Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC Trims Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC reduced its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 12,051 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,077 shares during the quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,691,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in Diageo by 1,034.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 799,652 shares of the company’s stock valued at $104,443,000 after acquiring an additional 729,166 shares during the period. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its holdings in Diageo by 416.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 521,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,939,000 after buying an additional 420,778 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates boosted its position in Diageo by 52.3% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 853,640 shares of the company’s stock valued at $119,800,000 after buying an additional 293,017 shares during the period. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 12,174.6% in the second quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 246,229 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,045,000 after acquiring an additional 244,223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the third quarter worth $24,995,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO stock opened at $119.60 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $118.35 and a fifty-two week high of $161.64. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $132.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $132.72.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America raised Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Company 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.