Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. Raises Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Tocqueville Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,650 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 495 shares during the period. Tocqueville Asset Management L.P.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Eastern Bank raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter worth approximately $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $108.28 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $113.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $123.12. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $105.72 and a 1-year high of $149.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $60.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 46.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their price objective on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One 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 company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average 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.