Diageo (LON:DGE) Given “Hold” Rating at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group reiterated their hold rating on shares of Diageo (LON:DGE) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday, MarketBeat.com reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a GBX 2,900 ($36.10) price objective on the stock.

Several other research firms have also weighed in on DGE. Barclays lowered their price target on Diageo from GBX 3,730 ($46.43) to GBX 3,550 ($44.19) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Monday, February 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 3,040 ($37.84).

Diageo Stock Down 0.6 %

LON:DGE opened at GBX 2,805.50 ($34.92) on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of £62.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,894.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.32. Diageo has a twelve month low of GBX 2,676 ($33.31) and a twelve month high of GBX 3,779.50 ($47.05). The stock’s 50 day moving average price is GBX 2,896.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 2,904.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 190.59.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th were paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.12%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is currently 5,436.24%.

Insider Transactions at Diageo

In other news, insider Karen Blackett purchased 702 shares of Diageo stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 2,826 ($35.18) per share, for a total transaction of £19,838.52 ($24,696.28). In other news, insider Karen Blackett purchased 702 shares of Diageo stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 8th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 2,826 ($35.18) per share, for a total transaction of £19,838.52 ($24,696.28). Also, insider Javier Ferrán purchased 290 shares of Diageo stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 2,853 ($35.52) per share, with a total value of £8,273.70 ($10,299.64). In the last three months, insiders acquired 1,002 shares of company stock worth $2,839,892. 0.13% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Diageo

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.