Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Shares Acquired by FORA Capital LLC

FORA Capital LLC increased its position in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) by 130.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 43,576 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 24,647 shares during the period. Constellation Brands makes up about 1.1% of FORA Capital LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. FORA Capital LLC's holdings in Constellation Brands were worth $9,630,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in STZ. Mainstream Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.34% of the company's stock.

Constellation Brands Trading Down 0.7 %

STZ traded down $1.37 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $190.02. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,272,477 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,735,000. The business's 50-day moving average is $183.37 and its 200-day moving average is $200.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market cap of $33.83 billion, a PE ratio of 51.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $160.46 and a fifty-two week high of $265.70.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.35. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 26.55% and a net margin of 6.27%. The business had revenue of $2.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.26 EPS. The company's revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 29th will be given a $1.02 dividend. This is a positive change from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 29th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.15%. Constellation Brands's payout ratio is presently -800.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on STZ shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $201.00 target price (down from $310.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, January 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $289.00 to $233.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 14th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Constellation Brands from $203.00 to $194.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Constellation Brands has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $225.74.

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.