Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Acquired by Moors & Cabot Inc.

Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 15,942 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 357 shares during the quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,027,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Eastern Bank increased its position in Diageo by 107.8% in 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. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on DEO. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price target on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $108.32 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $114.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $123.90. 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 $60.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.81, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $105.72 and a 1 year high of $151.76.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The business 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 dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 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.