Analysts Set Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) PT at $116.50

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $116.50.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $124.00 price objective on shares of Diageo and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Barclays restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Thursday, December 11th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Diageo in a research report on Friday, November 28th.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Diageo during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC grew its holdings in Diageo by 3,885.7% in the third quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 279 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management grew its holdings in Diageo by 123.6% in the fourth quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 322 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc increased its position in shares of Diageo by 94.7% during the second quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 292 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

NYSE:DEO opened at $86.27 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Diageo has a 1-year low of $84.52 and a 1-year high of $116.69. The company has a 50-day moving average of $91.56 and a 200 day moving average of $95.84.

Key Diageo News

Here are the key news stories impacting Diageo this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New CEO signals a strategic pivot toward portfolio growth and restructuring, and management says it needs financial flexibility to invest in brands — a potential long-term positive if execution restores top-line momentum. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Company released Q2 2026 prepared remarks and earnings-call transcripts that detail the results and assumptions behind the revised outlook — useful for investors modeling near-term revenue and margin trajectories. Article Title Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Diageo cut its interim dividend sharply (reported as an ~80% cut in some outlets; management reset payout policy to 30–50% of earnings), reducing immediate shareholder income and signaling that management prefers to preserve cash for strategic moves. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Management cut FY guidance and now expects organic net sales declines (management cited a 2–3% decline expectation), driven by softer U.S. demand and weakness in Chinese white spirits — a direct hit to growth forecasts. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Product-level weakness: tequila volumes plunged (reported ~23% decline in the six months to end-2025), highlighting category and U.S. consumer-pressure risks that directly affect premium-margin growth. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Shares fell sharply on the combined dividend/guidance news and heavy trading; near-term investor sentiment is weak as analysts and the market re-price earnings and yield expectations. Article Title

Diageo Company Profile

Diageo plc is a global producer, marketer and distributor of alcoholic beverages, headquartered in London, England. The company was created through the 1997 merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc and is publicly traded on multiple exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange. Diageo operates a worldwide business, selling products in a broad range of markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Diageo’s core activities cover the production, marketing and sale of a diverse portfolio of spirits, beer and liqueurs.