NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC Buys 1,344 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,509 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,344 shares during the period. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $8,492,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Diageo by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,158 shares of the company’s stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 3.4% in the 2nd quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the company’s stock worth $317,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Diageo by 1.1% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,146 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,143,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Diageo by 2.8% in the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 3,181 shares of the company’s stock valued at $401,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded down $1.17 during trading on Friday, reaching $133.27. 261,449 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 758,703. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $119.48 and a 12 month high of $161.64. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $134.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $133.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The firm has a market cap of $74.08 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.69.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 30th. This represents a yield of 3.2%. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 71.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on DEO. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, August 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Diageo 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.