Bahl & Gaynor Inc. Has $1.83 Million Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Bahl & Gaynor Inc. decreased its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 1.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,567 shares of the company’s stock after selling 195 shares during the period. Bahl & Gaynor Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $1,831,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of DEO. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in Diageo by 179.9% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,447 shares of the company’s stock worth $216,000 after acquiring an additional 930 shares during the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in Diageo by 3.4% during the 3rd quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 2,495 shares of the company’s stock worth $372,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Diageo by 16.9% during the 3rd quarter. Koshinski Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,523 shares of the company’s stock worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. SOL Capital Management CO lifted its position in Diageo by 9.1% during the 3rd quarter. SOL Capital Management CO now owns 1,505 shares of the company’s stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its position in Diageo by 53.2% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 4,803 shares of the company’s stock worth $717,000 after acquiring an additional 1,667 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Argus lowered shares of Diageo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. BNP Paribas lowered shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,797.50.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO opened at $138.64 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $146.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $146.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $135.63 and a 52 week high of $189.54.

Diageo Cuts Dividend

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

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.