Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by United Capital Financial Advisors LLC

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO - Free Report) by 33.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 112,409 shares of the company's stock after selling 56,945 shares during the quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in Diageo were worth $14,290,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Canoe Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company's stock worth $1,031,465,000 after purchasing an additional 8,104,301 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 1,181.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,406,004 shares of the company's stock valued at $178,745,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296,285 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at about $123,892,000. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,813,938 shares of the company's stock worth $739,126,000 after acquiring an additional 571,873 shares during the period. Finally, ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,777,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on DEO. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Down 0.6 %

NYSE DEO traded down $0.66 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $108.92. The company had a trading volume of 207,555 shares, compared to its average volume of 923,970. The firm's 50 day moving average is $107.87 and its 200 day moving average is $118.43. The company has a market capitalization of $60.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $100.72 and a fifty-two week high of $144.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo's payout ratio is currently 46.42%.

Diageo 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.