Анализ фундаментальных метрик компании Diageo plc показывает, что текущая долговая нагрузка значительно превышает медианную по отрасли, что создает повышенные риски для инвесторов. При этом показатели рентабельности, такие как ROE и ROA, остаются на уровне 0, что указывает на отсутствие прибыли и нестабильность в операционной деятельности. Несмотря на наличие достаточно высокой ликвидности, выраженной в текущем коэффициенте, другие показатели, такие как рентабельность продаж и EBITDA, демонстрируют отрицательную динамику. Дивидендная доходность, хотя и присутствует, не компенсирует отсутствие роста выручки и чистой прибыли. В целом, компания сталкивается с серьезными проблемами в своих финансовых показателях, что обуславливает необходимую корректировку в оценке ее целевой цены. Необходимость пересмотра прогноза связана с негативными показателями, которые не соответствуют ожиданиям по сравнению с отраслевыми стандартами.

Diageo plc

Key Points
It's an entirely new era for Berkshire Hathaway, with longtime CEO Warren Buffett retiring on Dec. 31 and his understudy, Greg Abel, taking the reins.
The Oracle of Omaha and Abel share similar investment philosophies, right down to devoting an outsize share of capital to their best ideas.
Many of the billion-dollar wagers in Berkshire's portfolio are driven by sustainable competitive advantages.
This year marks a new era in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) storied history. After leading Berkshire for well over half a century and seeing the company he built reach a $1 trillion market cap, billionaire Warren Buffett retired as CEO on Dec. 31.
The person responsible for filling some impossibly big shoes is the Oracle of Omaha's longtime understudy, Greg Abel. Abel has been with Berkshire for over a quarter-century, and he has a nose for value just like his predecessor.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Although Buffett remains chairman of the board, Berkshire Hathaway's day-to-day operations, including the management and oversight of its $320 billion investment portfolio, fall to Abel. As of the closing bell on April 16, Berkshire's new boss has the final say over 48 positions.
Greg Abel's portfolio is highly concentrated in 10 core holdings
Warren Buffett's and Greg Abel's investment philosophies are very similar. In addition to value being of the utmost importance, both favor robust capital-return programs, strong management teams, and companies with sustainable competitive advantages.
Perhaps most importantly, Berkshire's former and current bosses believe in apportioning an outsize percentage of the company's capital into their best ideas. Just 10 positions account for nearly 79% of Berkshire Hathaway's invested assets:
Bank of America: $27,680,505,428
Chevron: $24,488,919,510
Occidental Petroleum: $15,067,219,181
Chubb: $11,248,116,681
Several of these "best idea" stocks share similarities. For instance, all 10 pay dividends to their shareholders, with some also actively repurchasing their shares. Apple has the largest share repurchase program on Wall Street, with the iPhone maker spending roughly $841 billion since 2013 to retire over 44% of its outstanding shares.
Buffett and Abel also view seven out of these 10 core positions as indefinite holdings. With the exception of Bank of America, Chevron, and Chubb, the remaining seven companies are expected to be fixtures in Berkshire's portfolio for decades to come. This includes Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's, the three longest-tenured holdings that are currently generating annual yields on cost of 63%, 45%, and 41%, respectively.
Investors can see Abel's influence among these 10 core holdings, as well. Abel is a huge fan of Japan's five trading houses, commonly known as the "sogo shosha," and was instrumental in building up sizable stakes in Mitsubishi and Mitsui.
Berkshire Hathaway has 20 additional billion-dollar wagers
On top of overseeing 10 positions that range from nearly $11 billion to $60 billion, Abel is responsible for 20 additional billion-dollar wagers in Berkshire Hathaway's $320 billion investment portfolio:
Itochu: $8,542,909,322
Kraft Heinz: $7,356,090,539
Alphabet: $5,996,660,635 (Class A shares, GOOGL)
Marubeni: $5,859,803,545
DaVita: $4,458,799,656
Sumitomo: $4,304,149,575
Kroger: $3,388,500,000
Constellation Brands: $2,135,250,000
Tokio Marine Holdings: $2,110,853,256
UnitedHealth Group: $1,594,518,050
Capital One Financial: $1,435,076,500
Nucor: $1,229,326,646
Ally Financial: $1,216,840,000
Aon: $1,208,228,343
Liberty Live Series C: $1,060,323,236
You'll note that the other three members of the sogo shosha are in this grouping (Itochu, Marubeni, and Sumitomo), and that they collectively make up five of Berkshire's 16 largest holdings by market value.
But what really stands out about these billion-dollar wagers is the emphasis on sustainable competitive advantages. For instance, Sirius XM and VeriSign operate as legal monopolies. Sirius XM is the only licensed satellite radio operator, while VeriSign is the registrar of ".com" and ".net" domains. Growth may not be off the charts for either company, but they possess unmatched competitive edges.
Abel is also overseeing close to $4.7 billion in combined investments in payment facilitators Visa and Mastercard. Whereas many of their peers double dip and act as lenders, Visa and Mastercard are solely focused on collecting merchant fees for facilitating payments. This means neither Visa nor Mastercard has to worry about setting aside capital for credit delinquencies or loan losses during periods of economic turbulence.
And we can't forget about Domino's Pizza, which is a stock the Oracle of Omaha added to for six consecutive quarters leading up to his retirement. Domino's ability to build consumers' trust and its track record of meeting or exceeding five-year growth initiatives made it a go-to investment for Berkshire's now-retired billionaire boss.
Abel's smaller holdings
Rounding things out are the 18 relatively smaller holdings that Greg Abel oversees, ranging from $5 million to approximately $692 million:
Pool Corp.: $692,463,211
Lennar: $626,124,360
Liberty Live Series A: $471,581,627
Louisiana-Pacific: $410,754,140
The New York Times Co.: $394,621,458
Heico Class A: $279,726,815
Liberty Formula One Series C: $271,488,837
Charter Communications: $250,336,326
Lamar Advertising: $162,505,712
Allegion: $110,404,422
NVR: $74,490,292
Liberty Latin America Series A: $20,227,853
Jefferies Financial Group: $20,186,460
Diageo: $18,229,110
Lennar Class B: $15,685,537
Liberty Latin America Series C: $11,055,412
Atlanta Braves Holdings Series C: $5,230,043
Many of these "smaller" positions fall into two categories: companies that have been reduced or are being removed from Berkshire's investment portfolio, or investments made by Ted Weschler or Todd Combs, the latter of whom left Berkshire to join JPMorgan Chase in December 2025.
For example, Berkshire's stake in e-commerce and cloud infrastructure services titan Amazon was slashed by 77% during the December-ended quarter. Historically, a 77% reduction in a mid-tier position in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio has been a strong signal that a company would soon be getting the heave-ho. Though Amazon is historically inexpensive relative to its future cash flow, it's not a value stock in the traditional sense of the term -- and that may be a problem for Greg Abel.
While it's possible that some of these smaller positions can eventually become billion-dollar wagers, these investments are better viewed as trading opportunities for Weschler and his team.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Ally is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Bank of America, Mastercard, Sirius XM, and Visa. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Atlanta Braves Holdings, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Domino's Pizza, Heico, JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies Financial Group, Lennar, Mastercard, Moody's, NVR, The New York Times Co., VeriSign, and Visa and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Capital One Financial, Constellation Brands, Diageo Plc, Kraft Heinz, Kroger, Occidental Petroleum, Pool, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here Are All 48 Stocks Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel, Is Overseeing in Berkshire Hathaway's $320 Billion Portfolio

Players in the Zacks Beverages – Alcohol industry remain under pressure as inflation hikes costs across labor, transportation and raw materials. Higher ingredient, packaging and shipping expenses are squeezing margins, while increased spending on marketing, promotions and daily operations continues to weigh on profitability. Tariffs add another layer of risk, pushing up prices for imported brands, dampening demand and disrupting supply chains.
Despite these headwinds, growth opportunities persist. Premiumization continues to gain traction as consumers shift toward higher-quality, distinctive offerings. Segments like ready-to-drink spirits, canned wines and cocktails, hard seltzers, ciders and flavored malt beverages are reshaping the market, attracting younger consumers while offering convenience and variety to more established drinkers.
To capitalize on these trends, leading players, including Anheuser-Busch InBev BUD, Diageo Plc DEO, Constellation Brands Inc. STZ, Brown-Forman Corporation BF.B and Molson Coors Beverage Company TAP, are intensifying investments in innovation, technology and premium brand positioning. While volatility in input costs and tariffs may continue to pressure margins in the near term, strong brand equity and premium-led innovation are expected to remain the industry’s primary growth drivers.
About the Industry
The Zacks Beverages – Alcohol industry mainly comprises producers, importers, exporters, marketers and sellers of alcoholic beverages like beer, craft beer, ciders, wine, rum, whiskey, liqueurs, vodka, tequila, champagnes, brandy, amaretto, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and malt. Some industry players also produce and sell non-alcoholic beverages like carbonated soft drinks, sparkling waters, bottled water, energy drinks, powdered and natural juices, and RTD teas. The companies sell products through wholesalers and retailers like supermarkets, warehouse clubs, grocery stores, convenience stores, package stores, drug stores and other retail outlets. The industry participants also sell beer directly to consumers in cans and bottles at restaurants, pubs, bars and liquor stores. Some brewers operate brewpubs or tasting rooms at breweries, offering consumers the freshest beer.
What's Shaping the Future of Beverages - Alcohol Industry
Elevated Costs: The alcohol industry continues to grapple with elevated cost pressures from inflation across labor, transportation and raw materials. Higher prices for key inputs such as grains and fruits, along with rising costs for packaging, co-packing, fuel and logistics, have pushed up production and operating expenses, weighing on the gross and operating margins.
In addition to input inflation, companies are facing increased spending on advertising, promotions and SG&A as they step up brand investments, media activity and local market execution. Higher freight costs tied to volume growth, along with rising wages and discretionary expenses, are contributing to margin pressure and SG&A deleverage. Many industry participants expect these headwinds to persist in the near term, continuing to challenge profitability.
Potential Tariff Impacts: Tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are expected to create severe headwinds for the U.S. beverage alcohol industry, with implications for pricing, supply chains, trade flows and consumer demand. Tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China raise input and landed costs for a range of imported spirits and beers, including well-known international brands. These higher costs are likely to be passed on to consumers, resulting in price increases that could weigh on volumes. At the same time, supply chains may face disruption as companies reassess sourcing and logistics, potentially leading to delays, tighter availability and higher operating expenses. As prices rise and choice narrows, consumers may trade down or reduce consumption, pressuring industry sales and margins.
Premiumization & Product Diversification: Premiumization remains a core growth engine for the alcohol industry as consumers increasingly gravitate toward distinctive flavors, higher-quality offerings and experiential brands. In response, beverage companies are broadening their portfolios to capture demand for premium and super-premium products while extending beyond traditional beer, wine and spirits. The category mix is rapidly evolving, with strong momentum in craft spirits, low- and no-alcohol offerings, RTD spirits, canned wines and cocktails, hard seltzers, cider and flavored malt beverages. As consumer preferences fragment and occasions diversify, sustained innovation and agile product development have become critical for brands seeking to remain relevant, defend pricing power and drive long-term growth.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects
The Zacks Beverages – Alcohol industry is a 14-stock group within the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #205, placing it at the bottom 16% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates dull near-term prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually losing confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential.
Before we present a few stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let us take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms S&P 500
The Zacks Beverages – Alcohol industry has outperformed the broader sector and underperformed the S&P 500 in the past year.
The stocks in the industry have collectively returned 4.8% in the past year, whereas the Zacks Consumer Staples sector has declined 3.2%. Meanwhile, the Zacks S&P 500 composite has rallied 34.6%.
1-Year Price Performance
Beverages - Alcohol Industry's Valuation
Based on the forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, commonly used to value Consumer Staples stocks, the industry is currently trading at 15.71X compared with the S&P 500’s 21.49X and the sector’s 16.57X.
Over the last five years, the industry traded as high as 26.77X, as low as 13.77X and at the median of 18.61X, as the chart below shows.
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (Past 5 Years)
5 Alcohol Beverages Stocks to Keep a Close Eye on
None of the stocks in the Zacks Beverages – Alcohol space currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). However, we have selected five stocks with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) to watch from the same industry. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Let us have a look at the companies.
Anheuser-Busch InBev: Also known as AB InBev, this is a global brewing leader with a portfolio of iconic brands spanning diverse geographies. Its leading positions across key markets and expansive global footprint provide meaningful scale advantages, enabling efficient operations and the ability to grow multi-country brands worldwide. The company continues to benefit from resilient consumer demand for its core brands, supported by strong business momentum, driven by disciplined execution, sustained brand investment and an accelerated digital transformation agenda. Premiumization remains a central growth lever, as consumers increasingly trade up within the beer category.
Beyond core beer, AB InBev is steadily expanding its Beyond Beer portfolio, encompassing ready-to-drink offerings, such as canned wines and cocktails, along with hard seltzers, ciders and flavored malt beverages. This diversification strategy is enhancing relevance across occasions and consumer segments, while providing an incremental growth runway and supporting top-line momentum. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AB InBev’s 2027 sales and earnings suggests growth of 6.7% and 12.3% from the year-ago period’s reported figures. The consensus mark for the company’s 2027 earnings has moved down 0.5% in the past seven days. The Zacks Rank #3 stock has gained 16.9% in the past year.
Price & Consensus: BUD
Diageo: The stock of this London-based leading beverage company has declined 25.6% in the past year. DEO operates in approximately 180 countries, and is involved in producing, distilling, brewing, bottling, packaging, and distributing spirits, wine and beer. The company continues to place innovation and consumer moderation at the center of its long-term growth strategy, addressing evolving consumption patterns and diversifying its portfolio. Innovation remains a key driver, with strong momentum across tequila, whisky, beer and RTD formats.
Equally important is Diageo’s push into moderation, wherein it has established clear leadership in non-alcoholic spirits. The company is refining its $2-billion productivity program to drive efficiency across the business while ensuring long-term sustainable growth. A key focus is balancing cost savings with strategic reinvestment, particularly in marketing and brand activation. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Diageo’s fiscal 2027 EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings suggests a decline of 3.2% from the year-ago period’s reported figure.
Price & Consensus: DEO
Constellation Brands: The Victor, NY-based third-largest beer company and a leading, high-end wine company in the United States continues to benefit from a sharp focus on brand building and a steady cadence of innovation. The company’s premiumization strategy remains a key growth driver, led by the sustained strength of the Modelo and Corona brand families and continued traction across its Power Brands portfolio. Its beer business is benefiting from premium and above-premium trends, supported by growth in traditional beer and adjacent categories, such as flavored beer, seltzers, RTD spirits and flavored malt beverages.
STZ is actively investing to extend the momentum of its Power Brands, aligning innovation with evolving consumer preferences and delivering successful product launches. Meanwhile, the company’s digital momentum continues to build through platforms, such as Instacart, Drizly and retailer-owned channels, reflecting consumers’ growing preference for convenience-driven purchasing. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STZ’s fiscal 2027 earnings per share has moved down 3.5% in the past seven days. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 sales and earnings suggests growth of 0.6% and 0.9%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. The Zacks Rank #3 stock has lost 10.2% in the past year.
Price & Consensus: STZ
Brown-Forman: Based in Louisville, KY, this is a global spirits company that manufactures, distills, bottles, imports, exports, markets and sells a broad portfolio of premium alcoholic beverages. The company’s growth strategy is anchored in premiumization, with a clear focus on high-quality, premium and super-premium spirits that support brand equity and margin resilience. The portfolio has been streamlined around core power brands such as Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, complemented by successful additions like the Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola RTD and the integration of super-premium labels Gin Mare and Diplomático.
Emerging markets continue to provide a strong growth offset, driven by rising middle-class demand and momentum across the Jack Daniel’s family. Disciplined pricing, innovation, distribution evolution and tighter cost control underpin long-term value creation despite near-term pressures. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BF.B’s fiscal 2026 sales and earnings suggests declines of 2.3% and 4.4%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures. The consensus mark for the Zacks Rank #3 company’s fiscal 2026 earnings has moved up 1.7% in the past 30 days. BF.B has declined 11.6% in the past year.
Price & Consensus: BF.B
Molson Coors: The stock of this Chicago, IL-based leading beverage company has declined 25.6% in the past year. TAP is on track with its revitalization plan, focused on achieving sustainable top-line growth by streamlining its organization and reinvesting resources into its brands and capabilities. Investments, partnerships and product launches, which are part of its revitalization plan, have been aiding the company.
Molson Coors has been committed to increasing its market share through innovation and premiumization. Intending to accelerate portfolio premiumization, TAP has been aggressively growing its above-premium portfolio in the past few years. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Molson Coors’ 2026 EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days. The consensus estimate for the Zacks Rank #3 company’s 2026 sales and earnings suggests declines of 0.2% and 11.8%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s reported figures.
Price & Consensus: TAP
5 Stocks Set to Double
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

5 Alcohol Stocks Battling Cost Pressures, Betting on Premiumization

Investors in Diageo plc (Symbol: DEO) saw new options begin trading today, for the January 2028 expiration. One of the key inputs that goes into the price an option buyer is willing to pay, is the time value, so with 661 days until expiration the newly trading contracts represent a potential opportunity for sellers of puts or calls to achieve a higher premium than would be available for the contracts with a closer expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the DEO options chain for the new January 2028 contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $70.00 strike price has a current bid of $8.60. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $70.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $61.40 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of DEO, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $74.03/share today.
Because the $70.00 strike represents an approximate 5% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 66%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 12.29% return on the cash commitment, or 6.78% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Diageo plc, and highlighting in green where the $70.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $75.00 strike price has a current bid of $10.90. If an investor was to purchase shares of DEO stock at the current price level of $74.03/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $75.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 16.03% if the stock gets called away at the January 2028 expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if DEO shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Diageo plc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing DEO's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $75.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $75.00 strike represents an approximate 1% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 45%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 14.72% boost of extra return to the investor, or 8.13% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 35%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 36%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 251 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $74.03) to be 33%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Materials Dividend Stock List
COOP YTD Return
Stocks Being Sold By Hedge Funds
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Interesting DEO Put And Call Options For January 2028

Tuesday, March 24, 2026
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Apple Inc. (AAPL), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) and Chevron Corp. (CVX), as well as two micro-cap stocks Investors Title Co. (ITIC) and AmeriServ Financial, Inc. (ASRV). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Today's Featured Research Reports
Shares of Apple have gained +12.8% over the past year against the Zacks Computer - Micro Computers industry’s gain of +13.7%. The company is benefiting from strong growth in iPhone and Services revenues. AAPL continues to gain momentum in emerging markets India and Greater China reported strong fiscal first quarter growth driven by iPhone.
Apple now has more than 1 billion paid subscribers across its Services portfolio and 2.5 billion active devices. Expanding capabilities of AI Intelligence is noteworthy. Apple expects the March quarter’s net sales to grow between 13% and 16% on a year-over-year basis despite constrained iPhone supply. Services are expected to grow at the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 rate.
However, gross margins are expected to be 48-49% in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Increasing regulatory headwinds and stiff competition are major concerns for the iPhone-maker.
(You can read the full research report on Apple here >>>)
Meta’s shares have declined -4.7% over the past year against the Zacks Internet - Software industry’s decline of -11%. The company is benefiting from increasing AI-infusion across its services which currently reach more than 3.58 billion people daily. META’s improved recommendation system is driving up user engagement. Instagram Reels had a strong fourth-quarter, with watch time up more than 30% year-over-year in the United States.
Facebook video time continued to grow double-digits year-over-year in the United States. Recommendation improvement drove 20% lift in time spent on Threads. AI usage is making META a popular name among advertisers.
Meta Platforms now expects to invest significantly more over the next few years in developing more advanced models and the largest AI services in the world. However, monetization of these AI services will take considerable time, which is a concern. Increasing regulatory challenges is a headwind for investors
(You can read the full research report on Meta here >>>)
Shares of Chevron have gained +31.2% over the past year against the Zacks Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry’s gain of +38.8%. The company’s portfolio is strengthening, but risks keep the outlook balanced. The Hess acquisition adds high-quality assets in Guyana, the Bakken, and the Gulf of America, lifting long-term production visibility and free cash flow potential.
Even with weak oil prices, free cash flow grew sharply in 2025, supported by cost discipline, asset quality, and steady operations. Deepwater projects like Ballymore and Whale, along with a dominant Permian position, underpin medium-term growth, while ongoing efficiency gains are lowering breakevens.
But execution and geopolitical risks remain, as seen at Tengiz, while Venezuela upside depends on policy clarity. Downstream and chemicals face margin pressure, valuation is elevated versus peers, and energy transition progress trails Europe. Taken together, these factors support a Neutral view on CVX stock.
(You can read the full research report on Chevron here >>>)
Investors Title’s shares have declined -7.4% over the past year against the Zacks Insurance - Property and Casualty industry’s decline of -8.3%. This microcap company with a market capitalization of $406.81 million has risks that remain material. The business is highly cyclical and tied to real estate volumes, with significant geographic concentration. Rising operating costs could pressure margins. Investment income volatility adds further downside risk. The company's valuation appears reasonable (6.68X EV/EBITDA), below industry peers.
Nevertheless, Investors Title’s earnings have strengthened meaningfully, with revenues rising to $272.8 million in 2025 and margins expanding to 12.9%, reflecting improved operating leverage and earnings quality. Core title premiums continue to grow across both agency and direct channels, signaling durable franchise demand.
The 2026 backdrop is supportive, with improving mortgage activity and lower rates, while recent state rate hikes (notably in NC) provide incremental revenue upside. A strong balance sheet and cash generation enhance flexibility, supporting dividends and buybacks.
(You can read the full research report on Investors Title here >>>)
Shares of AmeriServ Financial have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry over the past year (+64% vs. +15.6%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $62.1 million is supported by improving core earnings momentum in 2025, driven by a 17% rise in net interest income and margin expansion to 3.15%, reflecting better asset yields and funding costs.
Balance sheet strength improved as deposit growth reduced reliance on higher-cost borrowings, positioning the bank with a more stable, lower-cost funding base entering 2026. Credit quality also trended positively following the resolution of a large problem loan, lowering non-performing and classified loans. Strategic partnerships in wealth management signal a shift toward scalable fee-based revenue.
However, risks remain elevated. CRE concentration is high at over 350% of capital, leaving earnings sensitive to isolated credit events, as seen in 2025 charge-offs. Geographic concentration in slower-growth markets may constrain loan and deposit expansion. The stock trades at 0.51X book, below peers and near historical norms.
(You can read the full research report on AmeriServ Financial here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Exelon Corp. (EXC), Entergy Corp. (ETR) and Diageo plc (DEO).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30.
In trading on Wednesday, shares of Diageo plc (Symbol: DEO) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 28.0, after changing hands as low as $99.39 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 68.2. A bullish investor could look at DEO's 28.0 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of DEO shares:
Looking at the chart above, DEO's low point in its 52 week range is $99.2604 per share, with $142.73 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $99.54.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Diageo is Now Oversold (DEO)

Key Points
Diageo cited weakness among U.S. consumers for underwhelming results.
Management cut the dividend and lowered guidance.
The first half dividend was cut by more than half, year over year.
Diageo (NYSE: DEO) released its semi-annual financial update this week, and the results had investors bailing on the stock. Shares of the global alcoholic beverages company sank 10.8% this week, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The results weren't what the company had previously expected, either. Now, management has lowered its guidance and cut the dividend. That sums up why investors decided to sell shares this week.
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Dividend cut
The owner of the Guinness, Smirnoff, and Johnnie Walker brands had previously said it expected organic sales to be about flat in 2026 versus 2025. For the first half of the fiscal 2026, though, organic sales sank 2.8%. That led the company to cut its year-end guidance.
Maybe more importantly for income investors, Diageo also cut its dividend. The company declared $0.20 per share, even though it had paid $0.405 per share in the first half of fiscal 2025. Dividends are typically viewed as a commitment from the company to investors seeking income. A dividend cut can be considered a breach of trust on top of the income decline.
After a sharp 32% decline last year, Diageo's stock was recovering this year. Word of weakness in the U.S. market wiped out most of that recover this week, however. The company has now slashed its dividend to aid in a turnaround plan.
It will provide more financial flexibility and help support the balance sheet, but that isn't what some investors wanted to hear. It's not surprising that a lower income stream and a weakened business environment led investors to move on from Diageo stock this week.
Should you buy stock in Diageo Plc right now?
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Howard Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Diageo Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Diageo Stock Cratered This Week

Key Points
Diageo saw organic sales and adjusted earnings per share decline by 3% in the first half of 2026, falling short of analysts' expectations.
It also announced it was cutting its dividend by more than half, prioritizing balance sheet strength.
Diageo remains a leader in the spirits industry, however, and is starting to look like an intriguing value stock at a lower-than-normal valuation.
Shares of leading global spirits juggernaut Diageo (NYSE: DEO) sank 15% as of 11 a.m. ET after the company reported earnings for the first half of 2026. Organic sales and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) each declined by 3% in the first half of the year and came up shy of Wall Street's expectations. However, the development that most likely harmed Diageo's share price the most was management's decision to roughly halve its dividend payments to reinforce its balance sheet. Following today's drop, Diageo's shares are now down 60% from their all-time high in 2021.
While the company saw solid sales growth in Africa and Latin America, rising 11% and 5%, respectively, North America and Asia Pacific declined by 7% and 11%, offsetting the growth in its emerging markets. Management pointed to North American weakness stemming from consumer affordability issues. While probably true, investors should also note that Diageo faces other longer-term headwinds, such as moderation increases, GLP-1 impacts, cannabis encroaching upon the industry, and Gen Z's shift away from alcohol. This decline is much more than just a soft macroeconomic environment.
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That said, Diageo remains the No. 1 operator in the global spirits industry and is home to 13 brands with $1 billion in sales. Furthermore, the company continuously innovates, testing new ready-to-drink options, collaborations, and non-alcoholic beer and spirits. This innovation has helped the company maintain its market share despite the turbulent environment. Now trading with an EV/EBITDA ratio of just 11 compared to its five-year average of 19 -- and 2.4 times sales (its lowest mark since the Great Recession) -- Diageo deserves a long look from value-oriented investors.
Now that the company has ripped the band-aid off regarding its dividend payments, its yield will likely drop from above 4% to roughly 2%. However, this added financial flexibility should only help the company's turnaround, as it can lower its $22 billion net debt balance. Diageo isn't my type of investment, but I can certainly see its appeal to value investors who don't believe the alcohol industry is in terminal decline.
Should you buy stock in Diageo Plc right now?
Before you buy stock in Diageo Plc, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Diageo Plc wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $420,864!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,182,210!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of February 25, 2026.
Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Diageo Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Diageo Stock Is Sinking Further Down Today

(RTTNews) - Alcoholic beverage maker Diageo plc (DEO, DGE.L) reported Wednesday slightly higher pre-tax profit in its first half of fiscal 2026, despite weak net sales. Further, the firm decided to reduce its dividend, and also trimmed fiscal 2026 organic outlook.
In the overnight trading, the shares were losing around 2.2 percent, trading at $99.85.
In the first half, profit before taxation edged up to $2.79 billion from last year's $2.77 billion.
Profit attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company grew 3.1 percent to $2 billion from $1.94 billion a year ago. Basic earnings per share improved 3 percent to 89.7 cents from 87.1 cents last year.
Adjusted basic earnings per share were 95.3 cents, compared to 97.7 cents a year ago.
Net sales for the half year were down 4 percent to $10.46 billion from prior year's $10.90 billion, due to the decline in organic net sales of 2.8 percent and the negative impact of acquisitions and disposals of 1.8 percent.
Strong growth in Europe, LAC and Africa was more than offset by softer performance in North America, the company noted.
Further, Diageo said its Board has decided to reduce the dividend to a more appropriate level to accelerate the strengthening of the balance sheet and create more financial flexibility. The Board has also set a minimum floor for the dividend of 50 cents per annum.
The interim dividend of 20 cents per share, compared to prior year's 40.50 cents per share, will be paid to holders of ordinary shares and US ADRs on register as of April 17. The interim dividend will be paid on June 4.
Looking ahead for fiscal 2026, the company now projects organic net sales to be down 2 percent to 3 percent given further weakness in the US, and including the impact of Chinese white spirits. The company previously expected organic net sales growth to be flat to slightly down.
Further, organic operating profit growth is now expected to be flat to up low-single-digit, compared to previous view of growth in low to mid-single digit.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Diageo H1 Pre-tax Profit Edges Up, Sales Down; Cuts Dividend, FY26 Outlook

Diageo Plc DEO is scheduled to release interim results for the first half of fiscal 2026 on Feb. 25. The company has been witnessing difficulties in North America and the Asia Pacific regions, which are expected to have negatively impacted the company’s performance in the first half of fiscal 2026. However, Diageo has been experiencing strong momentum across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and Africa, as reflected in its first-quarter fiscal 2026 update provided last month.
Key Factors to Note Ahead of DEO’s 1H26 Earnings
Diageo delivered a mixed start to fiscal 2026, with first-quarter organic net sales broadly flat despite positive volume growth. The divergence between volume and price/mix reflected pronounced regional and category shifts, particularly weakness in Chinese white spirits (CWS) and softer U.S. spirits demand.
DEO has been facing troubles in its key markets, including North America and the Asia Pacific, particularly Greater China. The headwinds in North America mainly relate to declines in U.S. Spirits due to soft consumption trends, tough tequila comparisons and increased promotional intensity.
The Asia Pacific has been the most pressured region, with Greater China witnessing sharp declines due to reduced baijiu category consumption occasions linked to policy impacts, significantly dragging regional performance. Additionally, beer route-to-market adjustments in Australia and China created near-term disruption. However, the company has been witnessing positive trends in India, which is likely to have partly offset the weakness in the Asia Pacific region.
On its fiscal 2025earnings call management cautioned that the fiscal 2026 performance will be weighted toward the second half of the year, indicating weak organic net sales and operating profit trends in the first half of fiscal 2026.
On its first-quarter fiscal 2026 update, the company reiterated that the decline in organic net sales is expected to be more pronounced in the first half, reflecting continued pressure from CWS and a softer U.S. consumer environment. Management also expected organic operating profit to decline in the first half before strengthening in the second, supported by improving market mix, phasing of marketing investments, and a greater contribution from Accelerate program savings later in the fiscal year.
However, DEO has been experiencing solid business momentum, strong consumer demand and market share gains, which have been boosting its performance. DEO is anticipated to have retained the strength in its business on constant premiumization efforts and favorable industry trends, particularly in the spirits category.
Despite the ongoing challenges, strength in Europe, LAC and Africa is expected to have aided the company’s performance in the first half of fiscal 2026. Trends in Europe have been bright, driven by continued strong momentum in Guinness and resilient execution despite a subdued spirits backdrop. Pricing in Türkiye and strength in Guinness are expected to support a favorable mix.
In LAC, the company is benefiting from positive trends in Brazil amid a stabilizing consumer environment. Performance in Mexico is expected to have been broadly stable, while positive price/mix trends across much of the region are expected to have aided the results. In Africa, DEO continues its strong trajectory with growth across key markets, though market mix pressured pricing.
Diageo’s Price Performance & Valuation
DEO shares have exhibited an uptrend, rising as much as 9.1% in the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500 index’s growth of 3.2%. However, the Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock has underperformed the broader industry’s growth of 23.3% and the Consumer Staples sector’s return of 13.5% in the same period.
DEO’s 3-Month Stock Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From the valuation standpoint, DEO trades at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 14.88X, underperforming the industry average of 16.89X and the S&P 500’s average of 22.51X. Diageo’s valuation appears quite cheap compared with the industry at current levels.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Looking for Lucrative Picks? Check These
Here are some companies you may want to consider this earnings season.
Fomento Economico Mexicano FMX, alias FEMSA, is likely to register top and bottom-line growth when it reports fourth-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $12.4 billion, indicating 24.6% growth from the prior-year quarter. FMX currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and an Earnings ESP of +3.92%. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FEMSA’s quarterly earnings has moved down by a penny in the past 30 days to $1.53 per share. The consensus estimate suggests a 232.6% earnings upsurge from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. FMX has delivered a negative earnings surprise of 28.1%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Monster Beverage Corporation MNST is expected to register top and bottom-line growth when it reports fourth-quarter 2025 numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.05 billion, suggesting 13% growth from the prior-year quarter. The company currently has a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +8.31%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Monster Beverage’s quarterly earnings has moved down by a penny in the past seven days to 49 cents per share. The consensus estimate suggests 29% earnings growth from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. MNST has delivered an earnings surprise of 5.5%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Celsius CELH currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +6.46%. CELH is anticipated to register top and bottom-line growth when it reports fourth-quarter 2025 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Celsius’ quarterly revenues is pegged at $638.2 million, indicating growth of 92.1% from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Celsius’ bottom line has moved up by a penny in the past 30 days to 19 cents per share. The consensus estimate for CELH suggests growth of 35.7% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. CELH has delivered an earnings surprise of 42.9%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Diageo 1H26 Earnings Ready to Unfold: What Are the Chances of a Beat?

In trading on Wednesday, shares of Diageo plc (Symbol: DEO) crossed above their 200 day moving average of $99.84, changing hands as high as $100.43 per share. Diageo plc shares are currently trading up about 1.3% on the day. The chart below shows the one year performance of DEO shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, DEO's low point in its 52 week range is $84.52 per share, with $116.69 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $100.57.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Diageo plc

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