Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Buys 1,649 Shares of Diageo plc $DEO

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 180,923 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,649 shares during the quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $18,244,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC raised its position in shares of Diageo by 81.8% in the 2nd quarter. Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC now owns 33,107 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,338,000 after purchasing an additional 14,895 shares during the last quarter. Martin Capital Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Diageo by 225.8% during the second quarter. Martin Capital Partners LLC now owns 32,525 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,280,000 after acquiring an additional 22,542 shares in the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel increased its position in shares of Diageo by 2,331.0% during the first quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 41,036 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,178,000 after acquiring an additional 39,348 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the first quarter valued at approximately $4,265,000. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the second quarter valued at approximately $107,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on DEO. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 7th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 26th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Diageo presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $119.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

NYSE DEO opened at $96.19 on Friday. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $93.42 and a 12 month high of $134.71. The company’s 50 day moving average is $102.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $105.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.63.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be paid a $2.5192 dividend. This represents a yield of 516.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 17th. This is a boost from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62.

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.