Waverly Advisors LLC Grows Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Waverly Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 6.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 43,034 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,661 shares during the quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $5,471,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the company's stock worth $739,126,000 after purchasing an additional 571,873 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 234.4% during the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 2,600,702 shares of the company's stock worth $330,627,000 after buying an additional 1,822,994 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in Diageo by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,540,800 shares of the company's stock worth $195,883,000 after acquiring an additional 3,876 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 1,296,285 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,220,534 shares of the company's stock valued at $155,167,000 after acquiring an additional 103,540 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO stock traded down $1.70 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $109.16. The company's stock had a trading volume of 885,563 shares, compared to its average volume of 947,095. The stock has a market cap of $60.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.94, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $109.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $115.09. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $100.72 and a 1 year high of $142.73.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DEO. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, May 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank started coverage on Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Company Profile

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.