London, Jan 18, 2026, 08:31 GMT — Markets have closed.
- Diageo shares fell on Friday, closing significantly under their 52-week peak.
- A report on unsold spirits inventories has intensified scrutiny on pricing strategies and production cuts.
- Diageo is set to release its interim results on Feb. 25, marking the next key catalyst.
Diageo shares (DGE.L) ended Friday at 1,655.5 pence, down 1.37%, hitting a low of 1,652 pence during the session. The stock remains roughly 35% below its 52-week peak, with about 9.1 million shares traded. 1
Traders enter Monday facing a fresh concern: a mounting stockpile of unsold spirits. According to the Financial Times, major drinks companies are holding roughly $22 billion in inventory — the highest in ten years. Some producers have already begun trimming production and dropping prices. 2
Diageo’s next update on demand, margins, and cash flow is coming up fast. The company is set to release its interim results for the six months ending Dec. 31 on Feb. 25, per its financial calendar. 3
Regulatory filings on Friday revealed chairman Sir John Manzoni and non-executive director Valerie Chapolaud-Floquet acquired small amounts of shares via the company’s dividend reinvestment plan, which converts cash dividends into stock. These notices carry the “PDMR” tag—standing for people discharging managerial responsibilities—a regulatory term for senior insiders. 4
Behind the scenes, a notable insider transaction took place. Dayalan Nayager, Diageo’s chief commercial officer, purchased 28,960 shares at roughly £16.04 apiece, according to the Financial Times. This move comes amid ongoing strategic discussions. 5
Diageo named Sir Dave Lewis, the ex-Tesco chief, as its new CEO starting Jan. 1. Lewis acknowledged challenges ahead but highlighted plenty of opportunities when the company announced his appointment. 6
Investors remain unsure about the extent of Lewis’s plans to reshape the portfolio or cut the dividend. “It’s probably not the best time to be actively flogging assets,” said Fintan Ryan, an analyst at Goodbody, in a November interview with Reuters, citing the sector’s compressed valuations. 7
China remains a clear pressure point. Bloomberg reported this month that Diageo is weighing options, including selling its Chinese assets. Reuters noted that Diageo declined to comment. 8
Diageo reported flat organic net sales in its Nov. 6 first-quarter trading update, excluding currency effects and acquisitions. Weakness in Chinese white spirits and a softer U.S. consumer market weighed on results, offsetting gains elsewhere. Interim CEO Nik Jhangiani expressed dissatisfaction with the performance as the company revised its fiscal 2026 outlook. 9
The coming weeks remain uncertain. Tighter discounting spreads could pressure margins and erode the pricing power that spirits companies depend on. On the flip side, a demand rebound might leave the industry scrambling after cutting production.
Diageo’s U.S.-listed ADR (DEO) ended Friday in New York at $88.56, slipping 0.9%.
Two key dates are looming for the stock: a Kenyan court hearing on Jan. 20 to decide on a case aiming to block Diageo’s $2.3 billion sale of East African Breweries to Japan’s Asahi, followed by interim results due Feb. 25. Investors will be watching closely for clearer signals on demand and pricing — plus any sign the inventory issues are starting to ease — once those figures come out. 10
