Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Analysts

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the seven ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have assigned a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $129.00.

DEO has been the subject of several recent research reports. TD Cowen raised their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th.

Diageo Stock Down 1.7 %

NYSE DEO opened at $106.34 on Thursday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $121.91 and its 200 day moving average is $126.42. Diageo has a twelve month low of $105.72 and a twelve month high of $154.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.60.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Diageo

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Citigroup Inc. raised its position in shares of Diageo by 4.4% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,428 shares of the company’s stock worth $22,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,617 shares during the last quarter. Canoe Financial LP increased its stake in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the 4th quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,031,465,000 after purchasing an additional 8,104,301 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Diageo by 32.8% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 65,894 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,248,000 after buying an additional 16,285 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 9.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock worth $735,671,000 after buying an additional 437,646 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tevis Investment Management grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 159.7% during the fourth quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 13,869 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,763,000 after buying an additional 8,528 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.