Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. Sells 2,200 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. trimmed its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 17.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 10,773 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,200 shares during the quarter. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,358,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Diageo by 20.2% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 796 shares of the company’s stock worth $116,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Diageo by 7.2% in the fourth quarter. 9258 Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,632 shares of the company’s stock valued at $529,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at about $528,000. Balentine LLC boosted its stake in Diageo by 146.8% in the fourth quarter. Balentine LLC now owns 6,116 shares of the company’s stock valued at $891,000 after acquiring an additional 3,638 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new position in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at about $332,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of DEO stock opened at $133.40 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $129.09 and its 200 day moving average is $135.61. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $119.48 and a 12 month high of $161.64.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo has an average rating of “Hold”.

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.