Searle & CO. Sells 1,688 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Searle & CO. reduced its stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 14,922 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,688 shares during the period. Searle & CO.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $2,174,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Planned Solutions Inc. purchased a new position in Diageo during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 97.3% during the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 217 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Criterion Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Diageo in the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Diageo Price Performance

Shares of DEO traded down $1.11 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $137.05. The stock had a trading volume of 599,336 shares, compared to its average volume of 803,947. Diageo plc has a 12 month low of $135.63 and a 12 month high of $188.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $145.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $145.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on DEO shares. Argus cut Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. BNP Paribas lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3,797.50.

About Diageo

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.