Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Acquired by AGF Management Ltd.

AGF Management Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 268,152 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 13,410 shares during the period. AGF Management Ltd.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $33,809,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado grew its stake in Diageo by 4,665.2% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 482,713 shares of the company’s stock worth $70,312,000 after buying an additional 472,583 shares during the last quarter. Beacon Financial Group bought a new position in Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $296,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Diageo by 56.7% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company’s stock worth $98,681,000 after buying an additional 245,255 shares during the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Diageo by 16.4% during the 1st quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Diageo by 461.4% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,506,000 after buying an additional 58,048 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Diageo currently has an average rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE:DEO opened at $128.76 on Thursday. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $119.48 and a 1 year high of $161.64. The stock has a market cap of $71.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a fifty day moving average of $128.72 and a 200-day moving average of $136.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. This represents a yield of 3.2%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is currently 72.71%.

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.