Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Constellation Brands has received a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 24 brokerages, with 10 firms recommending a hold, 13 a buy, and one a strong buy.
• The company recently announced a dividend of $1.02 per share, which will be paid on August 14th, representing a 2.4% yield.
• Constellation Brands reported earnings of $3.22 EPS for the last quarter, missing estimates by $0.23, with revenue declining 5.5% year-over-year.

Shares of Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-four ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $213.7391.

Several research firms recently issued reports on STZ. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $225.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $210.00 to $196.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. CJS Securities reduced their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $196.00 to $194.00 in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $170.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Constellation Brands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $194.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Monday, July 7th.

Constellation Brands Stock Up 0.2%

STZ stock opened at $170.35 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. Constellation Brands has a 1 year low of $159.35 and a 1 year high of $261.06. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $168.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $176.62. The firm has a market cap of $30.03 billion, a PE ratio of -71.28, a PEG ratio of 10.29 and a beta of 0.67.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 1st. The company reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.45 by ($0.23). Constellation Brands had a negative net margin of 4.11% and a positive return on equity of 31.41%. The business had revenue of $2.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.57 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $3.57 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 30th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Constellation Brands's payout ratio is presently -170.71%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP James O. Bourdeau sold 821 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $169.00, for a total value of $138,749.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 9,438 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,595,022. The trade was a 8.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 12.45% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gilbert & Cook Inc. lifted its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 2.6% during the second quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 2,385 shares of the company's stock worth $388,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank raised its holdings in Constellation Brands by 1.7% in the first quarter. Piscataqua Savings Bank now owns 3,720 shares of the company's stock worth $683,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC raised its holdings in Constellation Brands by 5.8% in the first quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC now owns 1,128 shares of the company's stock worth $207,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors raised its holdings in Constellation Brands by 1.7% in the first quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 3,801 shares of the company's stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its holdings in Constellation Brands by 3.8% in the second quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 1,682 shares of the company's stock worth $274,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the period. 77.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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 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.

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