Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Buys 1,031 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 130.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,824 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,031 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $231,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Diageo during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its position in Diageo by 107.8% in the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Trading Up 5.4 %

NYSE:DEO opened at $114.12 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The company has a fifty day moving average of $116.44 and a 200 day moving average of $124.59. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $105.72 and a 52 week high of $151.76.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is currently 46.42%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average 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.