Essex Financial Services Inc. Has $542,000 Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Essex Financial Services Inc. reduced its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,261 shares of the company’s stock after selling 241 shares during the quarter. Essex Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $542,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 1.1% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,146 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,143,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT grew its holdings in Diageo by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Alliance Wealth Advisors LLC UT now owns 3,383 shares of the company’s stock worth $430,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Diageo by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 1,864 shares of the company’s stock valued at $237,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co raised its position in shares of Diageo by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 1,855 shares of the company’s stock valued at $236,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Malaga Cove Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Malaga Cove Capital LLC now owns 3,001 shares of the company’s stock valued at $421,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Trading Down 1.7 %

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $106.34 on Thursday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $121.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $126.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $105.72 and a 12 month high of $154.71.

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.