Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC Has $511,000 Holdings in Diageo plc $DEO

Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC cut its position in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 13.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,072 shares of the company’s stock after selling 792 shares during the quarter. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $511,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Abound Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Diageo during the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. Cheviot Value Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the first quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 84.0% in the second quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DEO has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, August 7th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Diageo from $117.00 to $109.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of Diageo in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $119.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

DEO opened at $91.05 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $100.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $105.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Diageo plc has a 1 year low of $90.50 and a 1 year high of $132.34.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 17th will be issued a dividend of $2.5192 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 516.0%. This is a positive change from Diageo’s previous semi-annual dividend of $1.62.

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.