HM Payson & Co. Trims Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

HM Payson & Co. decreased its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 16.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 29,848 shares of the company's stock after selling 5,993 shares during the quarter. HM Payson & Co.'s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,128,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of Diageo by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 362,145 shares of the company's stock worth $37,949,000 after buying an additional 13,547 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 45,214 shares of the company's stock worth $4,738,000 after purchasing an additional 5,259 shares in the last quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,131 shares of the company's stock worth $2,738,000 after purchasing an additional 782 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 713.3% in the 1st quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 34,735 shares of the company's stock worth $3,640,000 after purchasing an additional 30,464 shares in the last quarter. Finally, R.H. Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 1,970 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on DEO. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, May 12th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO traded down $0.51 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $104.48. 599,589 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 970,224. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $99.26 and a 52 week 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. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $108.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $111.71.

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.