Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eighteen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $298.55.

Several research firms have recently commented on STZ. Argus raised shares of Constellation Brands from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $306.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. BMO Capital Markets upped 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. Piper Sandler began coverage on Constellation Brands in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $300.00 price objective for the company. Finally, HSBC upped their price target on Constellation Brands from $290.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, April 12th.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

NYSE:STZ opened at $261.65 on Friday. Constellation Brands has a twelve month low of $221.81 and a twelve month high of $274.87. The stock has a market cap of $47.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $259.48 and its 200 day simple moving average is $247.77.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 11th. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share 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 business had revenue of $2.14 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.09 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.98 EPS. Constellation Brands’s revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 13.51 EPS for the current year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 17th. Investors of record on Friday, May 3rd will be paid a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 2nd. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.54%. This is a boost from Constellation Brands’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.95%.

Insider Transactions at Constellation Brands

In other news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of the business’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 completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly 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 this link. In other Constellation Brands news, CEO William A. Newlands sold 4,013 shares of the business’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 value of $1,056,422.25. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 5,395 shares in the company, valued at $1,420,233.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP James A. Jr. Sabia sold 15,781 shares of the business’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 value of $4,160,345.03. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 20,910 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,512,503.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 16.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Constellation Brands by 32.0% in the third quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,078,000 after purchasing an additional 1,040 shares during the last quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC grew its holdings in Constellation Brands by 1,175.0% in the third quarter. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC now owns 102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC boosted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 5.6% during the third quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 1,571 shares of the company’s stock valued at $395,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Caprock Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 2.7% during the third quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 2,578 shares of the company’s stock valued at $648,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oak Thistle LLC boosted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands by 36.9% during the third quarter. Oak Thistle LLC now owns 1,344 shares of the company’s stock valued at $338,000 after acquiring an additional 362 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.