Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV Trims Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV decreased its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 31.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 11,922 shares of the company's stock after selling 5,547 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV's holdings in Diageo were worth $1,516,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Keel Point LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 18.2% in the 4th quarter. Keel Point LLC now owns 2,097 shares of the company's stock valued at $267,000 after purchasing an additional 323 shares in the last quarter. RBO & Co. LLC lifted its position in Diageo by 7.7% during the fourth quarter. RBO & Co. LLC now owns 118,205 shares of the company's stock valued at $15,027,000 after buying an additional 8,458 shares in the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group grew its stake in Diageo by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 4,269 shares of the company's stock worth $543,000 after buying an additional 119 shares during the period. Becker Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Diageo by 7.6% in the fourth quarter. Becker Capital Management Inc. now owns 181,641 shares of the company's stock worth $23,092,000 after acquiring an additional 12,755 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of Diageo by 39.9% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 649,769 shares of the company's stock worth $82,605,000 after acquiring an additional 185,282 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Stock Down 0.3 %

NYSE DEO opened at $115.39 on Friday. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $100.72 and a twelve month high of $144.27. 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 has a market cap of $64.19 billion, a PE ratio of 16.85, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.60. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $108.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $116.40.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Diageo's payout ratio is 46.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on DEO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus 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.

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