Grandfield & Dodd LLC Boosts Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Grandfield & Dodd LLC increased its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 12.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 222,855 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 25,098 shares during the quarter. Diageo makes up about 2.2% of Grandfield & Dodd LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Grandfield & Dodd LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $32,461,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Diageo by 98,968.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,023,969 shares of the company's stock worth $360,651,000 after acquiring an additional 2,021,926 shares in the last quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 16,757.2% during the second quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC now owns 500,490 shares of the company's stock worth $50,049,000 after buying an additional 497,521 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 13.2% during the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,725,502 shares of the company's stock worth $663,848,000 after buying an additional 433,105 shares in the last quarter. CI Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $36,520,000. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 119.5% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 361,869 shares of the company's stock worth $65,563,000 after buying an additional 196,999 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company's stock.

Diageo Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of DEO traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $140.76. 692,945 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 711,098. The company has a market cap of $78.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.66. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $135.63 and a fifty-two week high of $190.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.58. The stock's 50-day moving average is $146.90 and its 200-day moving average is $146.48.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. Diageo's payout ratio is 34.22%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DEO has been the subject of a number of research reports. Argus lowered shares of Diageo from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Diageo from a "neutral" rating to an "underperform" rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $3,797.50.

About Diageo

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.