Bard Financial Services Inc. Has $302,000 Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Bard Financial Services Inc. trimmed its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 32.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,150 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,050 shares during the period. Bard Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $302,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Triad Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in Diageo during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Diageo during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new position in Diageo during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its position in Diageo by 777.3% during the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded down $0.07 during trading on Friday, hitting $137.54. 474,584 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 776,328. The business’s 50 day moving average is $130.93 and its 200-day moving average is $134.66. The company has a market capitalization of $76.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.69. 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 plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is 72.40%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DEO has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Three 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 MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

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.