Blair William & Co. IL Reduces Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Key Points

• Blair William & Co. IL decreased its holdings in Diageo plc by 31.6% during the first quarter, now owning 29,327 shares worth approximately $3.07 million.
• Analysts have mixed opinions on Diageo, with Goldman Sachs upgrading the stock to a "neutral" rating while Morgan Stanley maintains an "underweight" rating.
• Diageo's stock is currently priced at $108.99, with a market cap of $60.63 billion and a PE ratio of 15.91.

Blair William & Co. IL lowered its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 31.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,327 shares of the company's stock after selling 13,549 shares during the quarter. Blair William & Co. IL's holdings in Diageo were worth $3,073,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Argent Trust Co raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 1.7% in the first quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 12,136 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,272,000 after acquiring an additional 207 shares during the period. Avalon Trust Co increased its stake in Diageo by 2,841.2% in the 1st quarter. Avalon Trust Co now owns 500 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 483 shares during the period. Cheviot Value Management LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the 1st quarter worth about $31,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Diageo in the 1st quarter worth about $220,000. Finally, BCGM Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Diageo by 5.7% in the 1st quarter. BCGM Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,950 shares of the company's stock worth $1,357,000 after buying an additional 695 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO traded up $0.45 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $112.00. 460,605 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,114,975. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.34, a P/E/G ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $96.45 and a 12-month high of $142.73. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $103.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $108.13.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on DEO. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Monday, May 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target 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.