Gamco Investors INC. ET AL Decreases Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Gamco Investors INC. ET AL cut its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 7.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 256,573 shares of the company’s stock after selling 21,984 shares during the quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL’s holdings in Diageo were worth $32,618,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. CoreFirst Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Eastern Bank grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% in the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on DEO. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating for the company. TD Cowen raised their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of DEO opened at $110.61 on Tuesday. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $100.72 and a 12 month high of $144.27. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $107.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $119.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock has a market cap of $61.53 billion, a PE ratio of 16.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.42%.

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.