EP Wealth Advisors LLC Decreases Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

EP Wealth Advisors LLC reduced its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 29.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,799 shares of the company’s stock after selling 747 shares during the period. EP Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $229,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of DEO. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Eastern Bank lifted its position in Diageo by 107.8% in the fourth quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 241 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $36,000. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $47,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DEO opened at $112.26 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $115.85. Diageo plc has a one year low of $100.72 and a one year high of $144.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $62.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.39, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.60.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 3rd. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on shares of Diageo in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.00.

Diageo 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.