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 649,769 shares of the company's stock worth $82,605,000 after acquiring an additional 185,282 shares during the last quarter. Crestwood Advisors Group LLC bought a new position in Diageo during the 1st quarter worth approximately $16,944,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo by 4,656.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 154,305 shares of the company's stock worth $16,170,000 after buying an additional 151,061 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clark Estates Inc. NY grew its position in shares of Diageo by 116.4% in the 1st quarter. Clark Estates Inc. NY now owns 185,000 shares of the company's stock worth $19,386,000 after buying an additional 99,500 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Diageo Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of DEO traded down $0.30 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $110.67. 958,778 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,633,526. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $96.45 and a 12 month high of $142.73. The stock has a market cap of $61.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.16, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.53. The stock's 50-day moving average is $104.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $108.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, May 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Diageo presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

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.