Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) Upgraded to Buy at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Monday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. They currently have $205.00 price target on the stock, up from their prior price target of $194.00.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on Constellation Brands from $195.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Constellation Brands from $170.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. Roth Mkm lowered their price objective on Constellation Brands from $284.00 to $256.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Bernstein Bank reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $225.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $289.00 to $233.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Constellation Brands has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $213.74.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Shares of STZ traded up $0.37 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $170.71. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,744,631 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,915,263. The stock's 50-day moving average is $176.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $182.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.39 billion, a PE ratio of -71.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.48 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.07. Constellation Brands has a one year low of $159.35 and a one year high of $264.45.

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

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 30th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.39%. Constellation Brands's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -170.71%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Constellation Brands news, EVP Samuel J. Glaetzer sold 3,150 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.54, for a total value of $593,901.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,126 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $589,376.04. The trade was a 50.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 12.45% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 23.0% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 1,001 shares of the company's stock valued at $221,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG boosted its holdings in Constellation Brands by 39.7% in the fourth quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 6,096 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,347,000 after acquiring an additional 1,733 shares during the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth about $25,119,000. Finally, Candriam S.C.A. lifted its position in Constellation Brands by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 11,037 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,439,000 after purchasing an additional 88 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.