Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Sold by Huntington National Bank

Huntington National Bank reduced its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 25.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,275 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,536 shares during the period. Huntington National Bank’s holdings in Diageo were worth $925,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Canoe Financial LP increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,031,465,000 after buying an additional 8,104,301 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $123,892,000. ABC Arbitrage SA acquired a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $37,777,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 25.9% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,116,994 shares of the company’s stock worth $156,759,000 after purchasing an additional 229,946 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 3,073.4% during the fourth quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 209,510 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,635,000 after purchasing an additional 202,908 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have issued reports on DEO shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank began coverage on Diageo in a research note on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating for the company. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company 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 report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $108.04 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $110.53 and its 200-day simple moving average is $121.26. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $103.70 and a 12 month high of $148.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $60.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.77, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67.

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 paid 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 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.