Townsend & Associates Inc Has $15.35 Million Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Townsend & Associates Inc boosted its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 41.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 139,903 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 40,977 shares during the period. Diageo accounts for 1.6% of Townsend & Associates Inc's investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Townsend & Associates Inc's holdings in Diageo were worth $15,347,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the first quarter worth about $30,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on DEO shares. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Two equities 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 stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO traded up $0.45 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $100.89. 1,163,664 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 968,497. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $99.26 and a 12 month high of $142.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $109.00 and its 200-day simple moving average is $112.38. The firm has a market cap of $56.13 billion, a PE ratio of 14.73 and a beta of 0.58.

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.