Roberts Wealth Advisors LLC Raises Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Roberts Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO – Get Rating) by 1.5% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,853 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 191 shares during the quarter. Roberts Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pinnacle Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Castleview Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 17,311.4% during the 2nd quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 6,094 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 6,059 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 119.4% during the 3rd quarter. Hanson & Doremus Investment Management now owns 226 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sentry Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.04% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Trading Down 1.6 %

Shares of Diageo stock traded down $2.77 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $171.86. 335,265 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 463,909. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $176.13 and a 200-day simple moving average of $175.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $160.09 and a twelve month high of $212.33.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 3rd will be paid a dividend of $1.5187 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 2nd. This is an increase from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.43. This represents a dividend yield of 2.06%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on DEO shares. Barclays upped their price objective on Diageo from GBX 5,010 ($61.06) to GBX 5,100 ($62.16) in a report on Friday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Diageo from GBX 4,350 ($53.02) to GBX 4,500 ($54.84) in a report on Thursday, December 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price target on Diageo from GBX 3,160 ($38.51) to GBX 2,750 ($33.52) in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Diageo from GBX 3,900 ($47.53) to GBX 3,600 ($43.88) in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Erste Group Bank downgraded Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $4,081.00.

Diageo Profile

(Get Rating)

Diageo Plc engages in the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Its brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JeB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America; Europe and Turkey; Africa; Latin America and Caribbean; Asia Pacific; ISC; and Corporate and Other.