Diageo feels consumer cost-cutting

Article Excerpt

DIAGEO PLC ADR $133 is a hold. The company (New York symbol DEO; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; ADRs outstanding: 560.0 million; Market cap: $74.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.7; Dividend yield: 3.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.diageo.com) is a leading maker of premium alcoholic beverages. In its 2024 fiscal year, ended June 30, 2024, Diageo’s sales fell 1.4%, to $20.27 billion from $20.56 billion a year earlier. If you factor out businesses it bought and sold plus exchange rate movements, sales declined 0.6% as lower volumes offset higher selling prices. Earnings per ADR (before unusual items) also fell 8.6%, to $7.18 from $7.86. (One ADR equals four Diageo shares.) Earnings will probably rebound to $7.32 per ADR in fiscal 2025, and the stock trades at a reasonable 18.2 times that forecast. The $4.00 dividend yields 3.0%. However, elevated inflation and interest rates could prompt consumers to trade premium alcohol for cheaper brands. Diageo is a hold. hold…