Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Position Boosted by Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.

Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 11.7% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 37,718 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,964 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $4,795,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter valued at $261,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 35.3% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 8,050 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,130,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in Diageo by 4.4% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,428 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,617 shares during the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 12.0% in the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 53,043 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,447,000 after purchasing an additional 5,665 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kingsview Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Diageo by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,529 shares of the company’s stock worth $355,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Down 0.9 %

DEO opened at $105.25 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $58.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $112.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $122.33. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $104.98 and a twelve month high of $149.44.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

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.