Diageo PLC (DEO-N)

Was upgraded yesterday, surprisingly, based on expected more sales in spirits, and a cyclical, not structural decline in alcohol. Watch for DEO's guidance in February, their next report.

If you look at the June numbers, sales were down and volumes were down in a lot of places around the world. So spirits are doing very poorly, and it's a higher-priced product. Margin compression. Expectations of 5-7% growth for the second half is over-optimistic.

Needs to restructure into fewer brands. Big issue is that it's not growing as fast as it used to, nor does it have pricing power anymore. Management shakeup has hurt. Stock's fallen a lot, so you could try a value play if you're prepared to hold for a long time.

Very well managed. Had volume, pricing and inventory issues. Overwhelming healthy messages from government to limit intake. Younger generation doesn't drink as much as older ones. Not expensive, a lot of the negatives are priced in. Yield is just over 4%.

Take a look. Nice, conservative name to own. Potentially undervalued, and could turn around.

The high-end boozemaker is out of touch with the American consumer who is struggling. DEO's top tequila brand used to boast super growth, but is now -22% in the past year; not they have slashed the price of that tequila to adjust.

Sales are slipping and their dividend isn't growing despite being a mature company. LVMH offers far better dividend growth, for example.

He's added at lower levels, a great opportunity. Best in the world at what they do. Sales have been soft, but they have so many of the top brands in the world. When someone like George Clooney comes out with a brand, they buy it and bring it into the distribution network. Will raise dividend and generate earnings growth for many years. Yields around 3%.

Disappointing earnings. Hurt in Latin America. General slowing, including US. Core holding. Great company, trades at 19x earnings. 2.8% dividend yield, steady growth over time. Share buybacks. Growth of India's middle class will be a huge driver.

On Nov. 10, they issued an operating profit warning, because they're getting killed in Latin America and the Caribbean, because consumers are trading down to cheaper brands. Younger people are drinking less hard alcohol than previous generations, verified by a recent poll. One factor is the legalization of cannabis. Another is that companies have been hiking liquor prices too often. Also, the new weight-loss drugs reduce craving for booze.

Neutral on fate of company. Drop in valuation good, but moving towards a fair valuation at current price. Would be good to hold, or wait to buy on weakness. Premium offering of alcoholic spirit selection.