Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-two research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $175.2632.

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Constellation Brands from $176.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Constellation Brands from $155.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Evercore set a $175.00 price target on Constellation Brands and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Constellation Brands from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th.

Insider Buying and Selling at Constellation Brands

In other news, EVP James O. Bourdeau sold 4,407 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.24, for a total value of $631,258.68. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 9,109 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,304,773.16. The trade was a 32.61% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 12.45% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in STZ. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Stance Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Elyxium Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. 77.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Constellation Brands Stock Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE STZ opened at $139.97 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $24.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The business has a 50-day moving average of $150.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $149.68. Constellation Brands has a 1 year low of $126.45 and a 1 year high of $178.13.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 8th. The company reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $1.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.84 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 26.18% and a net margin of 17.29%.Constellation Brands’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.63 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Constellation Brands will post 11.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 29th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 29th. This is an increase from Constellation Brands’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.96%.

Constellation Brands Company Profile

Constellation Brands, Inc is a leading producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits, with operations spanning production, importation, marketing and distribution. The company’s beverage portfolio includes a range of premium and mainstream wines and spirits alongside major imported beer brands; in the U.S. market Constellation is widely known for its role in bringing Mexican imports such as Corona and Modelo to American consumers. Constellation supplies retail, on‑premise and foodservice channels and supports its brands with national sales and marketing platforms and supply‑chain capabilities.

The company traces its roots to the Canandaigua Wine Company, founded by Marvin Sands in 1945, and evolved through organic growth and acquisition into a diversified beverage company.