Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. Has $3.65 Million Stake in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 2.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,972 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 498 shares during the period. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Diageo were worth $3,645,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 2,158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $321,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. increased its stake in Diageo by 3.3% in the second quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 2,587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $326,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 3.4% during the second quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the company’s stock valued at $317,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 1.1% during the third quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 8,146 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,143,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Finally, Gradient Investments LLC boosted its position in shares of Diageo by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 3,181 shares of the company’s stock worth $401,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

Diageo Trading Down 0.9 %

Shares of Diageo stock traded down $1.17 on Friday, hitting $133.27. The company had a trading volume of 261,449 shares, 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 company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 1.53. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $134.02 and a 200-day moving average of $133.55.

Diageo Announces Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

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.