Diageo (NYSE:DEO) Sets New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $108.19 and last traded at $108.36, with a volume of 1166166 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $110.49.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on DEO. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Diageo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. TD Cowen increased their price target on Diageo from $124.00 to $129.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Diageo from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $129.00.

Diageo Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $122.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $126.74.

Institutional Trading of Diageo

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Canoe Financial LP lifted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 88,407.3% during the fourth quarter. Canoe Financial LP now owns 8,113,468 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,031,465,000 after purchasing an additional 8,104,301 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Diageo during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $123,892,000. Natixis Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Diageo by 105.7% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 949,411 shares of the company’s stock valued at $133,240,000 after acquiring an additional 487,904 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Diageo by 9.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 5,242,065 shares of the company’s stock worth $735,671,000 after acquiring an additional 437,646 shares during the period. Finally, ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new position in shares of Diageo during the fourth quarter worth $37,777,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 8.97% of the company’s stock.

About Diageo

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.