Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the twenty analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $298.55.

Several research firms have recently commented on STZ. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Constellation Brands from $292.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Piper Sandler began coverage on Constellation Brands in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $300.00 price objective for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $256.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, HSBC boosted their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th.

Constellation Brands Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE:STZ traded down $1.67 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $260.04. The company had a trading volume of 699,882 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,253,541. Constellation Brands has a 1 year low of $221.81 and a 1 year high of $274.87. The company has a current ratio of 1.19, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The company has a 50-day moving average of $259.80 and a 200 day moving average of $247.94. The company has a market cap of $47.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.97.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 11th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.09 billion. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 16.13% and a return on equity of 23.06%. Constellation Brands's revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.98 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Constellation Brands will post 13.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be given a dividend of $1.01 per share. This is a boost from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.55%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. Constellation Brands's payout ratio is 37.95%.

Insider Activity at Constellation Brands

In other news, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.63, for a total transaction of $4,160,345.03. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,910 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,512,503.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Constellation Brands news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.25, for a total transaction of $1,056,422.25. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 5,395 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,420,233.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.63, for a total value of $4,160,345.03. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,910 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,512,503.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 16.19% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STZ. Narwhal Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 61.6% in the 1st quarter. Narwhal Capital Management now owns 18,441 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,012,000 after acquiring an additional 7,029 shares during the period. Highview Capital Management LLC DE purchased a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the first quarter valued at about $1,602,000. Northwest Bancshares Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the first quarter worth about $336,000. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the first quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in Constellation Brands in the 1st quarter valued at about $303,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.34% of the company's stock.

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 Premier, Corona Familiar, Corona Light, Corona Refresca, Corona Hard Seltzer, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, Modelo Chelada, Victoria, Vicky Chamoy, and Pacifico brands.