National Bank of Canada FI Has $6.53 Million Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

National Bank of Canada FI trimmed its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 18.1% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 51,377 shares of the company’s stock after selling 11,376 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI’s holdings in Diageo were worth $6,532,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Canoe Financial LP grew its position in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,031,465,000 after buying an additional 8,104,301 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 9.3% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,220,534 shares of the company’s stock worth $155,167,000 after purchasing an additional 103,540 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of Diageo by 14.2% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,132,046 shares of the company’s stock worth $143,917,000 after purchasing an additional 140,587 shares during the period. Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 5.5% in the fourth quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 1,114,467 shares of the company’s stock valued at $141,682,000 after purchasing an additional 58,206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $123,892,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $104.19 on Monday. Diageo plc has a one year low of $99.79 and a one year high of $144.28. 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 company has a market cap of $57.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.21, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $110.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $120.89.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DEO has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. TD Cowen upped their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

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.