Carret Asset Management LLC Sells 500 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Carret Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 25.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,469 shares of the company’s stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. Carret Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $214,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Planned Solutions Inc. bought a new position in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. MCF Advisors LLC bought a new position in Diageo in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Criterion Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in Diageo in the third quarter valued at approximately $48,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO traded down $2.38 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $138.00. The stock had a trading volume of 318,705 shares, compared to its average volume of 802,862. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $146.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $146.27. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $135.63 and a 1-year high of $189.54.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Argus cut shares of Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. BNP Paribas cut shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3,797.50.

Diageo Profile

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.