First National Trust Co Boosts Stock Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

First National Trust Co boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 6.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,288 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the quarter. First National Trust Co’s holdings in Diageo were worth $625,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Planned Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 97.3% in the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 217 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Criterion Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter worth $36,000. First Command Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in Diageo during the third quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Carmel Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Diageo during the third quarter valued at $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded up $0.87 on Friday, hitting $137.44. 683,538 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 826,219. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $135.63 and a 12 month high of $188.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $145.01 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $145.62.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a yield of 2.7%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, BNP Paribas cut shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,797.50.

Diageo Company Profile

Diageo plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It offers scotch, gin, vodka, rum, raki, liqueur, wine, tequila, Chinese white spirits, cachaça, and brandy, as well as beer, including cider and flavoured malt beverages. The company also provides Canadian, Irish, American, and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor whiskies, as well as ready to drink and non-alcoholic products.