Short Interest in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Increases By 38.4%

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,270,000 shares, an increase of 38.4% from the August 15th total of 917,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 841,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America raised Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Three investment 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. According to MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Stock Down 0.1 %

DEO traded down $0.07 on Monday, reaching $132.04. 261,893 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 780,866. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo has a one year low of $119.48 and a one year high of $161.64. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $128.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $135.86.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Diageo by 777.3% in the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 193 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Diageo during the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Concord Wealth Partners purchased a new position in shares of Diageo in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Triad Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in Diageo during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

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.