Short Interest in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Decreases By 25.4%

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 567,200 shares, a drop of 25.4% from the May 15th total of 760,500 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,020,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DEO has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank began coverage on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, May 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Down 0.9%

Shares of NYSE DEO traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $100.72. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,068,755 shares, compared to its average volume of 960,663. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo has a fifty-two week low of $100.66 and a fifty-two week high of $142.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.70 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $109.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $113.33.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in DEO. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Abound Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at $27,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.