Diageo (NYSE:DEO) Shares Gap Up to $136.03

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Wednesday . The stock had previously closed at $136.03, but opened at $140.46. Diageo shares last traded at $140.04, with a volume of 822,572 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on DEO shares. BNP Paribas cut Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Argus cut Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3,797.50.

Diageo Trading Down 0.0 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $147.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $146.52.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DEO. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of Diageo by 13.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 3,725,502 shares of the company’s stock worth $663,848,000 after acquiring an additional 433,105 shares in the last quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 0.4% in the third quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 2,384,109 shares of the company’s stock worth $355,661,000 after purchasing an additional 10,269 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Diageo by 6.8% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,161,648 shares of the company’s stock valued at $301,886,000 after acquiring an additional 137,397 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Diageo by 98,968.5% during the fourth quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,023,969 shares of the company’s stock valued at $360,651,000 after acquiring an additional 2,021,926 shares during the period. Finally, Markel Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo by 0.3% during the fourth quarter. Markel Group Inc. now owns 1,354,708 shares of the company’s stock valued at $197,327,000 after purchasing an additional 4,500 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

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.