LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA Sells 300 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA lessened its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 42.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 400 shares of the company’s stock after selling 300 shares during the period. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA’s holdings in Diageo were worth $51,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of DEO. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Eastern Bank grew its position in Diageo by 107.8% during the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Modus Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at about $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently commented on DEO. UBS Group raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen upped their target price on 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, March 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo Price Performance

DEO opened at $108.32 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $105.72 and a 1 year high of $151.76. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $114.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $123.90. The firm has a market cap of $60.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.81, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.65.

Diageo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Diageo’s payout ratio is 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.