Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Sells 33,378 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA cut its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,221,015 shares of the company’s stock after selling 33,378 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned approximately 0.22% of Diageo worth $155,228,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of DEO. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Eastern Bank increased 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 during the period. Modus Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $47,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $104.19 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $110.12 and a 200-day moving average of $121.06. The company has a market cap of $57.96 billion, a PE ratio of 15.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $103.70 and a 1-year high of $145.55.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a $1.62 dividend. 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%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on DEO shares. TD Cowen boosted their target price 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. Berenberg Bank started coverage on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. UBS Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. One 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 data from MarketBeat, Diageo has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.00.

Diageo 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.