Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Brokerages

Constellation Brands Inc (NYSE:STZ) has been given a consensus rating of “Hold” by the twenty-eight brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $181.9583.

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on STZ shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $205.00 to $179.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on Constellation Brands from $196.00 to $168.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Constellation Brands in a report on Friday, November 7th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $153.00 price objective on the stock. Roth Capital reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $209.00 price objective (down previously from $239.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $170.00 to $155.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, September 25th.

Constellation Brands Stock Down 0.6%

STZ opened at $142.65 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $24.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.82, a PEG ratio of 0.43 and a beta of 0.46. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $136.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $151.70. Constellation Brands has a 52 week low of $126.45 and a 52 week high of $234.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported $3.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Constellation Brands had a net margin of 11.88% and a return on equity of 29.82%. The company had revenue of $2.32 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 30th were paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 30th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.9%. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio is currently 59.56%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Constellation Brands

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Constellation Brands by 127.9% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,480,788 shares of the company’s stock worth $822,314,000 after purchasing an additional 2,514,517 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 650.6% in the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,769,741 shares of the company’s stock worth $287,889,000 after buying an additional 1,533,961 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Constellation Brands in the second quarter valued at $239,737,000. Berkshire Hathaway Inc boosted its holdings in Constellation Brands by 11.6% in the second quarter. Berkshire Hathaway Inc now owns 13,400,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,179,912,000 after acquiring an additional 1,391,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 39.6% during the second quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 3,675,855 shares of the company’s stock worth $597,988,000 after acquiring an additional 1,042,904 shares during the last quarter. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Constellation Brands Company 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.