Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Acquires 1,031 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 130.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 1,824 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,031 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $231,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in DEO. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,428 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,234,000 after purchasing an additional 6,617 shares in the last quarter. Canoe Financial LP boosted its position in Diageo by 88,407.3% during the 4th 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 in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its position in Diageo by 32.8% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 65,894 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,248,000 after acquiring an additional 16,285 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Diageo by 9.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock worth $735,671,000 after acquiring an additional 437,646 shares during the period. Finally, Maia Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Diageo by 24.7% in the 4th quarter. Maia Wealth LLC now owns 13,112 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,648,000 after acquiring an additional 2,593 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DEO has been the topic of several research reports. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen increased their price target on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $114.12 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $116.44 and a 200-day moving average price of $124.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The company has a market capitalization of $63.49 billion, a PE ratio of 16.66, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $105.72 and a 1-year high of $151.76.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company 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 dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a yield of 3.8%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is currently 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.