Bank of Montreal Can Boosts Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 1,034.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 799,652 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 729,166 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can owned 0.14% of Diageo worth $104,443,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fragasso Group Inc. increased its position in Diageo by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Fragasso Group Inc. now owns 2,947 shares of the company’s stock valued at $438,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Avestar Capital LLC increased its position in Diageo by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 1,754 shares of the company’s stock valued at $255,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its position in Diageo by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares during the period. Financial Counselors Inc. increased its position in Diageo by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $326,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, PFG Investments LLC increased its position in Diageo by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the company’s stock valued at $317,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $136.23 on Wednesday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $119.48 and a fifty-two week high of $161.64. The firm has a market cap of $75.73 billion, a PE ratio of 19.74, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.69. The business’s fifty day moving average is $129.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $135.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. Diageo’s payout ratio is 72.61%.

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.