Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Whittier Trust Co.

Whittier Trust Co. reduced its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,042 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,281 shares during the period. Whittier Trust Co.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,690,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 777.3% in the 1st quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 171 shares during the last quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the second quarter worth about $25,000. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its holdings in Diageo by 1,395.0% in the 3rd quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 299 shares of the company’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $136.71 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $133.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $133.61. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64. The firm has a market cap of $75.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.69.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th were given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 71.37%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Citigroup upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

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.