Voya Financial Advisors Inc. Grows Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Voya Financial Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 15,244 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,061 shares during the quarter. Voya Financial Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,146,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Citigroup Inc. grew its position in shares of Diageo by 4.4% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,428 shares of the company’s stock worth $22,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,617 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in shares of Diageo by 32.8% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 65,894 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,248,000 after purchasing an additional 16,285 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of Diageo by 9.1% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock worth $735,671,000 after purchasing an additional 437,646 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its holdings in Diageo by 106.2% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 31,643 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,441,000 after buying an additional 16,300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Grandfield & Dodd LLC grew its holdings in Diageo by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Grandfield & Dodd LLC now owns 240,013 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,684,000 after buying an additional 5,460 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on DEO shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Bank of America upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of Diageo stock opened at $123.44 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $127.73 and a 200-day moving average price of $129.76. Diageo plc has a one year low of $117.72 and a one year high of $154.71.

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.