Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,160,000 shares, a growth of 19.0% from the January 15th total of 974,900 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 1,150,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently commented on DEO shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen boosted their price objective 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, UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $107.45 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $121.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $125.99. Diageo has a one year low of $105.72 and a one year high of $154.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%.

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.