ST. Nicholas Private Asset Management Inc. Makes New $771,000 Investment in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

ST. Nicholas Private Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 6,065 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $771,000.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Diageo in the third quarter worth $25,000. Eastern Bank grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new position in shares of Diageo during the third quarter worth $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen boosted their target price on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $110.54 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $105.72 and a 1-year high of $154.71. The stock has a market cap of $61.49 billion, a PE ratio of 16.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.66. 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 fifty day moving average price of $119.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $125.49.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 73.28%.

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.