Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) Shares Bought by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) by 0.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 137,292 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,224 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Diageo were worth $20,420,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of DEO. Scarborough Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Planned Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Diageo in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new position in Diageo in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Diageo by 97.3% in the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 217 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 107 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Criterion Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Diageo in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. 8.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup raised shares of Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Diageo from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, July 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Diageo currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $3,730.00.

Diageo Price Performance

DEO stock opened at $131.29 on Monday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $131.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $140.14. Diageo plc has a 52 week low of $124.80 and a 52 week high of $177.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 1.58.

Diageo Company 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.