Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Raises Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. grew its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 26.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,474 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 4,441 shares during the quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,707,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in DEO. Confluence Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 1st quarter worth $125,474,000. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 4,665.2% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 482,713 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,312,000 after purchasing an additional 472,583 shares during the last quarter. Saratoga Research & Investment Management purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $42,225,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 56.7% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company’s stock worth $98,681,000 after purchasing an additional 245,255 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 12,174.6% during the 2nd quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 246,229 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,045,000 after purchasing an additional 244,223 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $132.11 on Monday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $128.86 and its 200 day moving average is $135.86. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $119.48 and a 1 year high of $161.64. 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 firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on DEO shares. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold”.

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.