Machina Capital S.A.S. Takes Position in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Machina Capital S.A.S. purchased a new stake in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 3,586 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $867,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of STZ. Burns Matteson Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Burns Matteson Capital Management LLC now owns 2,499 shares of the company's stock valued at $604,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. increased its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 1,277 shares of the company's stock valued at $309,000 after buying an additional 43 shares during the period. Schear Investment Advisers LLC raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Schear Investment Advisers LLC now owns 2,522 shares of the company's stock worth $610,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp lifted its holdings in Constellation Brands by 2.0% in the third quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 2,565 shares of the company's stock worth $645,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC boosted its position in Constellation Brands by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 10,449 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,626,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.34% of the company's stock.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Constellation Brands stock traded up $1.15 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $258.46. 642,437 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,224,947. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.53. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 12 month low of $222.45 and a 12 month high of $274.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $47.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.95. The business has a 50 day moving average of $261.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $249.24.

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

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 3rd will be paid a $1.01 dividend. This represents a $4.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 2nd. This is a boost from Constellation Brands's previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. Constellation Brands's dividend payout ratio is 43.07%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on STZ shares. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Constellation Brands in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $300.00 target price for the company. HSBC raised their price objective on Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, April 12th. Evercore ISI upped their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, April 12th. 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. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Constellation Brands presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $298.55.

Insider Activity at Constellation Brands

In related news, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 20,910 shares in the company, valued at $5,512,503.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Constellation Brands news, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 12th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $5,512,503.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 5,395 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,420,233.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 23,031 shares of company stock worth $6,043,821. 16.19% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.