Stephens Inc. AR Decreases Stock Position in Diageo plc $DEO

Stephens Inc. AR lowered its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,020 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,299 shares during the period. Stephens Inc. AR’s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,460,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.6% in the first quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,582 shares of the company’s stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. SageView Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 1.7% in the first quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,450 shares of the company’s stock worth $571,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.2% in the first quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,240 shares of the company’s stock worth $340,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.9% in the second quarter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,541 shares of the company’s stock worth $357,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 2.1% in the first quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 5,345 shares of the company’s stock worth $560,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

Diageo stock opened at $97.76 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $102.59 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.63. The stock has a market cap of $54.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.27, a PEG ratio of 4.34 and a beta of 0.58. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $93.42 and a fifty-two week high of $135.66.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be given a dividend of $2.5192 per share. This represents a yield of 516.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 17th. This is a positive change from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62. Diageo’s payout ratio is presently 72.41%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America reduced their price target on Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 26th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $119.00.

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.