Marshall Wace LLP Acquires 3,386 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Marshall Wace LLP grew its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 10.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 35,586 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 3,386 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP’s holdings in Diageo were worth $4,487,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at $332,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at about $2,700,000. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Diageo by 78.6% during the fourth quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 8,359 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,218,000 after purchasing an additional 3,678 shares in the last quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC grew its position in Diageo by 165.0% in the 4th quarter. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC now owns 5,411 shares of the company’s stock worth $788,000 after purchasing an additional 3,369 shares in the last quarter. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in Diageo by 24.3% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 399,871 shares of the company’s stock worth $58,245,000 after purchasing an additional 78,265 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Diageo Stock Down 0.3 %

DEO stock opened at $139.92 on Wednesday. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $119.48 and a fifty-two week high of $161.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $130.49 and a 200-day moving average of $134.74. The company has a market capitalization of $77.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.22, a PEG ratio of 3.80 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 30th will be given a $1.62 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 30th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 72.40%.

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.