Motco Increases Stake in Diageo plc

Motco has significantly boosted its investment in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by an astonishing 582.7% during the fourth quarter, as revealed in the latest 13F filing with the SEC. Following the purchase of an additional 25,320 shares during this period, Motco now holds a total of 29,665 shares in the beverage giant. The total value of Motco's holdings in Diageo is estimated at $3,771,000 according to the most recent SEC filing.

Changes in Hedge Fund Holdings

In addition to Motco's impressive investment increase, other hedge funds have also adjusted their positions in Diageo recently. For instance, Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake valued at $25,000 during the third quarter. Meanwhile, Eastern Bank expanded its share count by 107.8% in the fourth quarter, bringing its ownership to 241 shares valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 125 shares. Other notable acquisitions include Modus Advisors LLC, which purchased a stake valued at $35,000 in the same quarter, and Kestra Investment Management LLC, which also acquired a new position worth about $36,000. Heck Capital Advisors LLC completed the trend by investing approximately $47,000 in Diageo during the fourth quarter. Institutional investors collectively own about 8.97% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Overview

Recent activity from analysts regarding Diageo shares indicates a mixed sentiment. Jefferies Financial Group has upgraded Diageo shares from a "hold" to a "buy" rating in a report sent out on December 5. Additionally, TD Cowen increased its price target for Diageo shares from $124.00 to $129.00, maintaining a "hold" recommendation on January 8. Meanwhile, UBS Group has improved Diageo's standing from a "sell" to a "buy" rating as of December 11. Currently, there is one analyst rating Diageo as a sell, while two hold and four suggest it as a buy. As per MarketBeat.com, the average rating for the stock is "Hold" with a mean target price set at $129.00.

Diageo's Stock Performance

As of Friday, the stock opened at $108.53. Diageo has a substantial market capitalization of $60.38 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 15.84, and a price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio of 2.39. The company's beta is measured at 0.66. Diageo's liquidity ratios show a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 1.60, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Over the short term, its 50-day moving average settled at $117.72, while the 200-day moving average is at $125.11. The stock has seen a 12-month low of $105.72 and a peak of $153.36.

Dividends and Shareholder Returns

Diageo has declared a semi-annual dividend scheduled for payment on April 24. Shareholders registered by February 28 will receive a dividend of $1.62 per share, with an ex-dividend date falling on the same day. This translates to a yield of 3.8%, with the company's payout ratio standing at 46.42%.

Company Overview

Diageo plc, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the production, marketing, and sale of a wide array of alcoholic beverages. The company specializes in categories like scotch, gin, vodka, rum, and liqueurs, among others. They also offer a selection of beers, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages.

Investment, Stock, Dividend