Brokerages Set Diageo plc (LON:DGE) Price Target at GBX 3,008

Diageo plc (LON:DGE) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Hold” by the six brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 3,008 ($39.55).

Several brokerages have recently commented on DGE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a GBX 3,200 ($42.08) target price on shares of Diageo in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a GBX 2,800 ($36.82) target price on shares of Diageo in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Citigroup restated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 3,000 ($39.45) price target on shares of Diageo in a report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Diageo to a “sector perform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from GBX 2,100 ($27.61) to GBX 2,400 ($31.56) in a research note on Monday, August 12th.

Diageo Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 186.26, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 1.53. Diageo has a fifty-two week low of GBX 2,165.60 ($28.48) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 3,268.50 ($42.98). The stock has a market capitalization of £54.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,884.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. The company’s 50 day moving average is GBX 2,486.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 2,692.15.

Diageo Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 17th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 29th will be given a $0.63 dividend. This is an increase from Diageo’s previous dividend of $0.41. This represents a dividend yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, August 29th. Diageo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6,230.77%.

Insider Activity at Diageo

In related news, insider Javier Ferrán bought 314 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 2,640 ($34.71) per share, with a total value of £8,289.60 ($10,900.20). Insiders acquired a total of 326 shares of company stock worth $858,510 in the last 90 days. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.