Diageo PLC: Cost-cutting press reports support our CMD margin thesis

Research evidence excerpt

Diageo PLC: Cost-cutting press reports support our CMD margin thesis

Equity Research

European Consumer Staples

22 July 2026

Diageo PLC

Cost-cutting press reports support

our CMD margin thesis

Press reports point to a larger Diageo cost-cut opportunity, DGE.L/DGE LN OVERWEIGHT

NEUTRALstrengthening our view that FY27 price reinvestment can be EuropeanStaples Consumer

self-funded without a margin reset. Price Target GBp 2330

Price (21-Jul-26) GBp 1568

Potential Upside/Downside +48.6%

Reuters today reported that some Diageo teams face up to 30% staff reductions after CEO Source: Bloomberg, Barclays Research

Dave Lewis ordered deeper overhead cuts. The article refers to a c.100-person senior

leadership group expected to be 20-30% smaller and one large regional business unit

European Consumer Staplescutting 25-30% of roles (link to article). Reuters also cited overhead reduction targets of

Laurence Whyatt

up to 40% in some markets and 50% in one centralised global unit, although it could not

+44 (0)20 7773 5324

determine whether these actions sit inside the existing Accelerate programme or are laurence.whyatt@barclays.com

incremental. Barclays, UK

We see the article as supportive of the thesis set out in our recent Diageo note Diageo can hold Ashutosh Jain

FY27 margins despite pricing investment and our 6 August CMD Catalyst Alert. The key investor +91 (0)22 6175 1452

ashutosh.jain@barclays.comdebate into the CMD is whether Diageo’s likely reinvestment behind pricing, portfolio

Barclays, UK

repositioning and RTDs requires a FY27 margin reset. Our view remains that it does not. We

estimate FY27 organic operating margins can be broadly flat to slightly positive, with our bridge Imogen McCurley