Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.

Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. cut its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 11.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,528 shares of the company’s stock after selling 325 shares during the period. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $355,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in DEO. Confluence Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 30.5% in the third quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,215,786 shares of the company’s stock valued at $170,623,000 after purchasing an additional 284,046 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Diageo by 16.4% during the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after acquiring an additional 1,011 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Diageo by 461.4% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,506,000 after purchasing an additional 58,048 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth about $9,769,000. Finally, Eldred Rock Partners LLC raised its position in Diageo by 120.5% in the 3rd quarter. Eldred Rock Partners LLC now owns 54,769 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,752,000 after purchasing an additional 29,928 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on DEO shares. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE:DEO opened at $119.67 on Wednesday. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $118.35 and a 52-week high of $154.71. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $132.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $132.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53.

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.