Intelligent Financial Strategies Sells 285 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Intelligent Financial Strategies lessened its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 23.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 921 shares of the company’s stock after selling 285 shares during the quarter. Intelligent Financial Strategies’ holdings in Diageo were worth $117,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Canoe Financial LP lifted its position in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,031,465,000 after acquiring an additional 8,104,301 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its stake in Diageo by 105.7% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 949,411 shares of the company’s stock worth $133,240,000 after buying an additional 487,904 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 9.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock valued at $735,671,000 after buying an additional 437,646 shares during the last quarter. ABC Arbitrage SA acquired a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter worth about $37,777,000. Finally, Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Diageo by 52.3% during the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 853,640 shares of the company’s stock worth $119,800,000 after acquiring an additional 293,017 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $107.45 on Monday. Diageo plc has a twelve month low of $105.72 and a twelve month high of $154.71. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The company’s 50 day moving average is $121.08 and its 200 day moving average is $125.99.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their target price on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

Diageo Company 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.