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

Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $298.55.

STZ has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $294.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $292.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $300.00 price objective for the company. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th. Finally, Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $300.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th.

Constellation Brands Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:STZ opened at $261.65 on Friday. Constellation Brands has a 12 month low of $221.81 and a 12 month high of $274.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.97. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $259.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $247.77.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 11th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $2.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.09 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 16.13% and a return on equity of 23.06%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.98 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 13.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be paid a $1.01 dividend. This is an increase from Constellation Brands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.54%. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.95%.

Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands

In other Constellation Brands news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on Friday, April 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.25, for a total transaction of $1,056,422.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 5,395 shares in the company, valued at $1,420,233.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.63, for a total value of $4,160,345.03. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 20,910 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,512,503.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.25, for a total transaction of $1,056,422.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,395 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,420,233.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. AE Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 32.0% in the third quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,078,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 1,175.0% during the third quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 102 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Strategic Blueprint LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 5.6% during the third quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 1,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $395,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the period. Caprock Group LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 2.7% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the company’s stock worth $648,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 36.9% during the third quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 1,344 shares of the company’s stock worth $338,000 after purchasing an additional 362 shares during the period. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Constellation Brands Company Profile

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 Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.