Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Stake Lifted by Invesco Ltd.

Invesco Ltd. increased its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 12.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 202,582 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 22,049 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $25,754,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Eastern Bank grew its holdings in Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Modus Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $109.39 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $107.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $118.71. The company has a market cap of $60.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $100.72 and a 12-month high of $144.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The firm 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. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s payout ratio is 46.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on DEO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $129.00.

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.