Avity Investment Management Inc. Has $912,000 Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Avity Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 6,500 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,250 shares during the quarter. Avity Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $912,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Beacon Financial Group bought a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $296,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Diageo by 56.7% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company’s stock worth $98,681,000 after buying an additional 245,255 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Diageo by 16.4% during the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in Diageo by 461.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,506,000 after buying an additional 58,048 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in Diageo by 2,128.6% during the first quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 9,494 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,412,000 after buying an additional 9,068 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO traded up $0.56 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $134.69. 372,938 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 767,625. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $131.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $134.34.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on DEO. Bank of America raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 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, Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo 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.