Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Core Alternative Capital

Core Alternative Capital lessened its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 51.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,815 shares of the company's stock after selling 8,248 shares during the quarter. Core Alternative Capital's holdings in Diageo were worth $819,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 234.4% in the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the company's stock valued at $330,627,000 after purchasing an additional 1,822,994 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 1,181.5% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,406,004 shares of the company's stock valued at $178,745,000 after purchasing an additional 1,296,285 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $123,892,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 10.9% in the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the company's stock valued at $739,126,000 after purchasing an additional 571,873 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 39.9% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 649,769 shares of the company's stock valued at $82,605,000 after purchasing an additional 185,282 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Diageo Stock Up 2.1%

NYSE:DEO traded up $2.21 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $105.14. The stock had a trading volume of 1,291,768 shares, compared to its average volume of 972,922. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $108.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $111.35. The company has a market capitalization of $58.49 billion, a PE ratio of 15.35 and a beta of 0.56. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $99.26 and a twelve month high of $142.73. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus 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.