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

Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) have earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $224.42.

Several analysts have commented on STZ shares. Roth Mkm lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $284.00 to $256.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Roth Capital reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $298.00 to $284.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $225.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $215.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd.

Constellation Brands Stock Down 1.8 %

STZ opened at $183.81 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $177.41 and its 200 day simple moving average is $208.04. Constellation Brands has a 52 week low of $160.46 and a 52 week high of $265.70. The firm has a market cap of $33.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.41, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.35. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 6.27% and a return on equity of 26.55%. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.26 earnings per share. Constellation Brands’s revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. This is an increase from Constellation Brands’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 29th. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio is presently -800.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Constellation Brands

In other Constellation Brands news, Director William T. Giles acquired 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $186.39 per share, with a total value of $186,390.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $272,688.57. This represents a 215.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 12.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Allworth Financial LP raised its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 7,357 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,626,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank boosted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank now owns 3,720 shares of the company’s stock valued at $683,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. BSW Wealth Partners raised its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. BSW Wealth Partners now owns 1,563 shares of the company’s stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its stake in Constellation Brands by 0.9% during the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 6,991 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,283,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC boosted its holdings in Constellation Brands by 8.0% during the fourth quarter. Philip James Wealth Mangement LLC now owns 923 shares of the company’s stock worth $204,000 after buying an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Constellation Brands

Constellation Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits in the United States, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. The company provides beer primarily under the Corona Extra, Corona Familiar, Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Light, Corona Non-Alcoholic, Corona Premier, Corona Refresca, Modelo Especial, Modelo Chelada, Modelo Negra, Modelo Oro, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.