Trust Co. of Vermont Cuts Position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Trust Co. of Vermont lessened its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 16.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,471 shares of the company’s stock after selling 3,904 shares during the period. Trust Co. of Vermont’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,602,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in Diageo by 4.4% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 158,428 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,234,000 after buying an additional 6,617 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in Diageo by 32.8% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 65,894 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,248,000 after purchasing an additional 16,285 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 9.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock worth $735,671,000 after buying an additional 437,646 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP grew its position in shares of Diageo by 420.5% in the 3rd quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 39,189 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,500,000 after buying an additional 31,660 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its stake in Diageo by 106.2% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 31,643 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,441,000 after purchasing an additional 16,300 shares during the period. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Up 1.2 %

NYSE:DEO traded up $1.38 on Friday, reaching $118.75. The stock had a trading volume of 895,609 shares, compared to its average volume of 966,345. Diageo plc has a 12-month low of $113.99 and a 12-month high of $154.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 1.53 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $122.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $127.93.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on DEO shares. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $129.00.

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.