Lafayette Investments Inc. Increases Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Lafayette Investments Inc. lifted its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 53,027 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,993 shares during the quarter. Diageo comprises 1.9% of Lafayette Investments Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Lafayette Investments Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $7,724,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DEO. Sei Investments Co. lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 47,667 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,647,000 after acquiring an additional 3,034 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 27.8% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,749 shares of the company’s stock worth $762,000 after acquiring an additional 816 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 19.2% during the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,228 shares of the company’s stock worth $249,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 34.3% during the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 1,366 shares of the company’s stock worth $277,000 after acquiring an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Diageo by 33.5% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 6,788 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,379,000 after acquiring an additional 1,704 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DEO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Argus lowered Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. BNP Paribas lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3,778.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO traded up $0.44 on Thursday, reaching $140.79. The company had a trading volume of 697,677 shares, compared to its average volume of 812,047. Diageo plc has a 52-week low of $135.63 and a 52-week high of $190.02. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $147.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $146.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.58, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

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

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.