Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Receives $129.00 Average Target Price from Analysts

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) has been given a consensus rating of “Hold” by the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $129.00.

DEO has been the topic of several recent research reports. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. TD Cowen lifted their price objective 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. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Diageo

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the 4th quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. BNP Paribas purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Trading Up 0.1 %

NYSE DEO opened at $101.86 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $108.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.30. Diageo has a one year low of $100.72 and a one year high of $144.27. 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 firm has a market cap of $56.66 billion, a PE ratio of 14.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

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

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.