Amundi Increases Stake in Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ)

Amundi lifted its stake in shares of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) by 54.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 453,180 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 160,563 shares during the period. Amundi owned 0.25% of Constellation Brands worth $99,373,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Mainstream Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Constellation Brands during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new position in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in Constellation Brands in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in Constellation Brands by 887.5% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. 77.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Constellation Brands Stock Performance

Constellation Brands stock opened at $189.34 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $34.22 billion, a PE ratio of 50.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $183.67 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $220.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.46. Constellation Brands, Inc. has a 12 month low of $160.46 and a 12 month high of $274.87.

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

Constellation Brands Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th were paid a $1.01 dividend. This represents a $4.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. Constellation Brands’s payout ratio is 108.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on STZ shares. Argus downgraded shares of Constellation Brands from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Constellation Brands from $293.00 to $289.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $201.00 price objective (down previously from $310.00) on shares of Constellation Brands in a research report on Monday, January 13th. TD Cowen decreased their price target on shares of Constellation Brands from $270.00 to $260.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Constellation Brands from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 6th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Constellation Brands has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $253.24.

Insider Buying and Selling at Constellation Brands

In related news, Director William T. Giles bought 1,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 17th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $186.39 per share, for a total transaction of $186,390.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 1,463 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $272,688.57. This represents a 215.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 12.19% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Constellation Brands 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.