Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Acquired by EP Wealth Advisors LLC

EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 20.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,546 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 425 shares during the quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $357,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 437,646 shares during the period. Markel Group Inc. lifted its stake in Diageo by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 1,366,708 shares of the company’s stock valued at $172,315,000 after buying an additional 6,300 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Diageo by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,254,393 shares of the company’s stock worth $176,042,000 after buying an additional 147,920 shares during the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC increased its stake in Diageo by 30.5% during the 3rd quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 1,215,786 shares of the company’s stock worth $170,623,000 after buying an additional 284,046 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 7.1% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,127,576 shares of the company’s stock valued at $142,165,000 after acquiring an additional 74,745 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $129.24 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.48 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $129.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $117.72 and a 52-week high of $154.71.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group raised Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo has an average rating of “Hold”.

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.