Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Short Interest Up 32.1% in March

Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,590,000 shares, an increase of 32.1% from the March 15th total of 1,960,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,180,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days. Approximately 1.5% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on STZ. Roth Mkm restated a "buy" rating and issued a $305.00 target price on shares of Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Constellation Brands from $292.00 to $314.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $315.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday. Barclays raised their target price on Constellation Brands from $294.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Argus upgraded Constellation Brands from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $306.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $298.55.

Constellation Brands Trading Down 1.4 %

Shares of Constellation Brands stock traded down $3.72 during trading on Monday, hitting $258.52. 1,825,209 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,265,415. Constellation Brands has a 1-year low of $221.81 and a 1-year high of $274.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.97. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $256.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $246.96.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 11th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.10 by $0.16. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 23.06% and a net margin of 16.13%. The business had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.98 EPS. Constellation Brands's quarterly revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Constellation Brands will post 13.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Investors of record on Friday, May 3rd will be given a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. This is a positive change from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. Constellation Brands's payout ratio is currently 37.95%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Constellation Brands

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 14,026 shares of the company's stock worth $3,812,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Benin Management CORP acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 1st quarter worth approximately $206,000. RMR Wealth Builders acquired a new position in Constellation Brands during the 1st quarter worth approximately $241,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 36.0% during the 1st quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,268 shares of the company's stock worth $616,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prentice Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Prentice Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,600 shares of the company's stock worth $978,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares during the last quarter. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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