Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Purchased by QRG Capital Management Inc.

QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 14.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 10,830 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,364 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,377,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Eastern Bank grew its holdings in Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $47,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. TD Cowen increased their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO stock opened at $109.10 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $117.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $124.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $105.72 and a 1 year high of $151.76. The firm has a market cap of $60.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.93, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders 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 dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.42%.

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.