Short Interest in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Decreases By 15.1%

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totalling 557,300 shares, a drop of 15.1% from the June 30th total of 656,600 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 644,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days.

Diageo Price Performance

Diageo stock traded down $0.83 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $131.60. 756,705 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 736,542. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $131.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $140.05. Diageo has a one year low of $124.80 and a one year high of $177.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on DEO. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,730.00.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DEO. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $217,000. Ritholtz Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 13.8% in the fourth quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 5,600 shares of the company’s stock valued at $816,000 after buying an additional 681 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Diageo by 18.7% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,414 shares of the company’s stock valued at $210,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the period. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $225,000. Finally, Miracle Mile Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $4,425,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.