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

Shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) have been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $254.29.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on STZ shares. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $240.00 price objective on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, January 27th. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $265.00 to $223.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 17th. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $270.00 to $260.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Argus lowered Constellation Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $282.00 to $214.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 14th.

Insider Activity

In other Constellation Brands news, Director William T. Giles bought 1,000 shares of Constellation Brands stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $186.39 per share, for a total transaction of $186,390.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 1,463 shares in the company, valued at $272,688.57. This represents a 215.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 12.19% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in STZ. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its position in shares of Constellation Brands by 41.7% during the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 86,585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,135,000 after acquiring an additional 25,463 shares in the last quarter. GTS Securities LLC increased its stake in Constellation Brands by 180.0% during the fourth quarter. GTS Securities LLC now owns 2,408 shares of the company’s stock valued at $532,000 after purchasing an additional 5,419 shares during the last quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth $44,000. Vise Technologies Inc. bought a new position in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter worth about $236,000. Finally, MidWestOne Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Constellation Brands by 35.1% in the 4th quarter. MidWestOne Financial Group Inc. now owns 13,555 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,996,000 after buying an additional 3,524 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.34% of the company’s stock.

Constellation Brands Stock Up 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE STZ opened at $172.47 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $31.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a current ratio of 1.10. Constellation Brands has a 1 year low of $160.46 and a 1 year high of $274.87. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $196.90 and its 200 day moving average price is $226.68.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 10th. The company reported $3.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.33 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.53 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 26.55% and a net margin of 6.27%. Constellation Brands’s revenue for the quarter was down .3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.19 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $1.01 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.34%. Constellation Brands’s payout ratio is currently 108.60%.

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.