Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Fisher Asset Management LLC

Fisher Asset Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 234,993 shares of the company’s stock after selling 481 shares during the quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $34,229,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 29.4% in the third quarter. Stratos Wealth Partners LTD. now owns 7,274 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,085,000 after buying an additional 1,652 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 19.1% in the 3rd quarter. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,575 shares of the company’s stock valued at $235,000 after acquiring an additional 253 shares during the last quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,138 shares of the company’s stock valued at $319,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 20.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 353,619 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,753,000 after purchasing an additional 59,597 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Verdence Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 11.2% in the 3rd quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,115 shares of the company’s stock worth $763,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, BNP Paribas lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3,797.50.

Diageo Stock Up 0.6 %

Diageo stock opened at $137.44 on Friday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $135.63 and a fifty-two week high of $188.23. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $145.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $145.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th.

About Diageo

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.