Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Makes New $944,000 Investment in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 4,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $944,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mainstream Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 77.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on STZ. Roth Mkm lowered their price target on Constellation Brands from $284.00 to $256.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Citigroup decreased their target price on Constellation Brands from $200.00 to $190.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $215.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $260.00 to $215.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $225.74.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Constellation Brands news, EVP Samuel J. Glaetzer sold 3,150 shares of the company's 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 3,126 shares in the company, valued at approximately $589,376.04. The trade was a 50.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 12.19% of the company's stock.

Constellation Brands Price Performance

Shares of Constellation Brands stock traded down $2.69 during trading on Monday, hitting $192.93. 2,252,191 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,750,910. The company has a market cap of $34.35 billion, a PE ratio of 51.86, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $184.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $198.97. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $160.46 and a twelve month high of $265.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.26 EPS. Constellation Brands's quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Constellation Brands, Inc. will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 29th were given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This is an increase from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 29th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. Constellation Brands's dividend payout ratio is -800.00%.

Constellation Brands 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.