Tweedy Browne Co LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)

Tweedy Browne Co LLC reduced its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.2% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 142,743 shares of the company’s stock after selling 317 shares during the period. Diageo makes up 1.0% of Tweedy Browne Co LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Tweedy Browne Co LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $21,232,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of DEO. Confluence Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo during the 1st quarter valued at about $125,474,000. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado raised its holdings in shares of Diageo by 4,665.2% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 482,713 shares of the company’s stock valued at $70,312,000 after buying an additional 472,583 shares during the period. Saratoga Research & Investment Management acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $42,225,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Diageo by 56.7% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 677,478 shares of the company’s stock valued at $98,681,000 after purchasing an additional 245,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its stake in Diageo by 55.9% during the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 645,642 shares of the company’s stock valued at $94,044,000 after purchasing an additional 231,396 shares in the last quarter. 8.97% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday. Citigroup upgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,730.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

Shares of DEO traded up $0.34 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $131.93. The stock had a trading volume of 245,684 shares, compared to its average volume of 726,351. Diageo plc has a fifty-two week low of $124.80 and a fifty-two week high of $179.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 1.58 and a quick ratio of 0.65. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $134.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $141.26.

Diageo Profile

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.