StockNews.com Lowers Diageo (NYSE:DEO) to Hold

In a report released on Friday, the rating went from buy to hold.

Other analysts have published reports on the company. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Diageo in a report published on Tuesday, April 18, from GBX 3600 ($45.43 to GBX 3700 ($46.69). UBS Group downgraded Diageo's rating from buy to neutral in a report published on Thursday, January 12. HSBC reduced their price target on shares of Diageo in a report published on Wednesday, Feb. 8th from GBX 4800 ($60.57), to GBX 2,750 ($34.70). In a report published on January 12th, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target for shares of Diageo. The new price was GBX 2,750 (£34.70), down from GBX 3160 ($39.87). Credit Suisse Group lowered its price target on shares of Diageo in a report published on Friday, Jan. 27th from GBX 3,160 ($39.87) to GBX 2,750 ($34.70). Eight analysts have given the stock a hold recommendation, while two others have assigned the stock a buy recommendation. The opening price was $178.22. The company has a $100.68 billion market cap, a PE/G ratio 2.95, and a beta 0.67. The company has a moving average for the last fifty days of $181.22, and a moving average for the past two hundred days of $179.01. The debt-to equity ratio for the company is 1.63. Its current ratio is 1.57, and its quick ratio 0.78. Diageo's 1-year low is $160.09, and its 1-year high is $194.04.

Diageo increases Dividend

A semi-annual payout was also made by the company on April 18th. Dividends were paid to shareholders who had been registered on March 3rd. This dividend became payable on Thursday, 2nd March. This dividend yield is 2.06%. Diageo had previously paid a semi-annual $1.43 dividend. Diageo has a dividend payout ratio of 34.28%.

Hedge Funds weigh in on Diageo

Recently, institutional investors and hedge funds have increased or decreased their stakes. Veritable L.P. increased its stake in Diageo during the first quarter by 1.4%. Veritable L.P. owns 5,929 of the company’s shares valued at $1.074,000, after adding 81 more shares during the last quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc increased its stake in Diageo shares by 22.3% over the first quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc owns 14,071 of the company’s stock worth $2,552,000. This is after buying 2,563 additional shares during the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its holdings of Diageo by 26,7% in the first three months. 1832 Asset Management L.P. owns 64 461 shares of Diageo's stock, worth $11,679,000. This is after buying an additional 13,601 during the period. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP purchased a new Diageo position valued at approximately $89,331,000 in the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Diageo shares by 11.2% in the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. owns 15,866 of the company’s shares worth $2,875,000. This is after purchasing an additional 1,596 in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 9.04%.

Diageo

Get Rating
)

Diageo Plc is a company that produces and distributes alcoholic beverages. Diageo Plc's brands include Johnnie Walker and Crown Royal whiskies, Ciroc, Ketel One, Smirnoff and Buchanan's vodkas, Captain Morgan and Baileys, Don Julio and Tanqueray as well as Guinness. It is divided into five geographical segments: North America, Europe and Turkey, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean and Asia Pacific.

MarketBeat.com offers a FREE daily email newsletter
.