Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. Buys 498 Shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. raised its position in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 25,972 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 498 shares during the quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,645,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Diageo by 16.4% during the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,069,000 after purchasing an additional 1,011 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Diageo by 461.4% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 70,630 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,506,000 after purchasing an additional 58,048 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Diageo by 2,128.6% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 9,494 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,412,000 after purchasing an additional 9,068 shares during the last quarter. American National Bank & Trust Co. VA bought a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 1st quarter worth approximately $4,432,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 107,452 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,982,000 after buying an additional 6,927 shares during the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO stock traded down $1.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $133.27. 261,449 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 599,604. Diageo plc has a 1-year low of $119.48 and a 1-year high of $161.64. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $134.02 and a 200-day simple moving average of $133.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62.

Diageo Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 17th. Investors of record on Friday, August 30th were issued a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 30th. This represents a yield of 3.2%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on DEO shares. Bank of America raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Diageo from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold”.

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.