United Capital Financial Advisors LLC Sells 56,945 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 33.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 112,409 shares of the company’s stock after selling 56,945 shares during the period. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $14,290,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating for the company. One 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $107.57 on Wednesday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $100.72 and a fifty-two week high of $144.27. The company has a market cap of $59.84 billion, a PE ratio of 15.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $107.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $119.21.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. 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 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.