Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Receives $129.00 Consensus PT from Brokerages

Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) have received an average rating of “Hold” from the eight ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have issued a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $129.00.

A number of equities analysts recently commented on DEO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of 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 raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Diageo

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 32.7% in the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,594 shares of the company’s stock valued at $711,000 after purchasing an additional 1,378 shares during the period. Lakeshore Capital Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $402,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $47,000. Perennial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at $1,426,000. Finally, WCG Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. WCG Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 19,789 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,516,000 after acquiring an additional 642 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $108.32 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $60.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $114.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $123.90. Diageo has a fifty-two week low of $105.72 and a fifty-two week high of $151.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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

About Diageo

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.