First Eagle Investment Management LLC Sells 219 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

First Eagle Investment Management LLC cut its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 27,328 shares of the company’s stock after selling 219 shares during the quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,446,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Seven Eight Capital LP purchased a new position in Diageo during the second quarter valued at approximately $780,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC boosted its position in Diageo by 416.0% during the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 521,920 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,939,000 after acquiring an additional 420,778 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in Diageo by 21.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 49,173 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,200,000 after acquiring an additional 8,610 shares in the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV increased its holdings in shares of Diageo by 21.6% in the 2nd quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 16,222 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,045,000 after acquiring an additional 2,882 shares during the period. Finally, Argent Trust Co raised its position in shares of Diageo by 25.1% in the 2nd quarter. Argent Trust Co now owns 13,525 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,705,000 after acquiring an additional 2,713 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on DEO. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has a consensus rating of “Hold”.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DEO opened at $133.03 on Friday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $119.48 and a fifty-two week high of $161.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. The company has a market cap of $73.95 billion, a PE ratio of 19.28, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $135.47.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. This represents a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 30th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio is presently 72.61%.

Diageo Company 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.