Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Thursday.

Several other equities analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $300.00 to $250.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Constellation Brands from $203.00 to $194.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and set a $201.00 price target (down previously from $310.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a report on Monday, January 13th. Piper Sandler lowered Constellation Brands from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $245.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Constellation Brands from $230.00 to $210.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $225.74.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:STZ opened at $190.02 on Thursday. Constellation Brands has a 12-month low of $160.46 and a 12-month high of $265.70. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $183.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $200.85. The firm has a market cap of $33.83 billion, a PE ratio of 51.08, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 9th. The company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $2.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.14 billion. Constellation Brands had a return on equity of 26.55% and a net margin of 6.27%. The company’s revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.26 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Constellation Brands will post 13.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Constellation Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.02 per share. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.15%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 29th. This is an increase from Constellation Brands’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.01. Constellation Brands’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -800.00%.

Institutional Trading of Constellation Brands

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of STZ. Mainstream Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Constellation Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in Constellation Brands during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter worth $29,000. 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 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.