Diageo plc $DEO Shares Purchased by Townsend & Associates Inc

Townsend & Associates Inc increased its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 143,165 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,262 shares during the quarter. Diageo accounts for about 1.5% of Townsend & Associates Inc’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Townsend & Associates Inc’s holdings in Diageo were worth $15,326,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Abound Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 1st quarter worth approximately $27,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the first quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Diageo by 63.0% in the first quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 427 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on DEO shares. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Four research 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 stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $119.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $97.69 on Monday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $103.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $105.72. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $93.42 and a 12-month high of $139.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.38 billion, a PE ratio of 14.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 0.64.

Diageo Increases Dividend

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

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.