Financial Counselors Inc. Reduces Stock Position in Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ)

Financial Counselors Inc. decreased its stake in shares of Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) by 92.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,634 shares of the company's stock after selling 21,251 shares during the quarter. Financial Counselors Inc.'s holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $300,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Constellation Brands by 94.1% in the 1st quarter. Atlantic Edge Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,050 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,477,000 after acquiring an additional 3,903 shares during the period. Compass Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 17.3% in the first quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC now owns 43,643 shares of the company's stock valued at $8,009,000 after buying an additional 6,436 shares in the last quarter. Vickerman Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the first quarter valued at approximately $442,000. Whelan Financial bought a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the first quarter valued at approximately $475,000. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in Constellation Brands by 114.3% during the first quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,023 shares of the company's stock worth $371,000 after buying an additional 1,079 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.34% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

STZ has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $202.00 to $195.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Barclays set a $202.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $210.00 to $196.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $213.74.

Insider Activity at Constellation Brands

In other news, EVP Samuel J. Glaetzer sold 3,150 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $188.54, for a total transaction of $593,901.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,126 shares in the company, valued at $589,376.04. This trade represents a 50.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 12.45% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Constellation Brands Trading Up 0.1%

Shares of STZ traded up $0.15 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $172.27. The company had a trading volume of 1,370,929 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,586,457. The firm has a market cap of $30.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.83, a P/E/G ratio of 10.42 and a beta of 0.67. Constellation Brands Inc has a 52-week low of $159.35 and a 52-week high of $264.45. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $175.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $182.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 1st. The company reported $3.22 earnings per share (EPS) 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 positive return on equity of 31.41% and a negative net margin of 4.11%. Constellation Brands's quarterly revenue was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $3.57 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Constellation Brands Inc will post 13.5 EPS for the current year.

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.37%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 30th. Constellation Brands's dividend payout ratio is currently -170.71%.

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.