St. James Investment Company LLC Trims Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

St. James Investment Company LLC decreased its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 61.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,533 shares of the company's stock after selling 86,752 shares during the period. Diageo makes up approximately 1.0% of St. James Investment Company LLC's holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. St. James Investment Company LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $5,819,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. R.H. Investment Group LLC raised its holdings in Diageo by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. R.H. Investment Group LLC now owns 23,636 shares of the company's stock worth $2,477,000 after acquiring an additional 1,970 shares during the last quarter. McGinn Penninger Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Diageo by 8.1% in the 1st quarter. McGinn Penninger Investment Management Inc. now owns 44,122 shares of the company's stock worth $4,624,000 after acquiring an additional 3,317 shares during the last quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Diageo by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,440 shares of the company's stock worth $360,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. First Bank & Trust raised its holdings in Diageo by 16.8% in the 1st quarter. First Bank & Trust now owns 9,955 shares of the company's stock worth $1,043,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo during the 1st quarter valued at $2,429,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO traded down $0.51 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $104.48. 599,589 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 968,629. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $108.39 and a 200-day moving average of $111.88. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $99.26 and a 52 week high of $142.73. The stock has a market cap of $58.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.25 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DEO. Berenberg Bank began coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price 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.