First Command Advisory Services Inc. Purchases 266 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

First Command Advisory Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 83.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 586 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $85,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Diageo by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,725,502 shares of the company’s stock valued at $663,848,000 after purchasing an additional 433,105 shares during the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its position in Diageo by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,384,109 shares of the company’s stock valued at $355,661,000 after acquiring an additional 10,269 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Diageo by 98,968.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,023,969 shares of the company’s stock valued at $360,651,000 after acquiring an additional 2,021,926 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Diageo by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,924,396 shares of the company’s stock valued at $390,924,000 after acquiring an additional 12,035 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its position in Diageo by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,187,543 shares of the company’s stock valued at $177,156,000 after acquiring an additional 27,851 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. BNP Paribas cut shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Argus cut shares of Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3,797.50.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded down $0.03 during trading on Friday, hitting $140.76. 692,945 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 711,098. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $135.63 and a 1-year high of $190.02. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $146.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $146.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th.

Diageo Company Profile

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.